You can ask them whether their cats got a certificates either from CFA or any other cat registry body. And If they say NO, they i said so, your cat must be a mixed with persian or it can be mixed with other breeds, you never know since you cannot trace your cat lines. In cat world, there is nothing as mixed cat, it not permit able, when the cats has been mixed, we will call it DLH (for longhair) or DSH (for shorthair) even though it may look like a persian to you. So its much easier to know whether the cat is pure Persian or DLH by looking at its cert.
Why cert is important? With the cert you can trace back your cat lines, where the parents came from, what the color behind the lines, are they previously having any health or genetics problems and how good is your cat lines. Even though among the persians, the cat registry body have guidelines and standards to find which is better persians. So, all pedigree persians MUST comes with certificates.
O.k, now..can DLH be registered?...NO, simply because its no longer persians, maine coons or whatever breeds that has been mixed. So, if people ask you what breed is your cat? you have to admit it as its a DLH to avoid confusing and cheating people by thought it is a pedigree persian. DLH cannot compete as persians in all cat registry body shows. For CFA, DLH only can be compete in HHP class..which is all for household cats be it longhair or shorthair.
What about is the previous owner said to me that their parents is a Persians?. Well, you need to check their parents certificates. Both sire and dam MUST have certificates, if both have it, then your cat is a Persian and registerable. If you choose not to register your cat, you'll facing the problems in the future when people wants assurance to make sure that they're buying a pedigree persians. Registering not expensive at all, only about USD10.
So, are you telling my cat is not good?. No, not at all, as long as you loves your cats, its all that counts. However, there are different kind of judging for both. A Persian is judged by their standards. like how big is their eyes, how flat is their face or small is their ears..this Persians can gain points and achived title to show that their lines is very good or not. While DLH have no written standards, they only been judged simply by their cleaness and temperament and they can;t achived any title.
Then, how to know the simplest way whtr my cat is a Persian or DLH?. Simple by having the certificate from cat registry body such as CFA, TICA, FIFe. Without those you cannot claimed you cat is a Persian but it is a DLH, this is to avoid confusing.
If mixed breeds is not permit able, why petshop selling DLH?. Well, the answer is simple, profit!. You see, to get a pair of Persians might cause you up to RM10,000.00 depends on the quality. The better the higher. So, petshop always go for profit where they bought only one Persian usually pet-quality such like RM2000.00 and bred it with shorthair cat. The result can be a semi-longhair kitten which is DLH and some may look like a Persian itself. They claimed that their cat is a Persian and sells like a Persian price. When the buyer know it, its already too late. Some of the Petshop no longer have their Persian but they use their DLH to bred with DLH. It worse to bred the cats like a father to a daughter and a brother to a sister which not ethical! And just thought, all of this mother have too keep on breeding through the year for profit, while registered breeder usually bred no more then twice a year on the same dam.
Articles by Arisham http://www.felinemalaysia.com/FAQ_BM.htm#Persian_or_Not
