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| Vital Statistics: |
| Place of Origin: United States |
| Coat Type: long, thick, glossy |
| Color: point colors are seal, chocolate, blue, flame, lilac, tortie or blue cream |
| Temperament: gentle, sweet, loving |
Where does the Himalayan come from?
There were several unsuccessful attempts to produce a long-haired Siamese type cat. In England, a Mr. Stirling Webb did succeed in breeding a long-haired seal colorpoint kitten. In the U.S. a Mrs. Goforth was also working to produce these cats. They were called Himalayan because their coat patterns were similar to rabbits with the same name. The resulting Himalayan cats are today, one of the most popular breeds.
What do Himalayans look like?
The Himalayan is a beautiful, regal cat. It is deep chested and equally sized across its large shoulders and rump. The nose is short, snub and broad. Cheeks are full. Ears are small, with rounded tips, set far apart and held forward. Legs are short and strong but in proportion to the body. Eyes are large and round and vivid blue in color. The coat is long and thick and glossy with a large ruff between the front legs. Point colors on mask, ears, legs, feet and tail are seal, chocolate, blue, lilac, flame, tortie and blue cream. The Himalayan’s coat needs daily grooming.
Do Himalayans make good pets?
The Himalayan is a sweet and gentle cat. It can be playful, usually in short bursts. Then it returns to its dignified stance and watches the world go by. My personal experience has been that they don’t like to share with other cats, especially the litter box. The Himalayan is never aggressive and it is very loving.
Where can I adopt a Himalayan?
There are several sites on line. One is KittySites.com. There may be some fees involved to cover the cost of neutering, vaccinations, etc.
Possible Health Issues
Sinus and breathing problems due to shortened nose area, polycystic kidney disease, feline cutaneous asthenia (skin, collagen deficiency).
