Himalayan Cat Breed: A Guide To The Beautiful, Blue-Eyed Beast

With its long, silky coat and doll-like face, the Persian cat is one of the most popular in the United States. I mean, it's such a popular breed that they even have a sub-breed: The Himalayan cat. Also called the Himalayan Persian, this breed bears a specific shade, which somehow makes it even more glamourous and appealing to enthusiasts of this breed.

 

 

Origin & History

The Persian cat has a very long history of living among humanity. Descendants of longhaired cats living in cold mountainous regions of Persia, Persian cats were spread throughout Europe as early as the mid-1500s. They quickly became the cat of royalty, favored among the rich for their luxurious fur and unique appearance.

 

 

Persian cats came to America in the late 1800s and encountered the same amount of fascination. They became one of the most famous cats in cat shows worldwide and were even given seven distinct divisions by the Cat Fanciers' Association. One of those divisions was the Himalayan Persian cat. In 1924, a Swedish geneticist decided to cross a Siamese with a Persian. Ten years later, the first longhair Persian with a pointed pattern was born.

 

 

In the 1930s, Harvard medical researchers established a new hybrid, often using black Persian cats. The effort to create the ideal Himalayan stopped because of World War II, but the efforts continued soon after. In 1950, the American Marguerita Goforth created the colorpoint Persian researchers had envisioned. The Cat Fanciers' Association and the American Cat Fanciers' Association recognized the breed by 1957, calling it Himalayan after the Himalayan rabbit, an animal with a similar color pattern.

 

 

By 1961, Himalayans were recognized by all the major cat associations in the United States. In 1950, American Marguerita Goforth succeeded in breeding the long-awaited Persian-like colorpoint. CFA and ACFA recognized the breed in 1957 under Himalayan, named for the color pattern found in other animals, such as the Himalayan rabbit. By 1961, all major U.S. cat associations recognized the Himalayan.

 

 

Personality

A hybrid breed, Himalayan, has both the calm and reserved Persian cat and the friendly and social Siamese cat breed. Himalayans are docile, content sitting in your lap and getting pets or hanging out alone on the couch when you're at work or busy. While they love attention, the Himalayans are not the ones to demand it.

 

 

The Himalayans is picky about who they spend time with. They often reserve their attention for family members they trust — and maybe some visitors who take the time to get to know them. They enjoy the company of calmer and quieter people and prefer an environment with routine and little change.

 

 

Like the Persian cat, Himalayans are not particularly athletic or active. You won't find your Himalayan exploring the kitchen counters or trying to climb your curtains. When prompted, they'll play with a few toys but are quite content to just relax on the couch or bed. Quiet and calm, Himalayan cats make a good companion for a family looking to shower a pet with affection.

 

 

Characteristics (Physical)

The Himalayan Persian is all fluff. They are medium-sized cats known for their glamorously long plush coat, stunningly bright eyes, and smooshed faces. Himalayans should have the same body shape and features as Persian cats but don't have the same color and coat pattern range.

 

 

Size

Himalayan Persians weigh between seven and 12 pounds, a standard cat size underneath their massive fur coat. With a broad and deep chest, huge shoulders, and substantial rump, they are a heavily boned and round breed.

 

 

Head

The Himalayan Persian's head is noticeably big and round, with distinct facial features. This includes a snubbed nose with a "break" between their large, circular eyes. Their ears are small for their head size with rounded tips. The CFA describes the Himalayan breed as looking alert and friendly.

 

 

Eye Color

Unlike the Persian cat— which may have any eye color known to the cat kind — the Himalayan only has one eye color: "deep vivid blue." Their bright blue eyes often stand out against the darker fur around their face.

 

 

Legs & Paws

Himalayans have short and muscular legs. The front and back legs appear straight, with round and large paws.

 

 

Coat

This is where a Himalayan Persian stands out from other Persians. The Himalayan color point coat pattern is one of seven divisions of Persians. This particular division only consists of point patterns, meaning one solid body-color (often white) and then darker fur on their face, ears, legs, tail, and feet, much like a Siamese.

