I have taken in an unwanted persian cat (american peke??) . I picked her up from the lady who had "hurt her arm" so was unable to groom it although it looks like it hasent been groomed for months. It was supposed to have had its vacs but she didnt have any paperwork or any papers for the cat. It is supposed to be 2 years old.
The underneath of this cat is just one big mat and its legs are matted too. I am going to have a go at getting some out myself but may have to take to a groomers or vets to get it shaved and then start againn.
I dont know anything about persians so would be grateful for any advice anyone could give me on their care.

I've bred Persians for over 20 years. The term Pekeface does not exist in the UK, it's probably just a cat of good type. It sounds like your best bet is to go for a complete shave, because when the coat is THAT matted, if you use a comb all that happens is hat you pull it out with the roots and leave large bald patches and cause a lot more pain and discomfort -no matter how careful you are. Also it is very difficult indeed to de-mat a stomach just using a comb. A close shave (has to be close, longer dog clipper blades do not work on Persian coats, it needs to be a number 15 or above) will leave a thin covering of fur and you can then start from scratch and get her used to daily grooming before the coat is long enough to really need it. Just make sure fur is left on the tail as they hate having bald tails -popular in America to clip them like Poodles. :(

You will no doubt have to wipe around the eyes every day as they will be naturally runny, and keep an eye on the ears as they easily get a lot of wax in them with the fur being so thick.  Do you know anything about breeder, background etc? Persians are very prone to a genetic kidney disease (PKD) and all good breeders will have had their breeding cats DNA tested to check they are clear -if it hasn't been done the risk is the cat is affected and the kidneys will start to fail within anything from a year to ten years. But of course with a rescue, everything is pot luck -although for your own peace of mind you may want to do the DNA test so that you know.

Anything you need to know, just give me a shout. :)

Thank you MarianneB,
The lady did say it was an american peke faced. I am going to phone my groomer tomorrow as she doesnt work mondays to see if she does cats but I have never seen any cats there when I have been so dont think she does. I did ring the vet and they said they would do it but would maybe have to be under sedation or general depending on the cat.
The lady didnt know much about the cat,she said they had one before that was the same breed but died of a stroke aged 8. She didnt have papers for the cat and was very vague as regards to its history. She did say it was 2 years old.
It is a small cat and seems so calm around dogs even though it has never lived with them,no spitting or hissing just accepted them. My moggies even though they have always lived with dogs will always hiss and spit at a dog they dont know.

Would like to add that if you are speaking terms with the woman of this kitty maybe ask who and where her vet is? then the vets would fax any information onto your vet. That's if the previous owner had a vet at all of course.... but worth a try?

well done for taking her on. I owned a persian many years ago,hope you can get her sorted and it all works out.

A friend of mine took on a rescue Persian cat with the most dreadful matted coat and terrible teeth. Her vet shaved the cat whilst he was in for an operation to remove some teeth - his tail and face were left hairy and he looked very peculiar, but much more comfortable, whilst his coat was growing back. Now he is groomed properly he looks wonderful although it took a long time to get him used to being groomed.

I dont think she has used any local vets because she asked me what vet I used but never said which one she had been to and she lives pretty close to me so really only choice of two local vets. I will ring her tonight and ask her. Also rang my groomers and she doesnt do cats. May try myself, I have a friend coming round tomorrow night and we might be able to do it between us.

Be very careful -if she isn't used to clippers, she may freak out, and you need to be very careful close to the skin as cat skin is so very thin. She'll feel so much better once it's done though!

If she freaks out will have to try the vets but would rather not have the general perhaps the sedation would be better

Well done for taking on this persian. We too have a rescue persian, which we have had for over 10 years, however we were lucky that he had been shaved by the rescue society. What made me really cross was that he has always been such an easy cat to groom, he never stops purring, yet his previous owners had completly neglected his coat. As for their demeanour round dogs we have always found them to be ideal as they totally ignore the dogs cos a persian thinks the dogs are beneath contempt.!!.
I hope you have many happy years with your cat , I think they are lovely.

I couldnt believe its reaction to the dogs and it has never met dogs before, she just acts as if they are not there. It makes it a lot easier to get the dogs used to her especially Kizzi who would be likely to have a go if it was hissing and spitting in her face lol

I rang the woman today to ask her what vet she used and she was very vague,said "I think it was one in colchester,I think it was the RSPCA as didnt have much money. I have taken her to the vets this evening as one of her eyes was very gunky and had a blood stained discharge. Was given Chloremphenicol which I could have got from work and the vet reckons her tearducts may be blocked because her nose is so short. She thinks this will be a recuring condition so lucky I can get the cream when I need it. The bad news is her mouth is badly infected and indicative of feline aids or feline leukemia,she will need a dental and most of her teeth out but before that she is having bloods taken and among other things will be tested for aids and leukemia, if positive may have to be put to sleep.
I am really angry with the woman and feel like taking the cat back but feel responsible for her now so will carry on with the treatment but could have an outcome where I will be paying nearly 200.00 for a cat that I will have had for a week and may have to put to sleep so wont even have a positive outcome.

