Shimmering coats, distinct faces, and affectionate personalities make Silver and Golden Persians more precious than the coveted metals after which they are named.
Silver Persians enjoy a long history : their first appearance in the show ring was in the late 1800’s in England.
Their coats catch your eye, but these cats’ personalities win your heart. Silvers are more active than other Persian colors and also more intelligent. They are more sensitive and people cats. They want to be with you all the time.
Silvers and Goldens have small rounded ears and large round eyes like other Persians but less "extreme" features --- their face is not as flat as other Persians’. They tend to be lighter boned than other Persians. They also weigh less. For example, a typical solid-color Persian weighs 10-11 pounds, while a silver or golden often weighs only 5-6 pounds.
Both colors have the long, lustrous coats Persians are well known for. The Silver Persian’s coat is white but tipped with black, meaning each hair has black shading on it. This gives them a shimmering look. The difference between Chinchilla and shaded silvers is the amount of black. Shaded silvers show more tipping on the legs and face.

True Goldens are born to Silvers and carry the same markings. A Golden coat ranges from a honey or apricot color to a dark reddish-gold and the tipping is black. Both Silvers and Goldens have dark paw pads.
Perhaps most striking are their beautiful eyes. They are the only Persians with green or blue-green eyes. Silvers and Goldens are occasionally referred to as Maybelline cats because their eyes are outlined with black as though they have been made up with mascara. Black also lines the nose leather and mouth.
Grooming Silvers and Goldens requires extra care. The long lustrous coats don’t come without a price, or at least a little extra time spent grooming. Longhaired cats in general need more maintenance than their shorthaired counterparts, and some silvers and goldens have fragile hair.
Silvers and Goldens can be a bit sensitive on their backs, so it’s wise to avoid using a heavy hand while grooming.

Excerpts taken from the Nov. 1999 issue of CAT FANCY Magazine written by Jennifer Newton-Doyle of Southern California.

Here is the Breed Profile for the Persian Cat written by the Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc.