If you're a cat lover, and who isn't, you've probably wanted to own, or at least hold, one of those amazing Persian cats. The Persian is a sort of feline royalty, holding itself high with its regal poses, and specialized pampering.

These long-haired breeds are in fact one of the oldest breeds of cat, and perhaps they have the right to appear snooty. In fact, they can only be called "Persians" if they have an established and registered pedigree. (A pedigree is a sort of selective breeding amongst animals, and where their animal lineage can be recorded and traced). If they don't have that pedigree, then they lose their impressive title, and can only be called domestic longhair cats.

The Persian cat is aptly named, as it originates from Persia (in modern Iran). However, history is a little fuzzy on the true originals, as many understand that the original Persians may have interbred with European and British longhair cats.

Most cat lovers aren't too concerned where they all began, and are more interested in their current status. But whether purebred or domestic, the Persian cat is a wide-eyed, fluffy, loveable little creature that graces thousands of homes with its regal presence.