- Himalayan Cat Size: Medium to large, about 60 centimeters head-body length
- Classification: long-haired breed
- Color: Black, brown, white, red and also blue / silver
- Body care: Daily brushing with a soft brush
- Character: Gentle, sociable, playful, sensitive, sensitive to noise, cuddly
- Origin: Great Britain and the USA
- Weight: Female up to 8 kilograms, Male up to 10 kilograms
- Eyes: The recognized eye color is blue
- Life expectancy: Up to 15 years
- Nutrition: Himalayan tends to be overweight and the food must be adjusted accordingly.
Himalayan Cat origin and history
Work on a breed with combined Persian and Siamese characteristics began in the United States at Harvard University in the late 1920s. The results were published in the Journal of Heredity in 1936, but the new breed was not noticed by any major breeders at the time. Independently, such a cross was developed almost simultaneously in Great Britain over a period of ten years. In 1955, the British Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) recognized it as a longhair Colorpoint. The World Cat Federation later combined it with the Colorpoint Shorthair and the
Javanese to form a separate breed, the Colorpoint. To this day, many cat organizations do not consider the Himalayan and the Persian to be clearly separate breeds.
Character
The Himalayan cat is a shy but very cuddly cat. It gets its gentleness from the Persian cat , and its love of playing and climbing from the Siamese. Himalayan tends to choose a person to relate to. It needs to warm up to other people, especially strangers. Like the Siamese cat, many Himalayan cats love to play. This keeps them busy for a long time. They are sometimes moody, but are generally considered to be even-tempered and good-natured.
The Himalayan cat prefers a quiet home without loud people or noises. It does not appreciate excitement and change.
Keeping and Care
You should comb the Himalayan cat’s long, thick fur daily with a soft brush. If you don’t do this regularly, the fur can become matted and knotted. You should brush more intensively, especially during the shedding season. If knots do form, you can remove them with a special de-matting comb. If your Himalayan cat goes outside, check its fur regularly for thorns, ticks or other parasites, as these can easily find a hold in its thick fur. Some breeders recommend bathing Himalayan cats regularly to reduce the amount of oil on the cat’s fur and skin.
Himalayan cats are suitable as an indoor cat and can also be left alone. As long as it finds enough to do, it is sociable and does not get bored.
Special features of the Himalayan cat
The aim of crossing a Siamese and 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. Himalayan cat is also known as the “Masked Persian” or “Colourpoint Persian”.
It should be mentioned at this point that the breeding of this breed is not without controversy. The stocky nose of Himalayan cats with Pekefaces can lead to shortness of breath and respiratory disease. In addition, the eyes of Pekefaces usually water excessively. They should therefore be cleaned regularly and carefully with a clean, slightly damp cloth. Responsible breeders are actively committed to reversing these characteristics. They also ensure that their breeding lines are free of “polycystic kidney disease”, which is a hereditary disease that leads to kidney cysts and ultimately to kidney failure.
