Adopting a Persian cat in London: rescues, rules and costs

The count under the short answer is live: it shows every Persian and Persian cross listed with us in London and within about 35 miles, and each profile links to the rescue. Pedigree Persians rarely reach the general cat rescues around London, so a low count, or none, is the honest picture. The GCCF, the UK pedigree cat registry, says each of its affiliated cat clubs has a welfare officer who keeps lists of older or rescued cats that need homes.

Mostly because of the home they came from. Strawberry Persian and Pedigree Cat Rescue says most of its cats come from homes where children or babies were present and being in that environment was causing them distress. Its adoption policy adds that some were kept in a pen in a garden and used for breeding, or left in a garden when an owner moved, and that many are simply waiting for a new home because they didn't get on with other cats, dogs or children. It takes in many old or ill cats that it says other rescues have refused.

Strawberry doesn't publish a set fee, so ask. What the fee buys is clear: its homepage says all its cats are neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, flea and worm treated, groomed, and have their claws trimmed where appropriate, with 5 weeks' free insurance, and its adoption page says lifetime insurance is a requirement for every cat it rehomes.

With a bought kitten, ask the breeder what has already been done; Cats Protection gives £200 to well over £1,000 for a registered pedigree. Running costs are the same either way: PDSA puts the minimum at £79 a month, and a Persian's coat needs daily care on top.

The GCCF says the modern Persian's shortened face and nose may make it prone to breathing difficulties, skin and eye problems. International Cat Care says brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), breathing difficulty caused by a very flat face, is common in Persians, and that a flat face can also cause runny eyes, eye disease, misaligned teeth and skin-fold infections. Ask the rescue how the cat breathes, at rest and when it plays.

• Kidneys. The GCCF says polycystic kidney disease (PKD) was found in more than a third of Persian and Exotic Shorthair cats in the 1990s, and that its Persian registration policy has required PKD tests for breeding cats on its Active Register since 1 January 2016.
• Eyes and more. The GCCF says progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is present in the breed, with a DNA test. PDSA lists PKD, PRA, hip dysplasia, brachycephalic airway syndrome, HCM (a heart disease), ringworm and FIP among the problems Persians are prone to.
• What the rescue checks. Strawberry Persian and Pedigree Cat Rescue says each cat has a vet check when it is vaccinated, but that it doesn't DNA test, scan or X-ray every cat, so ask what is known about the one you like.

Persians suit a calm home. The GCCF says they prefer a calm atmosphere and gentle handling, like the security of the ground rather than high shelves, and are happy to be combed and petted by children but unlikely to join boisterous games. Strawberry Persian and Pedigree Cat Rescue only rehomes indoor-only cats, and will rehome to a flat: windows stay closed and there is no balcony access unless the balcony is fully cat-proofed.

The coat is the daily job. The GCCF suggests five or ten minutes of careful combing each day, PDSA says the coat is prone to mats and tangles and needs combing daily, and International Cat Care says many Persians can't keep their coat free of mats on their own and need the corners of their eyes and sides of the nose cleaned regularly.

Rescue Persians are adopted, not sold: you apply for a particular cat, the rescue decides which home suits it best, and you pay its adoption fee. Strawberry says it doesn't run a waiting list for kittens of a particular breed, and any kittens it has are neutered and vaccinated before they leave, so expect an adult.

If you decide to buy, Cats Protection suggests a breeder registered with a breed association such as the GCCF, and seeing the kitten with its mother at home rather than buying from a video or social media advert. International Cat Care says to ask the breeder for proof that the parents tested negative for PKD, such as the queen's PKD certificate. Report a suspected scam advert to Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud.