Himalayan Cat Breed Facts and Personality Traits 2022

Himalayan Cat Breed Facts and Personality Traits 2022

Miscellaneous facts

• This is not the type of cat to climb high to survey its territory.
• This exotic feline can suffer from several hereditary health issues. Choose your breeder carefully!
• The maintenance necessary for his coat will not suit lazy masters.
• Cuddly and playful, the Himalayan is an ideal companion cat for those who enjoy spending time with their companion.

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Other names: Himalayan cat, Jimmie, Persian colourpoint

Group: Long-haired cats

Price: The average price of a Himalayan kitten in Quebec can vary between $1000 and $1400. It depends on the quality of the pedigree (show kitten or not), the colour and what is offered with the kitten. If you are offered a significantly lower price, be careful: you may be dealing with a “cat factory”, or it may not necessarily be a registered purebred cat.

Weight: 2.5 to 5.5 kilograms (7 to 12 pounds)

Life expectancy: It lives an average of 9 to 15 years.

Breeders: See Himalayan breeders in Quebec

Summary

1. A cousin of the Sky Blue Eyed Persian
2. What do the Himalayan look like?
3. What is the personality of the Himalayan?
4. Halfway between Siamese and Persian
5. How to take good care of a Himalayan?
6. Himalayan Diet: What Foods Does My Cat Need?
7. How to find the right Himalayan cat breeder?

A cousin of the Sky Blue Eyed Persian

Originally from England, this breed of cat created by Man was born from the crossing between the Assamese cat and Persian cat. The distinctive mark also earned him the name “Masked Persian “. We also hear from time to time the name “Persian colourpoint “. For some, the Himalayan cat is a breed in its own right. For others, it is only a specific variant of the Persian cat.

What do the Himalayan look like?

The Himalayan is a medium to a large-sized cat. His body is short: he is one of the so-called “cobby” type cats. His legs are short and stubby, and his frame is strong. The body of the Himalayan is relatively short and intense. He has a broad chest and back. Its tail is thick and bushy, balanced with the rest of its body. The weight of this relatively rare breed is impressive: the male weighs up to 10 kg, females up to 8 kg.

The Himalayan has a round head. Its characteristic nose is short. Its ears are pretty small and rounded. His eyes are large, round and set apart. They are always blue and very bright.

The coat of the Himalayan is long, very silky, and has a dense undercoat. Its coat comes in tortie, seal point, and blue point colours. It has the long coat of the Persian cat, as well as “point” areas on the face, ears, legs and tail, just like the Siamese.

There are two types of Himalayan cats: the traditional type and the extreme type.

What is the personality of the Himalayan?

Himalayan enthusiasts often call the stubby-nosed feline the “Persian disguised as a Siamese”. Indeed, the Himalayan is included in the breed standard of the Persian. However, his personality is closer to that of the siamese.

The characters of the two races from which the Himalayans were created could hardly be more different. We find the character of the Siamese in its vivacity, while its soft and quiet side comes from the personality of the Persian.

The Himalayan is not affectionate with just anyone; he is very selective and only grants his love to people he trusts. However, those who have won her heart willingly engage in endless hugs. Cats of this breed are very attached to their masters.

The Himalayans are sensitive and won’t feel comfortable in noisy environments or busy homes. It is instead made to live in a calm environment with quiet people.

Halfway between Siamese and Persian

In the 1920s, cat breeder Virginia Cobb and Harvard Medical School researcher Dr Clyde Keeler laid the groundwork for a new breeding program. At the time, Dr Clyde Keeler looked for the gene responsible for creating colourpoint in cats.

The breeder and researcher’s goal at that time was to create a cat with the coat of the Persian as well as the blue eyes and point markings of a Siamese. This is how the Himalayans were born.

© Evdoha / stock.adobe.com

How to take good care of a Himalayan?

To preserve all its beauty, the long coat of the Himalayan must be brushed daily with a soft cat brush. Brushing also strengthens the bond between you and your cat. Without regular brushing, the coat of the Himalayan, which resembles that of the Persian, feels and gets tangled quickly.

It is also recommended to wash your Himalayan regularly, once a month. His face should also be cleaned daily to keep his pet clean and healthy.

Residues often get caught in the legacy of the Himalayan because of its long hair. You can also gently clean them if necessary.

The Himalayans can tend to gain weight. It is therefore recommended to monitor your diet and weight carefully.

Unfortunately, the Himalayans are relatively vulnerable to various diseases. He often suffers from respiratory diseases. In questionable farms, it even happens that the noses of cats are so short that they suffer from respiratory insufficiency. Animal rights activists often voice legitimate concerns about what they call torture farms.