I'm really sorry to hear this, I hope the test come back negative I don't know what to say really i've not got much expirence regarding cats but I just want to wish you best of luck with her, shes lucky she has come to you. xx

I will be paying nearly 200.00 for a cat that I will have had for a week and may have to put to sleep so wont even have a positive outcome.

This is the sad state of affairs that many find themselves in, in taking on animals they know nothing about. The best thing to do is to only buy animals that come from responsible breeders, you could have had a beautiful persian from a good breeder with all the paperwork to hand, which would give you years of love and joy with the support of that breeder. It is best not to even look at advertisements for the re-homing of animals other people no longer want because you don't know what you are getting.

At least even from a rescue you have some come back animals are checked for their health before re-homing.

I feel very sorry for you, I really do, I hope that the cat will not have aids or leukemia, it's bad enough losing all it's teeth it's not just the financial burden it's the emotional one too, the only saving grace is the poor cat now has a good owner. It's a shame you may not in return have a healthy cat.

I'm glad however the cat has found someone to love and care for it.

I know I could have got a persian from a breeder but I wasnt looking to get one. The ladies friend is a friend of a friend so to speak and from what was said was just an old lady who had hurt her arm and had reduced mobility so was unable to groom the cat and just wanted a good home for her. I said I would have a look and felt sorry for the poor little thing with its matted coat so took her home. I cant help it when I see these things, bit like my crestie who although in an awful home hasnt got any health probs,well nothing yet touch wood lol
I will have to learn to turn a deaf ear and not go and have a look cos for me thats lethal

I will have to learn to turn a deaf ear and not go and have a look cos for me thats lethal

Believe me you are talking to a forma big softy, my mother used to cringe at what I was bringing home next. :-) Because I know I too have a big heart I just don't go where I can be tempted, I choose to do something and now stick to it, but it did take years to get to that stage.

Your a star to have taken the cat in. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it is not bad news. :-)

I have taken her to the vets this evening as one of her eyes was very gunky and had a blood stained discharge. Was given Chloremphenicol which I could have got from work and the vet reckons her tearducts may be blocked because her nose is so short.

Hm I think you'll find this is just the normal state of affairs for some Persians. The normal discharge IS red in colour, and it isn't that the tearducts are blocked but in some cats (whether particularity flat faced or not doesn't matter at all, but in these breeds) they are bent so don't function quite as they should. (Again something people should watch for when breeding to try to avoid it.) Use a soft flannel with lukewarm water on and wipe around the entire area once a day, like you would wash a child's face. But of course try the Chloramphenicol (hope it's the drops as the ointment is so difficult to get in and makes it so greasy), if there is any infection it will improve.

The bad news is her mouth is badly infected and indicative of feline aids or feline leukemia,she will need a dental and most of her teeth out but before that she is having bloods taken and among other things will be tested for aids and leukemia, if positive may have to be put to sleep.

Has she been running free outdoors or mixed with cats that do? If not, she's very unlikely to test positive. (And FIV is only spread from saliva to blood, so means fairly deep bites, hence it doesn't spread very easily. Leukaemia on the other hand is saliva to saliva so spreads easier.) What does the mouth look like? My first bet would be Stomatitis (if it is mainly inside the mouth rather than just the gums), in which case it has nothing to do with either FeLV or FIV. It's very, very difficult to treat but the first thing to do is to ensure to ONLY feed canned food or meat, absolutely no dry food of any sort.

Bless you for doing all you're doing!!

oh kizzystaff I do feel for you and have everthing crossed that it is good news. Hopefully marianne B is right she is mine of information and you will be able to sort the pusser out

Hi Marianneb you have made me feel a lot better. I did say to the vet that I could'nt understand how she could have got feline aids when she was an indoor cat and an only cat but the vet said its a virus and can be passed on from the mother.
The chloremphenicol is the cream not the drops but I can get the drops from work so will change over. The mouth seems only to be inflamed on the gum line and round the teeth. The lady I got her from said to only feed her royal canin which is a hard food, she said anything else would go straight through. I do think though that she maybe so thin due to the fact that her mouth is sore and therefore dry food is harder to eat. The vet said any food is ok, they sell the royal canin there and it seems very expensive. It makes me laugh the lady it came from can afford to feed an expensive food but cant get the poor thing to a vet for treatment.
The eyes seem a lot better since I have been bathing them and putting in the cream.
Will let everyone know how she gets on. She is due at the vets at 8.30 on monday.

> The mouth seems only to be inflamed on the gum line and round the teeth.

