What’s the difference between a Persian and an Exotic short or long hair?

Exotic short hairs have the same Persian face and body structure but the only difference is that they have short hair. Exotic long hairs are identical to Persians so there really isn’t a difference at all. In CFA, you can show your Exotic long hair in the Persian category and CFA standards are almost exactly the same.

What are their personalities like?

Persians and Exotics are calm, mostly quiet, low energy breeds. They’re very friendly, playful, silly, and social cats. They like being around people and will follow you from room to room. I find Exotics to be slightly more energetic and can be a little more vocal than Persians. Other than that, they are very much the same. Much of their personality comes from the parents, the upbringing of the kittens, and how they were socialized. It’s hard to say if there’s much of a difference between Persians and Exotics since mine are so similar.

Do Persians and Exotics have breathing and eye issues?

They should not. Kittens and cats should always be able to breathe freely. If they aren’t, it’s usually due to stenotic nares (nostrils are abnormally formed). We breed cats with healthy open nostrils in order to produce kittens without stenoic nares. Since Persians and Exotics are brachycephalic animals, there’s a risk of developing this issue. Anyone breeding brachycephalic animals should have extensive knowledge about the breed, the risks, and also be very selective with their lines. It’s normal for Persians and Exotics to have some eye tearing that needs to be wiped/cleaned daily just like humans. The good thing is that most well-bred cats will not develop issues and for the small percentage that do, these issues are treatable and manageable.

Why can’t I have my kitten before they’re 12 weeks old?

We know you’re very excited to get your kitten, but there are very good reasons why it’s best to keep kittens with their moms until they’re 12 weeks old. Between 8 and 12 weeks of age, kittens learn a lot from their moms! They learn how to socialize with humans and other pets, and perfect their litter box habits. These important behaviors are perfected with confidence during this time. Kittens that are placed very young aren’t as confident, play inappropriately (biting), tend to develop litter box problems along with other behavioral issues. These are the behaviors we see cats and kittens being re-homed or placed in shelters for. To avoid the risk of having kittens with behavioral issues, it’s best to keep them with mom until they’re 12 weeks old.

Why do you require a holding fee in order to reserve a kitten?

This is done when you’re 100% committed to a kitten, and for BellaMochi to hold this kitten for you, and no one else until it’s time for the kitten to go home. During this time, we do additional photo and video sessions of your kitten so you can watch them as they grow. We’ll update you on their personality, vet visits, and progress in our cattery. Also, we make ourselves available to you 7 days a week to answer any questions or concerns.

How much is the holding fee?

The holding fee is $500 and it is applied to the balance. This is a non-refundable fee. We do allow the fee to be applied to a future litter if you feel that now is not a good time to add a kitten to your household.

Why are they so expensive!?

Purebreds are very difficult and expensive to breed and maintain. A cattery will spend $850 a month to feed cats and kittens a high-quality diet, not to mention the vet care, vaccines, dewormings, litter, grooming products, cleaning supplies, toys, etc. that moms and litters receive. I’m sure it’s hard to imagine, but most of this cost goes right back into keeping the cattery going.

What can I use to clean my kitten’s eyes?

A soft microfiber cloth or cotton round with plain warm water works to keep the eyes clean. I like to use warm water or PinkPawPal eye cleanser followed by their eye powder to keep the skin below their eyes clean and dry. Eye Envy is another great product for cleaning and keeping their eyes nice and clean. You could also use corn starch as a powder if you have some in your kitchen. Be careful not to get it in their eyes!

My kitten’s fur is getting tangled and matted! What should I do?

Persians and Exotics should be combed at least once every other day (use a comb, not a brush). They are very high-maintenance breeds and will need a lot more grooming than most people realize. If your kitten/cat already has tangles, you can try and gently comb the tangles out starting at the bottom of the tangled fur. If it’s already matted, those will have to be very carefully cut out without cutting the skin. Persians and Exotics are more likely to get tangles in the spring and summer when they’re shedding more fur.

Believe it or not, a bath every other month will help prevent tangled matted fur! Pair that with daily combing and you’ll see a huge difference. If you’re not comfortable giving your cat a bath, a groomer who is experienced with cats is always another option.

Do Persians shed more than Exotic short hairs?

Quite the opposite, actually. Exotic short hairs shed a lot more than the long hair varieties! The good thing is that the short hairs can be bathed and dried much faster and the shedding can be controlled for all of them.

How do I control shedding?

A bath and blow dry will greatly reduce or eliminate the shedding for a few weeks. During the spring and summer, we recommend a bath once a month to prevent shedding throughout the season. You can eliminate shedding and prevent tangled fur all in one step!

I really want my cat to experience motherhood. Can’t I let her have just one litter?

Cats don’t care about experiencing motherhood and as a breeder I can assure you of this. Persians and Exotics are the top most difficult feline births and it comes with a huge list of risks and potential complications. Even the most experienced breeders struggle with a difficult birth, needing a c-section, and loss. Also, first time moms are not good mothers and likely will refuse to take care of their kittens.

How many litters do you have a year?

Each mom will have 1-2 litters per year.

Are your cats health tested?

Yes. All adult cats are DNA tested and negative for PKD1 through UC Davis. They’ve also been tested by our vet and are negative for FeLV (Feline Leukemia) and FIV (Feline Aids). Moms have a fecal test done yearly to check for parasites. All Adults are dewormed yearly and core vaccines or boosters are done regularly as well. We take all precautions to prevent illness from entering our cattery.