Top

Persian cats are the new favourites in Vijayawada and Guntur

Craze for the quiet cats catching up among pet lovers in city

Vijayawada: Craze for Persian Cats is catching up among pet lovers in Vijayawada and Guntur with a good number of people nurturing these cats as pets. Pet lovers across the cities are already taking in different breeds of dogs and some of them, inspired by western culture, are opting to take in cats as their pets.

A cat, although not an alternative for man’s best friend, dog, is slowly gaining popularity on the list of pet lovers as people have now started domesticating them as the craze for an alternative pet is gradually catching up in the cities of Vijayawada and Guntur.

Persian cats, also called Persian Longhairs or Longhair Cats, are mostly taken as pets in the US and other Middle East countries. Generally known to be a quiet cat, Persian cats are placid in nature and are suitable for life in an apartment. Going by the words of a Persian cat breeder Md Ashraf Ali from Guntur, earlier people rarely used to like cats here. However, the trend is slowly gaining.

“Those who like to have cats as pets are not bothered about local beliefs. They just nurture them as any other pet”, said Mr Ali who sold around 10 Persian Cats in Guntur.

In Vijayawada too breeders are investing on Persian cats. They are being sold prices higher than those of many breeds of dogs. An exotic Punch Persian Cat can cost anything over Rs 30, 000 while Punch cats are sold at lesser prices.

It may be noted that the Persian cats are mainly classified into Semi Punch, Punch and Exotic Punch categories based on the shape of their noses. A baby semi punch Persian Cat is being sold for Rs 5,000 in Vijayawada and Guntur. However maintenance of these cats is also costly as a kg of cat food costs over Rs 500.

“We don’t mind nurturing cats and it is like any domestic animal. In fact cats are a status symbol in many countries.”

“They may not be active like dogs but they just look cute”, said P. Bhaskar who has taken in a Persian cat as a pet.

Persian cats can be found in different colours like black, white and brown.

( Source : dc correspondent )
Next Story