A flat-faced Persian cat is a type of Persian cat that has a very flattened face. The face of the flat-faced Persian is squished with short, pointed ears, and their nose is short and indented between the eyes. This type of Persian cat was bred to have an extremely flat face.

Show Persian cats, or Peke-Face Persians, have the more recognizable Persian cat features. This breed’s name comes from their similarities to Pekingese dogs. A genetic mutation causes the flat face in this Persian variation. These cats have a square-shaped head, a small nose, and a long jaw. They also have round cheeks and large circular eyes.

Persian cats have flat faces. Over the years these have been bred to quite an extreme, due to the popularity of that snub-nosed look. Unfortunately, having a flat face is not very good for a cat’s health. It causes a condition known as ‘brachycephaly’, which can have a lot of unpleasant health implications.

These Persian cats are known as traditional or doll-faced Persians. A natural mutation in red and red tabby Persians in the late 1950s started the popularity of the peke-faced Persian. These cats were named after the flat-faced Pekingese dog. The peke-faced Persian is a registered breed in the Cat Fanciers Association.