Persian — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD1)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A dominant mutation causes fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys that enlarge with age and can cause renal failure, often not obvious until middle age. This is the original and most prevalent PKD finding in cats, historically affecting an estimated third or more of Persians worldwide before widespread testing.
Ask to see: UC Davis VGL PKD1 DNA test on both parents.
UC Davis VGL — Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD1) (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/pkd1-cat) · PubMed — Feline polycystic kidney disease mutation identified in PKD1 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15466259/)
Brachycephalic airway syndrome (BOAS)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
In the flattest-faced show lines, narrowed nostrils, a long soft palate and cramped nasal passages restrict airflow, causing noisy breathing, exercise intolerance and recurrent respiratory infections; tear-duct malformation causing constant eye discharge is a related consequence of the same skull shape. Severity tracks directly with how extreme the face is — traditional 'doll-face' Persians are far less affected than modern extreme show type.
Ask to see: No DNA test — this is a conformational, not a single-gene, condition. Ask to see and hear both parents in person or on video, breathing at rest and after mild exertion; for a very flat-faced line, a vet's functional airway assessment is the relevant document.
International Cat Care — Persian cats and brachycephaly (https://icatcare.org/articles/persian-cats-and-brachycephaly) · PMC — Correlation of brachycephaly grade with level of exophthalmos, reduced airway passages and degree of dental malalignment in Persian cats (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8294563/)
Progressive retinal atrophy, Persian-derived type (PRA-pd)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A recessive mutation in AIPL1 causes retinal thinning starting around 5 weeks of age, with severe loss by 16 weeks and eventual blindness.
Ask to see: UC Davis VGL PRA-pd DNA test on both parents.
UC Davis VGL — Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA-pd) (Persian) (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/pra-pd)