Persianشيرازي

Persian or Shirazi: the same cat in Morocco

In Morocco, the Persian cat is often called a Shirazi cat, after the city of Shiraz. In listings, both words describe the same type of cat in practice, sometimes crossed. It is a long-haired, flat-faced indoor cat, calm and attached to its routines, whose upkeep is heavy all year round.

Trait	What to know
Size	3 to 5.5 kg on average
Coat	Long, dense, with a substantial undercoat
Head	Flattened face, more or less pronounced by line
Temperament	Gentle, calm, homebound, undemonstrative
Upkeep	Very high: daily brushing
Heat tolerance	Low, especially with a very flat face

The most requested coats in Morocco are white, chinchilla (a light coat with darker tips) and the cream or grey-and-white bicolours. On a white coat, the staining around the eyes shows quickly. For a home that mainly wants a calm cat, colour comes after health: the nose, the eyes and the quality of the coat.

Persian cat prices in Morocco in 2026

We recorded the listings for Persian, Shirazi and Himalayan cats on Avito on 17 October 2026: 282 listings showed a price.

Marker	Price
Median price	1,800 MAD
Half the listings	between 1,500 and 2,500 MAD
Listings above 4,000 MAD	4 of 282

The price rises with a young kitten, a vaccination record, a documented pedigree and the sought-after coats. Listings at 1 MAD, 10 MAD or "price unspecified" mostly exist to attract messages: they do not state the real figure.

The purchase price is only the entry ticket. For the first days, add:

• a check-up consultation at the vet;
• any vaccines or booster that are due;
• a brush, a metal comb and compresses;
• every month, coat and eye upkeep.

A Persian bought for 1,200 MAD can quickly represent 2,000 MAD or more. Read: the price of a cat in Morocco and the real cost of a pet in Morocco.

The Persian cat and the Moroccan heat

Between June and September several Moroccan cities reach 35 to 45 degrees, and the Persian copes badly with those peaks: flat face, long coat, clumps close to the skin. The basics:

• several bowls of fresh water, changed two to three times a day;
• the balcony or terrace closed during the hottest hours;
• cool tiled rooms and steady shade;
• ventilation or air conditioning if your home overheats;
• no close shave without veterinary advice: a targeted hygienic trim is often enough.

An overheating Persian becomes less active: it lies fully stretched out, eats less, breathes faster and seeks cold floors. Panting, weakness or noisy breathing: this is no longer about comfort, it is a veterinary emergency. Read: pet care in Moroccan summers.

Brushing and eyes: the daily routine

For a Persian cat, daily brushing is the baseline: five to ten minutes a day beats an hour of detangling at the weekend. Work behind the ears, under the forelegs, on the belly and around the hindquarters. The right pair: a soft brush, then a metal comb. If the comb catches everywhere, the routine is already too spaced out.

Eye discharge is common in Persians, because the flat face reduces natural drainage. Clean the corners of the eyes almost every day, sometimes morning and evening in hot weather, with a clean compress and a clean side per eye. Brownish staining is common; marked redness, pain, an eye held shut or very thick discharge need a consultation.

In summer, car journeys and waiting tire a Persian a lot: if you have it groomed, home grooming spares it the trip. Read: cat grooming in Morocco.

Feeding and hydration in summer

A Persian cat sometimes drinks less than you would expect. In summer, suitable wet food, offered then removed if it sits out, helps some cats hydrate better. Keep dry food dry and away from heat, and never leave bowls in full sun. A Persian that refuses to drink, becomes listless or pants needs a vet without delay.

Persian cat health

The Persian cat is not fragile as a rule, but some lines stack known risks. The flatter the face, the more the breathing, eyes and teeth need vigilance.

• Inherited polycystic kidney disease (PKD): a major point in the breed, screenable by DNA test. Ask for the parents' results.
• Difficult breathing: very brachycephalic Persians tolerate heat and exertion less well.
• Weeping eyes: frequent, sometimes chronic, worsened by dust.
• Teeth: their alignment is often poorer, which encourages tartar and inflammation.

A study by Sieslack and colleagues, published in PLOS ONE in 2021 (DOI), shows that the flatter the Persian's face, the more airway, eye and tooth-alignment problems increase.

In Morocco, rabies still circulates: the kitten's vaccine schedule and boosters are set with the vet. This content does not replace a veterinary diagnosis. Read: dog and cat vaccination in Morocco, the complete schedule.

Before you say yes

Ask for videos of the cat moving. Check whether it breathes with its mouth closed, whether its eyes are clean, whether its nose is clear and whether its coat falls freely, without matted plaques. Have it examined by a vet soon after it arrives.

Ask yourself three questions too:

• can you brush it every day, without skipping three evenings in a row?
• does your home stay bearable when your city gets very hot?
• does your budget include care, not just the listing?