What happens when two of the most popular cat breeds of all time get together and decide to have kittens? Himalayan cats happen, that's what! Himalayan cats are a mix of the Persian breed and the Siamese breed. The Himalayan started in the 1930s, when breeders wanted to blend the body type of the Persian with the color point pattern of the Siamese.
Today, Himalayan cats are considered by the Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc. (CFA) to be a division of the Persian breed. As such, they have the body characteristics of the Persian and its lovely, gentle temperament. According to the CFA, the Himalayan cats are among the most popular of all Persians, and, since Persians are the number one cat breed in popularity, this makes Himalayan cats popular indeed.
Himalayan cats have bodies of white or fawn with a dizzying array of possible colors comprising "points" forming the facial mask and extremities. Point colors may be chocolate, seal, lilac, blue, red, cream, tortie, blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-cream, seal lynx, blue lynx, red lynx, cream lynx, tortie lynx, blue-cream lynx, chocolate lynx, lilac lynx, chocolate-tortie lynx, and lilac-cream lynx. The coat is long and flowing. All Himalayan cats must have vivid blue eyes.
Himalayan cats have somewhat stocky bodies supported by short, heavy boned legs. They have open, somewhat flattened faces, which some have described as "pansy-like." Himalayan cats are gentle cats who communicate a great deal through their large blue eyes. They are also known to have low melodious voices, which is good, as they are quite willing to talk! As with all Persian cats, Himalayan cats do not seem to be great climbers or jumpers, rather they are "drapers." They enjoy posing themselves draped in a favorite window or chair.
Playful and mischievous, Himalayan cats seem to enjoy always being in the middle of their human's activities. They get along well with other pets, and their owners find them so delightful that they often have more than one "Himmie" in the household.
The long coats of Himalayan cats mean that their owners must be committed to giving them proper care. As with Persians, it is recommended that Himmie be inside cats, the better to avoid tangling and matting of their luxurious coats. But, indoor or outdoor cat, your Himalayan will need daily combing with a metal comb to discourage tangling and matting and to eliminate dead hair. Since Himalayan cats have such large blue eyes, there may be some tearing, so a daily gentle face wash will probably be in order, too. Grooming time is a good time to bond with your cat and increase her feeling of safety and security in your household.
As with all pets, make sure your Himmie receives proper veterinary care, including all of the appropriate vaccinations. Himalayan cats are generally healthy, robust cats and with proper lifelong veterinary care, you can expect your beautiful friend to be a part of your household for a long time.