 

 

Some of these point patterns include:

• Chocolate point
• Lynx point
• Seal lynx point
• Flame point
• Lilac point
• Blue-cream lynx point 

 

 

Breed Care

As previously mentioned, the Himalayan has the same big, full coat as the Persian (they are a Persian, after all). While this is why they are so appealing — who can deny the beauty of their silky, long fur? — it's also a feature that comes with a lot of responsibility. You'll need to brush your Himalayan almost every day to keep them from getting matted and knotted. This also reduces shedding and hairballs.

 

 

Here's what you'll need to tackle your Himalayan's coat:

• Metal comb with both narrow teeth and wide-spaced teeth
• Metal slicker brush 

 

 

Get your Himalayan kitten used to brushing at an early age. While most Himalayan kittens will enjoy the attention, some may balk at the long brushing sessions. Try combing and brushing them before breakfast or dinner so they associate the process with something they enjoy most. Part your cat's fur, and then use the wide-spaced teeth on the comb to brush out any knots and tangles.

 

 

Then, use the slicker brush to brush their fur out in sections, loosening dead hair. Finally, comb your Himalayan cat's entire body with the narrow-toothed side of the comb. You'll also need to clean your Persian cat's face quite regularly. Their unique facial features—flat nose and wide eyes—can lead to improper tear drainage. This extra discharge will get into the folds of their face, and you'll start to notice a discoloring of their fur. Tackle this with vet-approved wipes.

 

 

Your Himalayan should be kept strictly indoors to avoid dirtying and knotting their fur. This will also ensure that dogs and wild animals aren't chased or hurt. With their snubbed noses, they can become short of breath pretty quickly.

 

 

Health Problems

Himalayans can live to be nine to 15 years old on average. But you'll need to schedule regular vet visits to live a long, happy, and healthy life. Unfortunately, the Persian cat is prone to many diseases, illnesses, and complications related to its facial structure and breeding. Their large, round eyes are damageable. They are also prone to malformed tear ducts and eyelids that fold inward, leading to cornea damage as the eyelashes rub against their eye. They also get a degenerative eye disease called progressive retinal atrophy.

 

 

Himalayan Persians also get urinary tract disease, heat sensitivity, and shortness of breath. Persian cats also develop a kidney disease that eventually causes kidney failure and kidney disease that leads to cysts and enlargement. It's crucial to adopt your Himalayan Persian from a reputable breeder. Thanks to advanced DNA testing and responsible breeding, a trusted breeder will ensure their cats don't carry many hereditary diseases. Start your search with CFA-registered breeders.

 

 

Nutrition

Himalayans love to eat, but they don't want to get off the couch to burn any of it off. It's very important to make sure you aren't overfeeding your cat, which can lead to several health issues. Always check your cat's food label for the proper daily serving based on your kitty's age, size, and lifestyle.

 

 

Check out our guide on proper cat food ingredients and nutrients to ensure the commercial cat food you've decided on provides your cat with the protein and taurine they need to be healthy and happy. Always avoid cat foods heavy on carbohydrate "fillers" like corn and wheat.

 

 

Children & Other Pets

Himalayans bond with children. You'll often see kids brushing them, dressing them up, and cuddling with them! If the child is gentle and respectful of this regal kitty, they will get along great. They also bond pretty well with dogs when given the proper introduction. Himalayans love attention, but they can be bothered by rowdiness and loudness.

 

 

Himalayans are not opposed to a feline companion for other cats. You'll just need to give them time to get used to each other. Make sure your Himalayan has their secluded spot in the home to call their own if the other cat starts getting on their nerves. This will ensure they are never overwhelmed.

 

 

More About This Breed

The Himalayan probably looks familiar to you. That's because they're movie stars! Remember Mr. Jinx from Meet the Parents? That was a Himalayan Persian! Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey producers also employed over 10 Himalayans to portray Sassy back in 1999. The average cost of Himalayans is around $2,500, but it can become much higher if you're looking for a show cat or one with an extensive award-winning pedigree.

 

 

But when it comes to keeping you company, any Himalayan will do just fine. This cat loves to hang out and get some pets, no matter the time of day. You'll never find a cuddlier companion.