Himalayan

The Himalayan cat is one the few feline breeds which has a very well-described ancestry. It is of Persian body type with the color pattern of the Siamese cat.

Himalayans share the physical feataures of Persians and the color patterns of the short-coated Siamese. The Himalayan is a the offspring of genetic engineering. Since both long hair and Siamese coloring are considered recessive traits, animals with both these qualities breed true amongst themselves. The breed was thus created by mating Siamese and Persian cats together until the kitten emerged that had Persian long-hair qualities and Siamese coloring. Outcrosses were needed initially to refine the breed but are no longer necessary now that the breed is so well-established. By the 1960's the Himalayan was recognized by all of the American Cat Associations.

The creation of the Himalayan was discovered and breed by Dr. Clyde Keeler and Miss Virginia Cobb(USA), who, as early as 1930 realized the genetic potential in such a breed. In 1931 a Siamese female was mated to a Black Persian Male and three shorthaired Black kittens were born. A black male with a wavy coat, Newton's Bozo was selected to sire the new breed. He was bred to Newton's Bitzie, a shorthaired hybrid, in 1933 and produced a longhaired black female named Newton's Babbit. When Babbit was mated back to Bozo the offspring produced included two standard pattern Siamese, two black longhairs and, a kitten with Siamese pattern and long hair, named Debutante. The research which was instrumental in the creation of the breed was published in the American Journal of Heredity. The technical information necessary to produce Himalayans was applied further by Mr. Brian Stirling-Webb in Britain, and by Marguerita Goforth in the U.S.A. to create the different colorpoints.

They were given the name Himalayan because their coat patterns were similar to that of the rabbits with the same name. In Great Britain they were named Colourpoint Longhairs. The kittens are cream-colored at birth, with pink noses, foot pads and ears. The masks and points darken with growth, and the final color may not be complete until 18 months of age. Recognized colors include seal point,chocolate point, blue point, lilac point, flame point, tortie point, blue-cream point, chocolate solid color and lilac solid color. Eye color is usually vivid blue in the points and brilliant copper in the solids.

Frequently asked questions

Feline disease Diseases that every cat owner should kmow about.

NutritionFeeding your feline friend. Commercial dry or wet?

GroomingBathing and combing your cat does not need to be a chore.

BreedingBreeding your cat,behavior male and female.

BirthingAfter breeding your female, what you should do.

Breeding Chart Print this chart and you will never have to count again.
    

ColorsBreed standards along with every coat color possible.

BI-COLOR CHARTBi-Color chart for breeding.

Solid chartChart for breeding persian solids to solids.

Himalayan ChartColor chart for breeding Himalayans as well as Siamese.

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