History:
The Blue Persian is one of the oldest recognised pedigree breeds of cat. It can trace its origins back to ancient times and is thought to have originated in the area which was then known as Persia. Blue Persians are depicted in paintings centuries old and the breed was know in Renaissance Italy. It appears that the predecessors of the Blue Persian were initially imported into this country during the early 1800s from France where it was extremely popular, probably having originally been brought back by sailors returning from exotic places.

 Longhaired cats were  described in the early literature as Persians, Angoras, Maltese Blues, Indian Longhairs and a Longhair breed, the Russian, is also mentioned. (This was clearly not the Russian Blue which was referred to as the Archangel cat.)  Over the years selective breeding has created the distinctive Blue Persian which has been the companion of discerning cat lovers for generations. Even Queen Victoria is known to have owned a pair.

 Accounts differ as to whether the first Blues were shown in the 1870s by the Gresham sisters or later in the 1880s by Miss Frances Simpson.  However, the first classes were offered for Blues in 1889 at the Crystal Palace Show. The following year these classes were split male/female. For many decades the Blues were considered the standard bearers for the Persian breed group and were used in breeding programmes for other breeds to retain 'type' and overall quality.

Accounts differ as to whether the first Blues were shown in the 1870s by the Gresham sisters or later in the 1880s by Miss Frances Simpson.  However, the first classes were offered for Blues in 1889 at the Crystal Palace Show. The following year these classes were split male/female. For many decades the Blues were considered the standard bearers for the Persian breed group and were used in breeding programmes for other breeds to retain 'type' and overall quality.

Breeding & Grooming:
If you want to breed smokes the first thing you need to understand is that to produce smoke kittens one of the parents must be a shaded or a smoke cat. You cannot get a smoke out of two solid color cats, even if both of their parents were shadeds! Always remember, too, that a blue smoke must have blue nose leather and paw pads: only a black smoke will have black nose leather and paw pads.

Another thing to remember is that the Smoke Persian is still a Persian with the same requirements for head structure (including eye and ear set), body type (including leg and tail proportions), and coat type and length as all other Persians. This is as it should be.

Smokes require more care than most Persians. Their coats are as fragile as cobwebs, and must be treated as such. To see a smoke in show condition presented to perfection is the result of year-round care.  Grooming and nutrition are essential to keep your smokes in top show condition. The cat should never be allowed to mat because when you pull out the knot, you pull out the white undercoat, and the hair that grows in will be dark.

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