That sounds like gingivitis and any cat can get that.  In fact I've had a couple of mine get antibiotics for it.

Regarding the teeth if they are tatared up and dirty, I used LOGIC gel on my elderly cats and it was amazing!  the tartar just 'fell' off - the worst bits just licked off with a fingernail! (but I wouldn't try that unless the cat trusts you ;) )  It had to be used daily at first to get to that stage then less often.  I found it also helped keep the gums sound too.  Strangely, the vet didn't tell me about LOGIC before deciding that the 16 year old cat needed her teeth done (had gone to vets for something else)  when I asked about LOGIC they were very half hearted, despite selling it.

Hope this helps

Good News!!!!!!!! bloods have come back clear and they are going ahead with the dental. Have to ring about 3 to see when I can go and collect her. Am very pleased and relieved. Thank god for credit cards lol

Brilliant! :)

> Good News!!!!!!!! bloods have come back clear

Brilliant :)  have kept popping back to this thread, waiting for your news, i'm so glad it's good news :)

Thats great! :-)

fantastic

I have just brought her back about 15 mins ago. Bless her she has had 20 teeth out but seems very lively and none the worse for wear. She has a dodgy haircut but will be easy to groom now and when feeling a bit better she can have a bath and blow dry.

So glad to hear she's OK :-D

She's fallen on her feet with you ;)

Regarding her coat, my sister has a longhair cat with very fluffy, difficult coat.  Despite daily combing, she was struggling until the vet advised her to buy the Royal Canine cat food.  Not sure which one but it has made an enormous difference, she is a different cat, her coat is much easier to keep tangle free and she is in much better condition generally ;)

I'd still very much advice anyone to NOT feed Royal Canin to Persians. Mine are not fed dry food more than once a week now and are far healthier than they were than when I fed RC. Never again! Other completes do have fewer problems though. :) When the coat starts to mat too easily, it's time for a bath, to remove the excess grease. The coat will then be easier to groom for several months after a bath. When grooming you also need to use baby powder to sprinkle into the coat, again it makes a big difference.

She was being fed royal canin and hasnt done her coat any favours. What do you feed your persians on MarianneB? I feed my other cats whiskas and they love it but they also have dry food especially in the summer when the flies are about. The dry food is usually whiskas too.
I will be bathing her when she has had a few days to heal although looking at her at the moment you wouldnt think she had anything done lol. Will have to go out and get some baby talc

> Just make sure fur is left on the tail as they hate having bald tails

How do you know cats hate it, what do they do?

You can tell by the way they walk and act. Cats tend to be proud of their tails, especially longhairs, a bald tail (especially one with a pom pom on like a Poodle) they really dislike and it may even freak them out. ("A strange thing is chasing me!")

> You can tell by the way they walk and act. Cats tend to be proud of their tails, especially longhairs, a bald tail (especially one with a pom pom on like a Poodle) they really dislike and it may even freak them out. ("A strange thing is chasing me!")

Yes I agree with this. My cat had an op on her tail (cutting long story short...she caught it on barb wire, it made a very deep cut and had a piece of sinew around 10 inches long coming from it!) so obviously had to have it shaved to sort it all out. She was left with only a pom pom on the end of her tail. She was like Marianne said " freaked out" :-(

I have been following this thread, and I am so glad for you that things weren't worse.  Although taking out that amount of teeth is bound to be a shock! 

Good on you for rescuing her, and actually doing something to make her comfortable.  Pat yourself on the back.  :-)

Amidst my "normal" dogs I have a few with health problems, and they are dogs that nobody would want.  I feel that I am doing my best for them, and that they will at least be loved and cared for.  And this is exactly what you're doing for this Persian.  Good Luck!  :-)  And I hope that things are on the up now.

I don't have a cat but I have seen one get very upset when something went awry with his tail. Round at my friends house and she was dying her hair pink, the elderly white long haired cat came in and jumped up on the table to watch the proceedings, he sat down and started waving his tail back on forth and the tip went into the bowl of pink dye. His tail got washed straight away but because of his colour the pink took fabulously and he was ever so annoyed, it took ages to fade away.

poor cat pookin but I have to say I am still giggling !

Thank you JeanSW,
The cat has been for a check up and all is healing nicely although gums are still a bit inflammed but to be expected after having so many teeth out. She is eating really well and is on wet food. She likes the morrisons gourmet range in the little foil containers so is having them at the moment. The vet said she had put on weight. I thought she had as the cat basket felt a lot heavier this time and had to change arms a few times.
I dont know if she was so thin (2 kilos) because her mouth was too sore to eat properly or if she had'nt been fed enough but she is making up for it now and is lying on the bed fast asleep at the moment untill next meal lol

Aww just caught up with this thread. What a good job you came along!

You can now enjoy getting to know each other now! :-D