What is a Himalayan?
The Himalayan cat is not a breed in itself, but is actually a division of the Persian cat, identified as the color point. To create this color division, a cross breeding was made of the Siamese and the Persian, though it has taken lots of work by dedicated Himalayan breeders to get the cat to the standard it is today.
In the beginning of the breed, it was difficult to get the Himalayan perfectly to the CFA standard of the Persian cat. Once the color point pattern was standardized, breeders also had to perfect the body and head type of the Persian. This is why as you research Himalayans, you’ll often see the doll face variety referred to as the “Traditional Doll Face Himalayan.” The original Himalayans simply weren’t reaching the Persian standard. Many people simply prefer the doll face, either for looks or because they believe them to be healthier than the snub nose Persian.
Today, though the doll face is quite popular, they are not the CFA breed standard and will never win shows or be champions. This certainly doesn’t decrease their popularity! But whether you choose doll face or extreme Persian face, your Himalayan should resemble the Persian cat in every other way, and if you plan to show your cat, you should seek the higher, snub nose.
Remember that, though the doll face Persians don’t tear as often, and the Himalayan’s hair tends to be easier to care for, your himmy will still need daily grooming, including eye washing (perhaps not to the extent as an extreme faced Persian) and combing. They will also need monthly baths, nail clipping, and any other grooming required for longhaired breeds.
Characteristics that mark the Himalayan are:
- Beautiful long hair
- Vivid blue eyes
- Color point pattern, which includes color on their face, ears, paws, and tail.
- Large, expressive eyes
- Chubby cheeks
- Small, rounded ears set wide apart
- Cobby body
- Complete Himalayan Breed Standard
The most common color of Himalayan is the seal point. You can also find these colors and patterns:
- Seal Point
- Blue Point
- Chocolate Point
- Lilac Point
- Flame Point
- Cream Point
- Tortie Point (tortoiseshell)
- Lilac Cream Point
- Blue Cream Point
- Chocolate Tortie Point
- Lynx Point in all the above colors
Himalayan Temperament
The Himalayan’s personality is what really wins hearts, though! They are similar in temperament to the Persian in some ways. They are sweet, gentle, loyal, and a wonderful companion cat, but they are also very playful and funny, full of personality. They thrive on attention! Where the Persian may want to lie on a pillow and nap while you admire him from across the room, the Himalayan definitely wants to be with you! Your himmy will follow you around the house, “help” you with your chores, lie in your lap if you’re sitting down, sleep on your pillow at night, and will talk to you often. He might even play fetch!
As with other Persians, himmies are good with children and other animals. They are also as healthy as their Persian counterparts. Their life span can easily reach 15 years. One thing is for certain, if you’ve ever had a himmy in your life, you will always have a himmy in your life! And often, one simply isn’t enough!
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! For more on the Persian breeds, read our article Persian Cats. If you plan to get a new kitten, you might also enjoy our series of articles on finding the right breed and raising your kitten beginning here.
If you're considering adopted a Himalayan cat, please consider Himalayan Rescue or look through the available himmies on Petfinder.com.
