The Himalayan cat has a physical appearance similar to that of the Persian cat and the Siamese cat, in fact, it was the result of a cross between these two breeds.
It inherited from the Persian her physique, long fur, facial appearance, and beautiful round blue eyes that are so characteristic of Persians.
The Siamese, on the other hand, inherit the blue pointed pattern, which consists of having a darker color on the legs, face, ears and tail.
But this beautiful cat has a very interesting personality and is different from that of its parents, keep reading the article and find out more about the Himalayan cat, about its true origin, its specific physical characteristics, its personality, how its health condition and what care it needs. Do we begin?
The origin of the Himalayan cat
The origin of this beautiful species is Sweden, so there are misconceptions about its origin being the Himalayas because of its name.
However, the origin of the Himalayan cat has nothing to do with the Asian mountain range. His name was given due to its resemblance to the Himalayan rabbit.
This was the result of an experiment that sought to analyze how the gene that gives the characteristic color point was transmitted in 1931.
That’s when a cat breeder named Virginia Cope and a Harvard researcher named Clyde Keeler crossed a Siamese cat and a Persian cat.
The method of selective breeding resulted in the birth of the first kitten called Himalayan.
Himalayan cat or a kind of Shirazi?
Later, the breed began to attract the attention of American and British breeders in the 1950s, who were interested in continuing with crossbreeding to achieve recognition.
However, although the breed has been officially recognized as the “Himalayan Cat” by some cat associations, others have classified it simply as a variation of the Persian cat‘s colors.
However, for many cat lovers, whether the Himalayan kitten is an official breed or not does matter much, since then it has become one of the favorites of many cat lovers and has become very popular, especially in North America.
Physical characteristics of the Himalayan cat
Himalayan cats, as mentioned earlier, have the physical characteristics of Persian cats, with Siamese cat colors. They are medium in size and can weigh from 3 to 6 kilograms.
With a large, round head and slightly flattened face, large, round and blue eyes, small and somewhat rounded ears at the tips, a powerful body, slightly short but muscular legs, and a medium-sized tail.
Its fur is long and silky, its main feature is the pointed pattern, inherited from the Siamese cat. That is, its face, ears, legs, and tail are dark while it is beige or cream.
However, there are differences in the colors of this breed, as it can be bred with other colors such as brown, chocolate, purple, reddish, cream blue, and others.
One of the main characteristics of being classified as a Himalayan cat, apart from the long coat and pointed pattern, is the beautiful turquoise blue color of its eyes. Since if there are eyes of a different color, it will be classified as a slight difference from the original Shirazi (white).
Himalayan cat character
Himalayan cats are very elegant, docile, and calm cats. They like to be lying on the lap of their owners. They are happy in this situation and also get caressed on their silky and long fur.
The differences between the Persian cat and the Himalayan cat
The Himalayan Colourpoint cat has the features of the body and face of a Persian cat, as well as being calmer than this, but it also inherited other traits from the Siamese, from which it derives its energy and vitality.
Himalayan cats are serious and slightly suspicious of people they don’t know.
They are docile and calm cats, so they can get along well with young children, they can play with them as if they were just another member.
If you are planning to have a Himalayan cat at home, you should know that it is important for them to live in a calm environment, as they do not like noise or noisy environments.
For this reason, they should maintain peace of mind and avoid stress in any form. You should also know that they are not restless cats, so you will have no problem with the curtains or furniture in the house.
On the contrary, they are calm cats that have a low level of activity although you will also see them from time to time enjoying their toys.
Himalayan cat health
These cats, like all types of cats, can suffer from various diseases, due to diseases of the breed or hereditary problems. Even pedigree cats can suffer from these conditions more than normal cats.
However, the Himalayan cat, like the Persian cat, is prone to some health problems, due to its flat face structure, such as:
- Dental abnormalities.
- Difficulty breathing or snoring.
- deterioration of the retina
- Feline hypersensitivity (irritable cat syndrome)
- Kidney disease
- The risk of developing ringworm (fungus), as a result of its long fur
Himalayan cat breeding
Himalayan cats, like other cats of long-haired breeds, should take special care in this regard.
Its hair must be brushed regularly.
As it depends not only on her hair not getting tangled up but also on preventing hairballs from accumulating in her digestive system.
For this, it should be brushed at least 3 times a week and showered once a month. To avoid the accumulation of dead hair and dirt.
Like all cats of all breeds, you should take them periodically to the vet, to detect possible diseases in time and if they are already present, ensure the correct control and appropriate treatment.
Himalayan cats usually produce many tears that accumulate in the hair in the lacrimal area. Therefore, it should be carefully cleaned with a damp cloth.
However, remember that the most important care you should give him is lots of affection, love, and pampering.
So we hope you learned a lot from the Himalayan cat and if you find it interesting, you can share it on your social networks. Do you have a cat of this breed? Tell us about your experience.