Himalayan cat is a cross-breeding between the Persian cat and Siamese cat. The cat breeder Virginia Cobb along with Dr. Clyde Keeler of Harvard, began crossing the Persian with the Siamese cat in 1931, to study how the colorpoint gene was passed on.
The breeders in Britain and North America worked to further develop this breed using Cobb’s and Keeler’s methods. Once the breed was firmly established, they sought recognition from cat associations in 1950.
The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) acknowledged the Himalayan as a distinct breed in 1957, but in 1984, reclassified the breed as a variety of Persian.
The International Cat Association (TICA) recognizes the breed as part of their Persian group, but the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) and other associations give the Himalayan cat in a separate group.
Description
The Himalayan cat has a light-colored body with a darker facial mask, ears and tail, like the Siamese cat. Unlike her Persian ancestor, the Himalayan Cat’s eyes only come in blue, like her Siamese ancestors.
Aside from her colorpoint and eye color, she resembles the Persian in nearly every other way. Himalayans have a large, round head with wide-set, round eyes, a short nose and full cheeks.
These cats face is topped with small, round-tipped ears. Himalayans cats are not fat cats, but instead have a strong, muscular body with a thick neck and short, strong legs.
Coat Length: Long
Age Expectancy: 9 to 15 years
Size: Males weighing 9 to 14 pounds and females weighing 7 to 11 pounds
Personality
The Himalayan Cat is a sweet and mild-tempered cat. Although she loves lying in your lap and being pet, it will be reserved around guests.
Himalayan cats will stretch out next to you, sleep in your bed and even sit on your lap when she is in the mood. This cat does not mind changes in routine.
The cat can stay home alone and won’t climb your curtains or jump on your counters. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t enjoy playtime, though, with toy mice or even a ball of crumpled paper.
Feeding & Grooming
Feeding: Every cat is unique and each has their particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food.
Cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different nutrients from their food. Proper nutrients will vary depending on age and overall health, so energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat.
Grooming: Daily grooming of this cat is essential to keep their long coat tangle- and mat-free and to remove the loose hair. This will keep their coat neat and clean.