Animals

The history of the Himalayan is well known and documented. Experimental breeding of Himalayans took place in the United States and England as far back as the early 1920′s when the Persian and Siamese breeds were bred together, but actual recognition as a purebred cat did not come until 1957 in USA. The name Himalayan because their coat patterns were similar to that of the rabbits and goats with the same colouring found in the Himalayans in Asia. Early Himalayan cats looked more like Siamese but now have the same head and body type as other Persians.

The Himalayan cat’s body has the exact same standards of the Persian, medium to large, of the “cobby” type, low on the legs, broad and deep through the chest, equally massive across the shoulders and rump, and with a sweet “pansy” face. The Himalayan should have good muscle tone with no evidence of obesity. Its coat is long and thick, of fine texture, glossy and full of life. A wide variety of colors is permissable.

In the CFA, the Himalayan is considered as just another color of the Persian breed. In TICA, the Himalayan is considered a separate breed, but is included in the Persian Breed Group, which also includes Exotic Shorthair cats.

The Himalayan is one of the most popular of all Persians. They have a round head, short nose, large round eyes, small ears and heavy boned, cobby body of the Persian coupled with coloured points like Siamese. One of the most striking characteristics is their eye colour, which is vivid blue.

A Himalayan can be a lovely pet, sweet of disposition, loving and loyal. However, be prepared to pay your dues in terms of the time you’ll need to spend brushing, combing, and grooming this lavishly lovely cat. If you don’t want to spend the time, consider an Exotic instead.