Persian Cats | Playing the game

History
As one of the oldest cat breeds, Persian cats can be traced all the way back to the 1600s. While there are question marks about where they came from, they’re believed to have originated in Mesopotamia, later called Persia (hence the name), which is now modern day Iran. It’s said that they were smuggled out of Persia by European explorers in the 17th century.

Over the years, this Middle Eastern cat has been a favorite of royals, including Queen Victoria, and historical figures such as Florence Nightingale. They’ve also made appearances on the big screen, for instance, as the furry companion of James Bond’s archenemy Blofeld and as Mr. Bigglesworth in the Austin Powers movies. Though, for comedic effect, the latter supposedly lost his hair and was played by a Sphynx cat for the remainder of the story.