Best Food for Persian (Shirazi) Cats: A Complete Feeding Guide

The Persian — or Shirazi — cat is the most beloved breed in Saudi homes, and for good reason: that calm temperament, the round face, and above all the long, luxurious coat. But those same qualities mean Persians have feeding needs that are a little different from the average cat. Get the food right and you’ll see it directly — in a glossier coat, fewer hairballs, a healthier weight, and a happier, more settled cat.

This guide covers exactly what to feed a Persian cat, how much, and the common feeding problems (and fixes) that come with the breed.

Like all cats, Persians are obligate carnivores — they’re built to run on animal protein, not grains and fillers. But the breed has three traits that shape what “good food” looks like for them:

• That famous coat needs nutrition from the inside. A long, dense Persian coat is built from protein and healthy fats. Diets rich in real meat and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids support a softer, shinier, less-shedding coat — the single most visible payoff of feeding well.
• Hairballs are a way of life. All that grooming means swallowed hair. High-quality, highly digestible food with enough moisture helps hair pass through smoothly instead of building up.
• Flat faces make eating awkward. The Persian’s short muzzle (brachycephalic face) makes some shapes and textures hard to pick up. Soft, gently-cooked food is far easier for them to eat than hard, large kibble.

Putting that together, the ideal Persian diet is:

• High in real animal protein — chicken, fish, lamb — as the first ingredient, not a by-product.
• Rich in moisture. Persians, like most cats, don’t drink enough water. Fresh or wet food (around 70% moisture vs ~10% in dry kibble) supports hydration, kidney health and easier digestion.
• Free of fillers, artificial colours and preservatives — these add nothing for an obligate carnivore and can trigger sensitivities.
• Soft and easy to pick up — gentle on a flat-faced eater.

This is exactly what Soluky fresh cat meals are made of — real, single-protein meat, gently cooked, no fillers, delivered chilled. Browse our fresh cat meals to see the recipes.

Portion depends on your cat’s weight, age and activity, but as a general guide an adult Persian (around 3.5–5.5 kg) needs roughly 200–250 calories a day, split across two meals. Kittens need more, more often; senior or less-active Persians need less.

• Feed twice a day, at consistent times — Persians like routine.
• Measure portions rather than free-feeding. Persians are prone to gaining weight, and extra weight makes grooming (and breathing, with that flat face) harder.
• Always provide fresh water, and lean on moisture-rich food to top up hydration.

The easiest way to get the portion exactly right is to let us do the maths — build your box and we’ll portion your Persian’s meals to their weight.

Two complaints come up again and again with Persians — and both are often helped by the food:

“My Persian is a fussy eater.” Persians can be famously picky. A flat face plus a sensitive palate means dry, bland kibble often gets ignored. Fresh, gently-cooked food with real-meat aroma is far more tempting — many owners find a fussy Persian suddenly interested at mealtime. Warming food slightly to release the smell helps too.

“The shedding and hairballs are constant.” Regular grooming is essential, but diet does real work here: enough moisture and digestible protein help swallowed hair move through, and good fats reduce excess shedding at the source. A little bone broth adds moisture and tempts picky eaters at the same time.

Persians can have sensitive stomachs. If you ever see loose stools, our guide to what to feed a cat with diarrhea covers the safe, gentle approach.