Type and Proportion of (Traditional Doll Face) Persians

Most breeders that breed Persians with a traditional look with a doll face try to breed Persians the way Persians  looked around the sixties and seventies. The actual standard has only changed just a very little, only the interpretation of the standards by judges and breeders changed. Because terms as "short", "flat" and "snub" are terms that can be interpreted differently by different people. Unfortunately at cat shows the fashion was that the most shortest nose, the most shortest muzzle we're chosen as the winners. Since a lot of breeders only breed to produce kittens that will win prices on shows they followed the judges opinion about the ideal Persian. 

Traditional Persian breeders try to create a perfect loving pet, with all the characteristics every Persian has except for the very short nose and the absence of a muzzle.  Below you can read how Jeanne Ramsdale describes the perfect Persian at the end of the seventies. She understood that words as short, flat and snub can be mistaken easily and therefore she clarified these terms with pictures so no obscurities would arise.

Desirable face and body type
The most desirable face and body type for a Persian are parts that are in proper proportion to the whole and to each other, the whole presenting a nearly square, or cobby, appearance. This basic square should be softly rounded off to avoid a severe impression. A nose that would be considered long if it were on one cat is not too long on one having a larger, wider head. The same applies to legs, tails, bodies, and all other features. In like manner, an extremely short tail would not make a pleasant finish to a large cat, whereas it might look fine on a small one. Balance is another word that means proportion, but, specifically, it may have to do with the weight distribution. A Persian should not be so extra heavy on either end that the other end suffers by comparison.

Head
The ideal head of a Persian cat could be divided into equal sections. The distances from forehead top to nose and from nose to chin bottom should be the same. The up curving mouth, muzzle and chin, with the jaw bone as wide as the top of the head, helps give the desired "sweet expression." The nose should be flat and as broad at the tip as it is at the base, with a definite "break," or stop, where it meets the forehead. The distance between the eyes should be the width of the eye itself, or more, and the nose length should be this same distance, or shorter. The ears should be set even with the corners of the eyes and should not be of a size or length that would make them appear to be appendages rather than part of "the head. The ears should be neither wide nor open at the base.

Body
The actual features of the cat are sometimes covered by the fur which is the window-dressing of a Persian. Judges smooth back the fur to find the structure of the cat underneath. It has been said that you should have a well-built house before you try to paint it. A Persian cat should have Persian "type," regardless of coat or color. Even when it is clipped or wringing wet you should still be able to see that it is a Persian. The body should be short and wide, weIl-muscled, the chest broad and well developed, with no impression of shallowness. Legs, short and broad; feet, large but firmly muscled, not splayed. The neck should be short and broad, joining the head and body in a beautiful curve. A Persian's tail is properly short and bushy, the same width from tip to base. The whole cat should have a substantial feel, heavy and chunky, but not overly fat; the bones themselves should be heavy. If the Siamese may be compared to a thoroughbred race horse, the Persian may be compared to a Clydesdale or a Percheron draft horse. In discussing breeding possibilities for the various colors, all these things are included when the word "type" is used.

	The three arrows at the left of this photo illustrate the correct alignment of features:  the distance from the top of the  nose to the top of  the skull is equal  to that between  the top of the nose  and the bottom of the chin. The arrow on the right Indicates the proper alignment of the ear with the outer corner
This view illustrates the wide snub nose (with definite stop, or "break"), forward pricked ears, and sweet, smiling facial expression.

FORMAL, OR SHOW, STANDARDS FOR LONGHAIRS 1976

HEAD: Massive and round, with great breadth of skull; jaws broad and powerful, with cheeks full and prominent. The short, snub nose should be almost as broad as long, with slight stop, or "break," between the eyes. Objections: Long, narrow head; long, Roman or humped nose; thin muzzle; overshot or undershot jaw; irregularities of the teeth.

EARS: Small, round-tipped, set wide apart and not unduly open at the base, pricked forward as though listening. Objections: Large, pointed ears; ears slanting out from the head, or set too dose together .

EYES: The openings should be large and round, with the eyes brilliant and set far apart, giving a sweet expression to the face. Their color should conform to the requirements for the coat color. Objections: Small eyes; eyes set on a bias or dose together.

BODY: Short, level back and a well-rounded mid-section. The neck should be short and powerful, providing adequate support for the massive head. Chest broad and deep. Objections: Narrow or indented chest; long, narrow back; slab flanks; long or thin neck; light bone structure. LEGS: Short, thick and heavy-boned; forelegs should be perfectly straight. The feet should be large, round, and firm, with toes dose together; five toes on front feet and four on hind feet. Objections: Long legs; bow legs; oval feet and separated toes. Extra toes disqualify.

TAIL: Short; carried without a curve, at an angle lower than the back, but it should not trail when cat is walking. Objections: Long tail; kinked tail.

COAT: Primarily, coat should reflect cat's perfect physical condition. It should be of a fine, soft texture, appear glossy and full of life, and should stand off from the body. The coat should be long all over the body, including at the shoulders. The ruff should be immense and continue in a deep frill between the front legs. Ear tufts should be long and curved; toe tufts should be long. The tail should be very full (like a fox's brush). The cat should be firm in flesh, but not fat, well-balanced physically and temperamentally, gentle and amenable to handling.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Medium to large, but with no sacrifice of quality for the sake of mere size; heavy-boned; short coupled; cobby; the whole giving the impression of robust power. 

COLOR: For the recognized colors and color patterns, see the color plates and descriptions. Points for cats with special markings should be divided between color and markings. Objections: Any cat whose coloring differs markedly from the recognized proper shade or pattern shall be penalized or, in some cases, transferred to the Any-Other-Color Class, which does not have Championship Awards. 

The Cat Fanciers' Association judges' scoring for Longhairs: