Your Online Guide To the Himalayan Cat
Breed, including Himalayan Cat Breeders,
Himalayan Kittens For
Sale, Himalayan Pictures and More!
Himalayan Cats and Kittens Central's Himalayan Cat Breed Information Guide offers a
comprehensive Himalayan cat breed information profile, Himalayan cat breed pictures,
Himalayan rescues and cat
breed clubs, a directory of responsible Himalayan cat and kitten
breeders offering Himalayan kittens for sale,
Himalayan cat gifts and merchandise and much more.
by Shawna L. Krautheim & Debbie Moore
The credit for the Persian cat breed goes to
Iran, Turkey and the surrounding countries, though references
made in ancient hieroglyphs date the pansy-faced longhair clear
back to Egypt in 1684 B.C. or, perhaps, even earlier. The
variety known as the Himalayan, or
Himalayan Persian, did not
come into existence until the 1940’s. At first, Himalayans
were considered a separate breed (and still are in some
countries), though some areas have since adopted Himalayans into
the Persian breed standard, where they are now considered a
different color variety of the Persian cat.
Himalayan Cat and Kitten Central is pleased to offer this insightful
Himalayan Cat Facts and Information article to assist you in learning
about the Himalayan cat breed and deciding if a Himalayan cat or
kitten is the right choice for your family. Enjoy!
It’s generally agreed that the first Persian cats made their way
into Europe during the Great Crusades, around 1300 A.D.
Other people, however, say that the credit should go to the
Italian writer and traveler, Pietro della Valle (1586-1652), who
may have introduced the cats to his home of Italy.
Regardless of how they came to be in Europe, however, the
popularity of these sweet pansy-faced cats spread like wildfire,
making them the most popular
breed of cat. This trend would
spread throughout the world and, today, the Persian cat remains
the popular favorite.
In the United Kingdom, the
Persian cat is referred to as the Longhair and every color
of cat is considered to be a separate breed. Typical of
most cat breeders throughout the world, European breeders had to
take the Persian and see what could be done with selective
crossbreeding, determined to place their own stamp upon this
wonderful breed. One such crossbreeding resulted from a
desire to create what would be known as a color point Persian; a
perfect blending of Persian and Siamese bloodlines to create the
best of both breeds.
It was Brian Sterling-Webb who first
perfected the longhaired color point (Himalayan) after 10 years
of selectively breeding the
Persian and
Siamese
bloodlines. In 1955, he went before the Governing Council
of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) and applied for recognition of the
Himalayan or Color Point Longhair Cat. Approval was
granted by the Council and the Longhaired Colourpoint was
accepted as a new breed of cat in England.
Two years
later, in North America, Mrs. Goforth would also apply for breed
recognition for her own cross-bred variety. She put forth
the concept, however, that while the Himalayan breed standard
was identical to that of the Persian cat, that the Himalayan was
not a Persian but an entirely new breed of longhair.
Agreeing with this concept, the Himalayan cat was granted its
own, individual breed status in 1957.
This is not the end
to the Himalayan’s story, though. Over the next 10 years,
he would rapidly gain popularity, even though the majority of
cats that were being bred failed to meet the desired breed
standard. After much debate through the 1970‘s, it was
decided to allow the outcrossing to Persian cats once more and,
in a surprisingly short amount of time, the Himalayan was once
again able to compete with the Persian cat on the show table.
The next question posed to the breed was rather obvious - If the
Himalayan was being outcrossed with Persian cats on a regular
basis, and was competing with them on the show tables,
considering the two had the exact same type, didn’t it make more
sense to just adopt the Himalayan as a new variety of Persian
cat? Despite original opposition from the breeders, this
was decided to be the wisest decision and, so, the Himalayan
breed was then merged with the Persian in the United States.
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The Persian breed is the supermodel of the cat world and, as
such, requires a lot of primping and pampering to look her best.
If you’re interested in one of these cats, be forewarned that
they are high-maintenance - there is no other way to describe
caring for the Persian cat, Himalayan or no. Daily combing
must be done, in order to prevent matting of the long and
beautiful fur and the occasional bath should be given, in order
to prevent an over-abundance of oil in the coat.
Bathing the Himalayan cat should only be done after the cat’s
toenails have been clipped and the coat has been thoroughly
combed through to ensure that all mats and snarls have been
removed. Failing to remove the tangles first will only
make them worse and result in a vicious rat’s nest that you
simply can’t loosen and comb out. Always comb them first,
ensuring that your cat‘s coat is free flowing and loose.
Another thing to remember, when bathing your Himalayan cat, is
to dilute your soap, prior to use. Not only is undiluted
shampoo hard to work into your cat’s coat, but it’s equally
difficult to rinse out again. For best results, dilute a
small amount of shampoo into water and use a bottle to
distribute it through your cat’s coat, doing a small section at
a time. After you’ve worked it through the coat, you
need to rinse it well - usually done by rinsing the coat for at
least 5 minutes or by filling the tub numerous times until the
rinse water remains free of any soap residue.
The use of
conditioner is also very important when one has any variety of
Persian cat. Like humans, you will need to choose your
shampoo and conditioner based on the quality of your cat’s coat.
A little show trick? Add a small amount of fabric softener
to your cat’s bath water and then rinse thoroughly once again.
This will make the coat very soft and help to prevent tangles -
just be sure to keep it out of kitty’s eyes, nose, and mouth as
many chemicals can make your Himalayan kitten ill.
When
blow drying your Longhair cat, you should always use the low
setting and always ensure that the temperature is set on cool.
While it’s tempting to use warm settings, realize that this can
not only burn your kitten’s skin, but can just generally make
the kitten uncomfortable and turn bath time into something that
she is afraid of. To keep your Himalayan kitten
cooperative, start at a young age and always make bathing a
pleasurable experience, filled with lots of love and praise.
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The Himalayan Persian is generally a very robust and healthy
breed of cat. Like many purebreds, however, they are still
prone to a few genetic problems. Some of the health
concerns of the Persian cat include: -
Prone to feline urological syndrome
-
Polycystic kidney disease
-
Corneal sequestrum
-
Stenotic nares
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Country of Origin:
Iran (Persia), Turkey
Himalayan Cat Size:
Medium to Large
Himalayan Cat Weight: 10-15 pounds
Himalayan Cat Colors: Big Variety -
See Below
Himalayan Cat Litter Size:
3-5
Himalayan Cat Life Expectancy:
15+ years
Himalayan Cat Grooming Needs:
Moderate
Himalayan Cat Energy Level:
Low to
Moderate
Good With Kids:
Yes
Good With Other Animals: Yes
Most Common Misspellings:
Himilayan, Himmalayan, Himmilayan
Alternate Names: Himalayan Persian
Do Himalayan Cats Shed ?
Yes, Himalayan cats do shed, and they need regular
brushing to keep their thick, soft coat shiny and free of dander and
dead hairs. While the Himalayan cat does shed fairly frequently, this
weekly brushing will help keep it under control and prevent the majority
of light buff hairs from transferring to all of your dark clothing.
Are Himalayan Cats Hypoallergenic (Allergy Free)?
No, but there really is no true "hypoallergenic" cat
breed, despite what some might say. There are cat breeds that have less
of a tendency to cause allergic reactions in those allergic to feline
dander, but there are no guarantees. Depending on the severity of your
cat allergy, you may be able to live with a Himalayan cat, provided that
you bathe your cat frequently to reduce dander, and use a really good
vacuum cleaner with a hepa filter every few days to ensure that cat hair
and dander is kept to a minimum. It's also a good idea to keep kitty out
of the bedroom.
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A picture is worth a thousand words, and our growing gallery of
Himalayan cat pictures and kitten photos is well worth a peek! We
showcase photos of Himalayan cats and kittens from reputable Himalayan
breeders who are members of Cats and Kittens Central, as well as images
sent to us by our visitors. Feel free to purr-uze our
Himalayan
pictures gallery by
clicking here!
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The Himalayan cat possesses the exact same body type as the
Persian: a well-balanced animal, rather heavy of bone and yet
possessing a very sweet and endearing face with prominent round
eyes. Often referred to as “pansy-faced cats,” the
Himalayan Longhair’s forehead, nose and chin should all
appear to be aligned, giving him the desired flattened look that
is trademark of the breed and his head should be both massive
and round in shape. The Himalayan, like the Persian, is a
study in both power and grace.
Himalayans are recognized
in the following colors: -
Chocolate Point Himalayans
-
Seal Point Himalayans
-
Lilac Point Himalayans
-
Blue Point Himalayans
-
Flame Point Himalayans
-
Cream Point Himalayans
-
Tortie Point Himalayans
- Blue Cream Point Himalayans
- Chocolate Tortie Point Himalayans
- Lilac Cream Point Himalayans
- Tabby Marked Himalayans
Beautiful to behold, it’s no wonder why Himalayans have been
taking top awards at shows for decades.
