History:
It is reported that the first longhaired cats in England were blue-eyed white Angora cats. According to Harrison Weir in his book, Our Cats, many were imported from Paris and were always referred to as the French cats. In 1903, H.F. Vidal noted, "The white class in our shows is generally one of the best filled, that is, in quality, notwithstanding the fact that on the continent preference is generally for the warmer colors." At the turn of the century whites were a favorite among the aristocracy. Lady Decies bred numerous cats all bearing the Fulmer prefix. Mrs. McLaren Morrison had a number of whites in her cattery, the most famous a blue-eyed named Crystal.  Crystal was purchased in 1898 at four months of age.
Mrs. Morrison claimed Crystal to have been a good investment because she had been defeated only once in the show ring and had produced sixteen white kittens (ten of which were blue eyed).

          In the early 1900's whites were so fashionable at American shows that classification was divided into blue-eyed and golden-eyed and again into male and female.  A male called Jungfrau appeared as sire and grandsire of a number of early white winners. Mrs. Clinton Locke of Chicago imported many of the first whites to the U.S. Mrs. Locke wrote that the first white she owned was brought to her from Persia by a traveler. Apparently descendants of this cat when mated with either amber-eyed or blue-eyed cats produced blue-eyed kittens. Another of Mrs. Locke's imports was a blue-eyed white English import called Lord Gwynne. In 1903 Frances Simpson wrote in Book of the Cat, "It is a pity to try mating white cats with any other variety, as broken-colored cats will probably be the result." Most early white breeders agreed with this theory so it was a newsworthy event when success was achieved by outcrossing to solid blues. The first CFA
white grand was GC Rosedere White Hope of Arlington bred by Miss Emma Payne. White Hope came from a breeding between a blue, Lavender Centurian, and a blue-eyed white, CH Rosedere White Orchid. The first white female grand was a blue-eyed female named Queen High owned by Mrs. Rymal. In addition to the benefits in type, the introduction of blues (or even blacks) also resulted in purer coat color.

Temperment:
These beautiful Solid colors form the glamour division of the Persian Breed. Their long flowing coats, pansylike faces, and familiar coat colors make them favorites of cat lovers worldwide. They have sweet and gentle personalities that adapt as easily to the hustle and bustle of cat shows as they do to quiet family life. Their quiet, melodious voices are pleasant and non abrasive. They communicate as much with their large expressive eyes as they do with their voices. Playful but never demanding, they like to have their feet planted firmly on the ground. The dignified Persian is not inclined to swing from the drapes or perch atop the bookcase. Their more sedate nature, however, does not reflect a lack of intelligence. Solid Persians are very bright and many owners have described them as being doglike in
          devotion to the special people in their lives.

Breeding & Grooming:
The grooming required to keep a Solid Persian looking beautiful requires a great deal of effort. The long, flowing coat that makes the Persian so glamorous can quickly become a nightmare for an inattentive owner.  Perfect grooming can not be achieved unless the animal is in first-class condition. Appropriate condition can be achieved by providing protected environment, proper diet, daily exercise to encourage muscle development, and freedom from parasites and disease. Owners should be prepared to spend time each day grooming. A routine should be established to include a daily cleaning of the face to remove stains and a complete run-through with a metal comb to eliminate tangles. Baths are necessary once a week (or at least very two weeks) to remove excess oils, dead coat and to stimulate new coat growth. It is not necessary to deep temperatures uncomfortably low to encourage coat growth. It is the photoperiod (length of daylight to which cats are exposed) that most strongly influences coat changes. Most indoor cats will shed moderately year-round because indoor life provides an artificial environment of electrically extended daylight. Shorter
amounts of daylight will encourage coat growth. In the reverse, longer exposure to daylight will encourage cats to cycle.  Solid Persians exhibit one of two different coat textures. The first and easiest to care for is the dominant or hard coat texture that is characteristic of black, red, and some white Persians. This hard coat texture is silky, shiny, and more resilient. The second coat texture that may be encountered is the dilute or soft coat that is often exhibited by blues and creams. The soft coat texture is cottonlike, standing away from the body, and much more inclined to stain or mat. Each of the Solid Persian colors have products that are specialized for their unique color.

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