Himalayan Cat
Himalayan Cat
History
The Himalayan cat was produced by crossing a Persian cat with a Siamese to get the Siamese color points, then breeding back with Persians to maintain the look and luxurious long hair of the Persian. It is believed that the breed was first developed by a British man, Brian Stirling-Webb, in the 1950s.
Some cat associations including all associations in the UK do not recognize Himalayans as a separate breed but classify them as color-pointed Persians.
The name comes from a resemblance to the color-pointing found on rabbits in the Himalayan mountains. The cats themselves have no connection with the Himalayan region.
Appearance
Himalayans resemble Persians in appearance, except for their color. They are stunning cats with a long fluffy coat and beautiful color pointing. The hair can be up to 7 inches long. The body is white or cream and there are many shades of point color including chocolate, blue, brown, red, lilac, tortoiseshell or tabby. Chocolate and blue pointed Himalayans are the most difficult to produce because they can only be born of parents who both carry the necessary color gene.
They have heavy bodies with broad shoulders and hips and short legs. This coupled with their long hair means that their belly appears very close to the ground when they walk. Point color is limited to the face, ears, legs and tail.
They have large round blue eyes and short, cute pansy-like faces. In many cats the nose is almost directly between the eyes.
Temperament and care
Himalayan cats are friendly creatures, liking to stay close to their owners and always wanting to get involved with what you are doing. They have a sweet, melodious voice. It is said that once you have a Himalayan you will not be able to resist them, and most ‘Himmy’ owning households contain more than one.
Due to their inbreeding, pedigree Himalayans have some tendencies to genetic disorders. These can include problems with joints, genetic abnormalities and polycystic kidney disease. They are also more prone to hairballs than other breeds.
Himalayans requiring a great deal of grooming, although it is said that they are easier to groom than Persians because the Siamese influence makes their top coat a little more silky and their undercoat less woolly than the Persian. This prevents the coat of the Himalayan cat from matting so easily.
The coat should be brushed daily and many cats also require daily wiping of the face. You will need a bristle brush and a wide toothed comb for the coat, plus a narrow toothed comb for the face and ears. Some breeders recommend bathing a Himalayan cat regularly to reduce oil on the coat.
