Emma Jones
One moment she is still purring softly on your lap, then she is chasing a ball. The liveliness of the Siamese cat and the gentleness of the Persian cat come together in the Himalayas. Their fur requires daily grooming, which combines well with cuddle sessions. If you’re looking for an affable cat that can be left alone, the Himalayas could be just the thing for you.
Himalayan Cat: Character
The Himalayan cat is a shy but very cuddly cat. She got her gentleness from the Persian cat, her love of playing and climbing from the Siamese. She tends to choose someone to relate to. She has to thaw out with other people and especially with strangers. Like the Siamese, many Himalayan cats love to play. They can keep themselves busy for a long time. They are moody at times but are generally considered even-tempered and good-natured.
The Himalayan cat prefers a quiet home without noisy people or noise. She doesn’t appreciate excitement and change.
Himalayan cat: husbandry and care
The long, thick fur of the Himalayan cat should be combed daily with a soft brush. If you don’t do this regularly, the coat can become matted and knots. You should intensify the brushing, especially at the time of the change of coat. However, if knots form, you can remove them with a special detangling comb. If your Himalayan is an outdoor cat, check her fur regularly for thorns, ticks, or other parasites, because they find a good hold in her thick fur. Some breeders recommend bathing Himalayan cats regularly to reduce the amount of oil on the cat’s fur and skin.
The Himalayan cat is suitable as an apartment cat and can also be left alone. As long as she finds sufficient employment, she is easy to get along with and never gets bored.
Himalayan cat: colors
The Himalayan cat has a round, stocky body with short legs. The leg length makes it difficult for her to jump high. The bushy tail perfectly matches the length of the body. Her head is round, her face is either the traditional “Dollface” or the extreme “Pekeface”. The term preface refers to a flat face with a very short, upturned nose. It is strongly reminiscent of that of the Persian cat. Himalayan cats with doll faces have a face that is not as flat and has a longer nose. This breed’s eyes are bright blue and set wide apart. Their ears are rather round and small.
Most of the fur on a Himalayan cat’s body is white or cream in color. The typical markings (points) on their feet, ears, tail, or on their “mask” on the face come in different colors. They come in blue, purple, beige, chocolate brown, ivory, or red. The Himalayan cat appears larger than it is because of its thick, long fur.
Himalayan Cat: History
Work on a breed with combined Persian and Siamese traits began in the United States at Harvard University in the late 1920s. The results were published in the Journal of Heredity in 1936, but no major group of breeders took notice of the new breed at the time. Regardless of this, such a cross was developed in Great Britain almost at the same time over a period of ten years. In 1955 the British Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) recognized them as a Longhair Colourpoint. The World Cat Federation later merged them with the Colorpoint Shorthair and the Javanese into their own breed, the Colorpoint. To this day, many feline organizations do not consider the Himalayans and Persians to be clearly separate breeds.
Peculiarities of the Himalayan cat
The goal of crossing a Siamese cat with a Persian cat was to create a Persian cat with the characteristic coloring (points) and blue eyes of a Siamese cat. The first kitten of this new pairing was born in 1931. The Himalayan cat is also known as the “Masked Persian” or “Colourpoint Persian”.
At this point, it should be mentioned that the breeding of this breed is not undisputed. The swollen nose in the Himalayan cats with preface can lead to shortness of breath and respiratory disease. In addition, the eyes of the Pekefaces tend to water excessively. They should therefore be cleaned regularly and carefully with a clean, slightly damp cloth. Responsible breeders are actively involved in the reverse development of these traits. They also take care to keep their breeding lines free of Polycystic Kidney Disease, which is an inherited condition that leads to kidney cysts and eventually kidney failure.