The Himalayan: Persians with Panache

The Himalayan Cat Breed in Brief:

Origin: England

Weight: 7-12 pounds

Average Litter Size: 3-5

Grooming Needs: High

Life Expectancy: 15+ years

Good With Kids: Yes

Good With Other Animals: Yes

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, they were considered a separate breed (and still are in some countries), though some areas have since adopted them into the Persian breed standard, where they are now considered a different color variety of the Persian cat.

The History of the Himalayan

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 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.

The Himalayan Appearance

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, seal point, lilac point, blue point, flame point, cream point, tortie point, blue-cream point, chocolate tortie point, lilac-cream point, and the tabby-marked lynx point. Beautiful to behold, it’s no wonder why they have been taking top awards at shows for decades.

The Himalayan Temperament

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.

Himalayan Grooming Requirements

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.

Himalayan Health Concerns

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

Is the Himalayan the Right Breed For You?

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.

Shawna L. Krautheim

2007