Just like any other cat you encounter, a Persian cat can have behavior problems. Sometimes, we want to ignore the red flags because we’re mesmerized by how adorable they are, but we know we can’t (and shouldn’t) ignore them.
Once you bring a pet into your home, they become a part of your family. And you can’t just give up on a family member, right?
This means that you need to be prepared to deal with a few behavior issues that your Persian kitty may have. You can’t just abandon them because you wanted a cute cat – it’s a living creature that has wants and needs.
Every cat has a specific personality, but depending on the breed, you can assume what type of cat you’re actually dealing with. Every feline has its own charm and temper that you need to brace yourself for.
You can’t know a cat completely until you bring her into your home and live with her for a while. Just like with humans.
However, there are a few things that you can assume, depending on what breed you’re planning to get.
These are some Persian cat behavior problems that you may encounter if you decide to bring one into your life.
9 Persian cat behavior problems: Should they be red flags?
1. Persian cats are hyperactive
Have you ever heard of the zoomies? That’s when your cat continuously runs around, makes weird noises, and you can’t get a hold of her, no matter how hard you try.
Well, be prepared to deal with the zoomies on a daily basis if you get a Persian cat. They’re rather small felines and once they accumulate a lot of energy, they’ll want to get rid of it.
The problem here is that this can happen in the most random moments. It doesn’t matter if you’re home or not, if you’re sleeping or not. These hyperactive cats will zoom through your home like someone’s chasing them and they’re running for their very lives!
This can mean that they may break things without any consideration for your expensive furniture and decor. That said, this is something that almost every cat owner will experience, regardless of breed.
If you don’t play enough with your cat, she will try to get rid of that accumulated energy by jumping onto the curtains as if there’s something waiting on the other side.
There’s really nothing that you can do to avoid the zoomies or calm your cat down until she gets rid of all that energy. Be prepared for this!
THIS. IS. SPARTA!
2. They are difficult to house train
The behavior problems of Persian cats aren’t that much different from those you can encounter with every other cat breed. But you have to consider that this cat’s stubbornness is not for the faint-hearted.
You can’t explain to a Persian cat that she’s not allowed to push things off the shelves. She’s a super curious, independent, and strong-willed creature that needs someone to constantly pay attention to her.
It can take quite some time, sometimes even up to a year, for a Persian to understand that pushing things, destroying them, and so on isn’t model behavior. That’s why it’s so hard to house-train them!
Also, even though every cat will instinctively know to do their business in the litter box, a Persian cat may explore the house and find “better” spots to do their business.
3. They’re in constant need of company
The list of Persian cat behavior problems isn’t long. They’re independent most of the time. However, they are highly social creatures.
Persian cats love to be surrounded by other cats and their owner. Your furry friend will come to play with you more times than you’ll like it. It may even become awfully annoying.
You don’t have to worry about this too much, considering that your presence and playtime will be enough to satisfy your attention-seeking friend.
However, if you’re not able to spend ample time with your Persian, then you consider getting a playmate for her. They’ll play with each other and find the company that they’re craving.
But make sure that the other cat is just as social. Otherwise, you could have a warzone on your hands.
4. They can be aggressive
You’re probably wondering how such a small and cute animal can be aggressive, but you need to remember that they’re predators. Their nature is telling them to hunt and exert aggression.
This aggression can be turned towards you if they don’t get enough attention or have excess energy to deal with. You need to make sure that your cat doesn’t hurt you, your family, or any other pets you may have.
This can best be done by paying attention to any behavioral patterns and making sure you deal with the issues right as they occur. The last thing you want is a predator in your house that sees everyone as a potential threat.
5. Persian cats get into trouble easily
Another behavior you could encounter is that this breed is rather clumsy. It’s cute one moment, but the next moment you’re actually concerned for your kitty.
She’ll bump into things, run into walls, push things off the shelves, and actually hurt herself.
It’s not that much fun when you have to take a trip to the vet every other week.
A Persian cat can even eat something she’s not supposed to and actually put her life at serious risk. You want your cat to be healthy and happy – not wonder when will be the moment that her clumsiness takes a dangerous turn.
6. They mark their territory
Cats are very territorial beings. One of the Persian cat behavior problems that you may have to deal with is that they’ll try to mark their territory.
They’ll pee anywhere and everywhere just to establish their dominance. This is especially true if your cat is male.
Most Persian cat owners neuter their male cats precisely because of this. They can’t handle the stench and constant cleaning after their cats.
Especially considering that these purring machines won’t stop. Once you clean up their business, they just mark their territory once again to feel like they’re the ones in control.
Persians can also become quite territorial when it comes to their owners, aka you.
If your furry friend smells another cat on you, don’t be surprised at how vengeful she can become. Her sense of smell is so strong that she’ll know right away if you petted another cat while you were out of the house.
This can make your cat ignore you for the entire day, or until the smell completely wears off.
7. They snore!
We love to have our pets as near to us as possible. We see them as our children and we love them so much! So, you’ll probably want to keep your cat close even while you’re sleeping.
That’s when you’ll realize that your Persian cat actually SNORES!
Don’t be alarmed. As strange as it sounds, this is normal for this breed. It’s weird when you’re looking at your sweet kitty and those sounds are actually coming from her.
So if you plan to share sleeping quarters, you may need to invest in a good pair of earplugs. Don’t be alarmed, just make sure that you’re ready to hear some weird noises coming from that little creature while she’s sleeping.
8. Persians are a little snobby and cold
So many people in this world say they don’t like cats because cats are too cold and aloof. What does that even mean?
Well, one of the Persian cat behavior problems that you won’t be able to avoid is the fact that they are prone to being quite snobby at times.
You’ll think that your cat actually hates you. She may look irresistibly cute and cuddly, but she’ll always find a way to make you leave her alone. It doesn’t matter if she has to show a little aggression to achieve that, she’ll find a way to make you back off.
Once you’re baffled by your cat’s behavior, she’ll simply walk away majestically and start grooming herself as if nothing happened. That’s what’s so specific about this cat breed.
If a Persian kitty wants attention, she’ll make you pay attention to them. But when the time comes for her alone time, make sure you’re out of her sharp claws’ reach.
9. Persian cats may bite, scratch, and hiss
These Persian cat behavior problems are actually quite common among all felines.
Once you start playing with your meowing monster, she may get playfully aggressive. She doesn’t know that her claws actually hurt and that you’re in pain. All she’s thinking is you’re just another cat trying to play with her.
This, however, can become a huge problem. When you try to pet your Persian purrincess, she may simply jump at your hand and cause serious damage.
Her hissing will make you believe that something is wrong and that you should make your cat feel safe, but you should probably stay away in those moments.
If you don’t want to deal with any of these issues that we’ve mentioned and aren’t prepared to go through the training, you may want to reconsider getting a Persian cat.