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The Persian cat is a laid back and lovable loafer who enjoys
nothing more than to be pampered and petted and the Himalayan
variety of the breed is no exception. Known for their
docile and laid back temperaments, they do very well with other
cats and animals, and are very tolerant of children, provided
they are old enough to know better than to poke at kitty’s big
eyes or pull the long hair. Generally a very lazy cat, the
Himalayan Persian is not much of a climber, nor one that is
prone to getting into mischief.
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There are few cats who are as laid back or loveable as the
Persian, and the beautiful Himi or Himalayan, is no exception.
Loving the opportunity to sit beside you in the chair or drape
across your lap, most love to be pampered and petted and are
content to soak up any attention they are offered.
However, owning a long-hair cat is no picnic for the
inexperienced and uncommitted. Caring for a Himalayan cat
takes a great deal of time and effort. If you have a very
busy lifestyle and don’t have a lot of time to spend combing
cats, chances are that this breed is not the cat for you.
You might consider looking into some of the short haired cats or
breeds that are less likely to mat.
For those who are
committed, however, the Himalayan is a wonderful and endearing
friend. Whether you call him a Himi, a Himalayan Persian,
a Himalayan, or a Colourpoint Longhair, you’re bound to be taken
in by his sweet personality and adorable face. This makes
all that combing and primping worth every moment.
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If you feel that the Himalayan is the
cat breed for you, there
are many ways to go about the adoption of your Himalayan cat or
kitten. The source of your new feline depends on your personal
preference, and the availability of Himalayan kittens in your area.
Whether you choose to adopt a brand new Himalayan kitten from a
responsible Himalayan breeder, or check with local Himalayan
rescue organizations and animal shelters to see if they have any
purebred Himalayans or mixed breed cats of Himalayan type looking
for a loving, forever home, you really can't go wrong in opening
your home and heart to one of these fabulous furry friends. Below
are resources to help you located the cat of your dreams.
Responsible
Himalayan cat breeders offer healthy, home-raised
Himalayan kittens for sale to approved buyers. If you have your
heart set on a
purebred Himalayan kitten, a responsible breeder is
usually the best source. Reputable
Himalayan catteries focus on
producing kittens that are healthy and free from common cat diseases
and hereditary (congenital) health problems that can affect the
Himalayan cat breed. In addition, responsible
Himalayan breeders
try their best to produce kittens that are as beautiful to behold as
they are affectionate and sound in personality and temperament.
Himalayan cat prices vary according the the breeder, and the
kitten you are considering. Usually pet quality Himalayan kittens
cost between $500 and $1000 to purchase, while show quality
Himalayan kittens can be considerably more expensive. Keep in mind
that the price involved in purchasing a kitten from a reputable
breeder generally includes health screening, vaccinations,
de-worming, early socialization (so the kitten grows up to be of
sound temperament and affectionate nature), ongoing advice and
support - and - most importantly - a reasonable health guarantee.
Himalayan Cats and Kittens Central is proud to showcase a number
of reputable Himalayan cat breeders on our
Himalayan cat breeders
directory. To view information, contact details and photos of
available Himalayan kittens for sale, please
click here to view our
Himalayan cattery list.
Himalayan cat rescue organizations specialize in placing
purebred Himalayan cats and kittens, as well as mixed Himalayan
cats and kittens with loving owners. Himalayan cats and kittens can
end up in shelters and rescues for a variety of reasons, and there
are many purrfectly nice Himalayan or Himalayan mix cats and
kittens waiting to be adopted into loving homes.
Himalayan Cats and Kittens Central is pleased to provide a
directory of Himalayan cat rescues to help you locate one near you.
To view information, contact details and photos of available
Himalayan cats and kittens, please
click here to view our
Himalayan cat rescue guide.
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Himalayan Cat Facts -
Himalayan Cat FAQ -
Himalayan Cat Pictures - Himalayan
Cat History -
Himalayan Cat Personality
Himalayan Cat Health Problems -
Himalayan Cat Grooming -
Himalayan Cat Kitten Prices -
Himalayan Cat Adoption
Himalayan Cat Breeders
- Himalayan Kittens For Sale -
Himalayan Rescue Organizations
- Himalayan Cat Clubs
Himalayan Cat Kitten Names
- Advertise Your
Himalayan Cattery
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