White Persian Cat: Facts, Price, History & Info [With Pictures!]

The White Persian cat is an amazing, beautiful, and serene-looking animal. Anyone who lays eyes on this creature immediately falls in love with it, and for good reason. These animals are known for their luxurious, long coat and gentle personality. The Persian cat’s coat looks good in any color, but in white, it really stands out and gives the cat an angelic appearance, especially combined with their big orange or blue eyes.

While Persian cats can come in many different colors, ranging from lilac to black, to red, and even blue, today we’re taking a closer look at specifically the white Persian cat. To start out, we’ll discuss whether Persian cats can ever truly have this color, how rare they are, the history of the breed, and anything else you need to know.

Of course, there’ll be plenty of pictures along the way to feast your eyes on. Let’s dig in.

White Persian Cat Fact Sheet

Before we delve into the nitty-gritty of these beautiful animals, let’s put all the basic information about them in an easy-to-digest fact sheet.

Breed	Persian Cat
Weight	7 to 12 pounds
Height	10 to 15 inches
Temperament	Gentle, quiet, docile, affectionate
Coat length	Long
Originates from	Persia (Modern day Iran)
Price	Depends on breeder, location, pedigree, but can be up to $10,000

A Brief History of the White Persian Cat

If you’re looking for a cat with a long, storied history, look no further than the Persian. The Persian cat is one of the oldest cat breeds, originally hailing from the region that was historically known as Persia (modern-day Iran).

The breed has long been a favorite of the Persian royalty and is the first long-haired cat to have been brought to Europe in 1620 by Italian nobleman Pietro Della Valle.

There are two types of Persian cats. The first is the traditional type, also known as doll-face. The second is the more modern peke-face type. The traditional type is essentially the original breed without the extreme features that you see in the peke-face type. The peke-face Persian cat has these extreme features because breeders selected for these specific features.

Official recognition of white Persian cats

Some cats that people consider to be distinct breeds are not officially recognized by cat fancier associations. This is not the case with the Persian cat. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

The Persian cat was one of the first breeds to be officially recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association. The reason why is quite simple, they were the most popular breed! They’re very overrepresented in cat shows and often win championships. In fact, the title of “Best in Show” in the first cat show in the world was won by a Persian cat.

They are also officially recognized by other Cat associations such as The International Cat Association (TICA) and the French Federation Internationale Feline (FiFe).

It is important to note that white Persian cats are not a distinct breed but rather a coloration of the Persian cat.

Can Persian Cats really be white?

Persian cats can definitely be white and many people believe that this is one of the most common colors for Persians to have because of how often they appear in pictures.

Unfortunately, while they might be photographed frequently due to their beauty, completely solid white Persian cats are quite rare. Did you know that only 5% of all cats are this color? Also, many people who believe to have a completely white Persian cat might actually have a cat that also has some other color or that’s actually silver instead. More on that later.

Genetics behind white Persian cats

So, now that you know that it’s possible for Persian cats to be white, you might be interested in knowing how this happens. What I mean is what determines the color of your Persian cat’s fur?

It all comes down to genetics. Every cat has their own genetics and when two cats mate this is what decides what their offspring will look like. In order for a Persian cat to be white, it needs to carry the dominant W allele. According to Catster: “The W gene is known as a masking gene. That means if the dominant W allele is present, the cat will be white, no matter what the other coat color and pattern alleles say.”

The best way to identify a solid white Persian cat is not only to look at its fur, you should also take a look at its eyes. The eyes of a cat that’s classified as being a solid white have to be orange/copper, blue, or one of each color.

Appearance of White Persian Cats

White Persian cats have the same body type as other Persians. The color of the coat does not affect its size. Typically they’re about 10 to 15 inches tall and weigh between 7 and 12 pounds.

These cats are most known for their unusual faces. As previously mentioned, there are two types of Persian cats, the traditional doll-face and the modern peke-face. Both of them have a flat, pushed-in-looking face with chubby cheeks, but in the modern peke-face, this is more pronounced.

According to Chewy, the white Persian cat can have 2 different types of coats: “the “cotton” coat, which is soft, mats easily and requires constant combing to prevent knots from forming. More desirable, from a maintenance standpoint, is a harder, slicker coat.” The softer coat is harder to groom but is often described as being more eye-catching.

As you can see, there are quite a few different types of white Persian cats to choose from. Do keep in mind that the amount of white in these colorations varies; some do not have all that much white in their coat at all. Nevertheless, the table will come in handy to figure out what kind of Persian cat you want, especially because the solid type can be very expensive.

Are White Persian Cats Good Pets?

Whether the Persian cat is a good pet for you depends on the person. For some, they’re ideal, for others, not so much. You have to take into account your own personal living situation, what you’re looking for in a cat, and see if it matches with what the Persian has to offer.

The first thing you should know is that Persian cats, and especially white Persian cats, are relatively high maintenance. Their long coats need a lot of grooming and the white variant can get dirty quite easily. This means lots of brushing, bathing, and combing.

What you get in return is a cat that’s not only beautiful to look at and will steal the show wherever you go, but also one that’s highly affectionate and loves to spend time on your lap. They prefer living in a quiet and calm environment where little changes from day to day and should be kept as indoor cats. If you’re looking for an active cat, the Persian might not be the best fit.

Importantly, you should note that the Persian’s flat face means that it’s more prone to certain problems, especially the modern peke-face variant. Also, according to the veterinary department of Cornell: “Hereditary deafness is a major concern in white cats, and even more so if one or both irises are blue in color.”

How much does a White Persian Cat cost?

White Persian cats are not cheap. Any color Persian will set you back a pretty penny, but a solid white Persian might be one of the most expensive colors you can find. The reason for this is that they’re in high demand while simultaneously being quite rare.

You’re not going to find any type of Persian kitten for less than $1500, but quality breeders can easily charge $3000+ and often even more than that for a solid white kitten. For instance, dollfacepersiankittens has a solid white Persian Kitten for sale for nearly $10,000.

Of course, the price depends a lot on location, the breeder you buy from, and the kitten you buy. Some areas have a lot of Persian breeders which means that supply is high which drives prices down, while in other areas it’s the opposite.

It’s essential that you find a good breeder to ensure that you get a healthy kitten. A good way to start is by using the CFA’s breeder search feature. The breeders that are listed there are registered with the Cat Fancier’s Association and should be relatively trustworthy. Of course, always make sure to do your own research, ask questions, and check the reviews of a breeder.

Adoption is always an option, but there’s almost a 0% chance of finding a white Persian cat in a shelter. They’re very expensive, so people who buy them are often quite sure of their choice so they’re not often available for adoption.

White Persian Cat Facts

White Persian Cats are not Albino.

Many people mistake white Persian cats for albinos. It’s an easy mistake to make, but it’s not correct. Albinos have a complete loss of pigmentation which gives them very pale eyes that are often red or pink in color, while those of white Persian cats are yellow or blue.

White Persians are not more likely to be blind.

Many people believe that white cats are more prone to blindness. This is not true, according to the University of Melbourne: “a white cat is not prone to blindness”.

They are believed to bring good luck.

In many cultures, white cats are believed to bring good luck.

White Persian Cat Videos

I’ve sprinkled in many pictures in this article, but a video says more than a thousand pictures. To get the best idea of what a white Persian Cat truly looks like, take a look at this adorable video:

If you’re more curious about what the kittens look like, take a look at this: