The body of a Himalayan is white or cream, but the points come in many different colors: blue, brown, lilac, chocolate, flame, red and cream. The points can also be tabby or tortoiseshell-patterned.
Both the chocolate and lilac point Himalayan are the most difficult to produce. The Himalayan cat has short legs which makes it harder for them to jump as high as other cats do. Also they have very round bodies and weigh around 13 pounds on average.
Himalayans are gentle, calm, easygoing cats. They enjoy playing, but are not overly active. Great pet cat for the elderly. They also tend to be quiet. Himalayans with particularly thick coats need regular bathing to keep it clean. Daily brushing is optimal for these cats because their fur is prone to matting.
Things You Should Know:
The flat face of the Himalayan can lead to watery eyes and breathing problems. Himalayans need to be brushed daily to keep their coats from becoming matted. They also need frequent baths. The breed is prone to kidney disease.
Himalayan History:
The Himalayan was developed in the 1930s by crossing Siamese cats with Persians. The Cat Fanciers Association recognized the Himalayan as a breed in 1957, but in the 1980s, changed the Himalayan’s designation to a variety of Persian. The International Cat Association also considers the Himalayan a variety of Siamese. Only the American Cat Fanciers Association recognizes the Himalayan as a separate breed.
The Look of the Himalayan:
Himalayans come in a variety of “point colors,” much like their Siamese relatives. These colors vary from registry to registry. In CFA, recognized colors are chocolate, seal, lilac, blue, red, cream tortoiseshell, blue-cream, chocolate- tortoiseshell, lilac-cream, seal lynx, blue lynx, red lynx, cream lynx, tortoiseshell lynx, blue-cream lynx, chocolate lynx, lilac lynx, chocolate- tortoiseshell lynx and lilac-cream lynx. Eyes must be blue. The face of the Himalayan is flat, like that of the Persian. The coat is thick and profuse, and the paws are large.
Himalayan
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