I've had persians (both show and pet) for about 16 years now and I agree with what the others have said above. Don't get me wrong, I love my cats, but they are challenging to keep. You have some options if you're interested later in getting a Persian.
Check out either TICA (The International Cat Association)
http://www.ticaeo.com/
or CFA (Cat Fancier's Association)
http://www.cfainc.org/
Both have information on all purebreeds of kitties and can refer you to reputable breeders in your area. If you haven't already, consider going to a cat show (these websites have the show calendar's posted.) I encourage going to a show not just for the entertainment value, but to see the variety of grooming that the exhibitor puts in for that breed of cat. This is also a good place to pick up a business card or two for some breeders/catteries you are interested in. Ask questions of the breeder; most breeders are happy to give information about their cats, their cattery, experience, etc.
If you do contract with a breeder, it is always good to see the cattery, ask what is included with the contract (all sets of kitten shots, cattery certified pkd negative, etc.)
http://www.pkdaware.com/
There are also some other avenues you can pursue. If you're serious about a persian, you might consider The Persian Rescue Pages. Depending on your area, there is probably one near you.
I love my cats but they require a lot of work. They need to be brushed daily (depending on the fur texture, some tend to matt just by looking at them), eyes checked to make sure they're clear and wiped, claws clipped. I bathe mine once every two weeks and they get blow dried. Their ears get cleaned and checked to make sure they don't get mites.
They're cuddle bugs (at night one sleeps with me and one sleeps on my husband's head) and we've been grateful for every moment that we've had to share with these kitties.
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