# Is there an official name for those squashed-face cats?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-official-name-for-those-squashed-face-cats/385520>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 25, 2006, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-official-name-for-those-squashed-face-cats/385520 "2006-12-25T10:57:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-official-name-for-those-squashed-face-cats/385520/1 "2006-12-25T10:57:00Z")

</div>

You know the kind I mean - longhaired cats with flat faces. I’ve always just called them “squashface” cats. Is there a more official-sounding name for them? I assume they’re some kind of Persian breed (is this correct?)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![auRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@auRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auRa)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-official-name-for-those-squashed-face-cats/385520/2 "2006-12-25T11:19:28Z")

</div>

Persians would be correct if you’re talking about [these](http://www.persian-cat-persian-cats.com/pictures-images-photos/persian-cats-01.jpg) kind of creatures. Although I do seem to recall seeing short-haired cats which had the Persian scrunched-up look, I can’t bring to mind what they were called…

Ha! Found them! [Exotic shorthairs!](http://f.screensavers.com/OMS/img/407/exoticshorthaircat_215.jpg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-official-name-for-those-squashed-face-cats/385520/3 "2006-12-25T13:24:17Z")

</div>

Like **auRa** said, [Persians](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_(cat)) is the correct term.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-official-name-for-those-squashed-face-cats/385520/4 "2006-12-25T16:20:59Z")

</div>

I’ve always called them “Parked Car Cats.”

As in “chasing after parked cars.”

😛

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-official-name-for-those-squashed-face-cats/385520/5 "2006-12-25T19:31:56Z")

</div>

One thing to note is that it’s only fairly recently (within the last few decades) that Persians and related breeds have had the extreme squashed face look, as a result of ultra-typing, i.e. interpreting the breed description ridiculously literally and breeding accordingly. These cats are prone to a host of health problems, and often wind up with difficulty breathing, defective tear ducts, and an inability to feed themselves except by lapping liquid food off a plate.

If anyone reading this happens to be thinking about purchasing a Persian, rather than purchasing from a breeder that produces intentionally deformed cats (as these are), I’d urge you to seek out a breeder that maintains the traditional look, with a short but not nonexistent nose.