Himalayan Diet: What Foods Does My Cat Need?

To feed a Himalayan, you need to consider his tendency to gain weight. Apart from that, the same nutritional recommendations apply to the Himalayan as to other cats, whether purebred or not.

Let’s see the different options available to you:

• TeaBARF method, which some experts consider to be the most appropriate form of nutrition for animals, as it is the closest to the cat’s diet in nature. Raw meat represents the most significant part of their natural diet. Cereals, on the other hand, represent only a tiny proportion, which the cat ingests, for example, via the contents of a mouse’s stomach.
• Heat food has the advantage of containing about 80% water. This form of food is to be recommended, as cats generally drink little. They hydrate themselves sufficiently thanks to the water contained in their food.

Due to the risk of allergy or hypersensitivity, animal feed should not contain any unnecessary chemical components. Ingredients of fillers, by-products or preservatives can harm your pet. High-quality food also has the unexpected benefit of resulting in less smelly faeces.

When buying wet food, always make sure you choose only high-quality products. They are not necessarily more expensive than lower-quality products. Information from recognized test institutes informs you about the quality of each product. High-quality foods are high in good protein and are easily digested by cats. They provide the cat with the energy it needs without promoting weight gain.

• Ready food has a few detractors, but it also has many followers. Some experts only feed their cats dry food.

Dry food is very “practical” for the master: unlike wet food, it does not produce foul smells, even if it stays in the bowl for a long time. If you feed your cat dry food, and mainly if you feed him only dry food, always ensure he drinks enough water. You can ensure this by providing him with water fountains or bowls, but somewhere other than next to his food bowl. In the wild, cats always get water and food from different places.

How to find the right Himalayan cat breeder?

Specific characteristics easily recognize trustworthy breeders. For example, cats must be integrated into the breeder’s family life. This way, you can be sure that the kittens are already used to household noises, such as vacuum cleaners and other noisy household appliances when they move into your home. Otherwise, the little kittens might be frightened by these monsters, which are not part of the cat’s natural habitat.

Of course, many breeders still have a separate room for their animals, where they can let off steam and climb the cat trees as they please.

In addition, the breeder must be a member of a recognized breeding club.

A trusted cat breeder also acts as an advisor and is interested in the welfare of the kittens who have grown up with him once they are adopted. Thus, he will gladly and expertly answer all your questions about your Himalayans.

Also, find out about your kitten’s parents and the litter frequency.

Good cat breeders are experts in genetics, and they know which cat breeds should not be bred together.

Hygiene is a significant factor. You can tell a reputable breeder by the cleanliness of their bowls and litter boxes. Cats are spotless animals, and they attach particular importance to regular and thorough cleaning of their litter box.

Most good breeders specialize in one or two breeds, as breeding them requires a lot of specialist knowledge.

A good breeder also knows that cats should never be placed in a new home before they are 12 weeks old, and they should generally not be adopted alone but with a sibling.

A good breeder establishes a sales contract with you. Among other things, this governs how to proceed with unforeseen problems with the kitten. Finally, the breeder will advise you on how to feed your new companion.

Don’t forget that your instinct is a valuable and essential advisor in choosing the right breeder.

Now it’s up to you to decide if you prefer to adopt your cat from a shelter or a reputable breeder.

The origin of the Himalayan

Some breeds are “natural”, that is to say, they are the result of natural evolution, and the breeders have then fixed specific desired characteristics. The Persian and Siamese, parents of the Himalayan, are natural breeds.

It’s the complete opposite of offspring! The parents were crossed together to recover the long hair of the Persian as well as the distinctive colours and blue eyes of the Siamese. The genetic program, launched by Virginia Cobb and Clyde Keeler at Harvard, gave birth in 1932 to the first specimen, Newton’s Debutante.

The selection program continued in the United States and the United Kingdom in the 1950s. The first Himalayans were bred to Persians to better establish “typical” cats, to such an extent that several feline associations classify them as a variety of Persian colours. This is notably the case with the Cat Fanciers Association and The American Cat Association.

Despite the debates between these associations, this beautiful cat is today among the most popular purebreds.

The character of the Himalayan

Recognized for its calm temperament, the Himalayan does not impose itself as much as the sphynx with its masters! He can amuse himself but will give you little glances if he needs to be petted. It is a cat that loves to perch on your thigh or the sofa.

As a player, he enjoys chasing feather dusters and trying to solve kibble-dispensing games, but he is uncomfortable in the presence of noisy children. It will be easy to handle, provided it is respected and not rushed.

Himalayan health

Like all cats, the Himalayan is prone to certain inherited health conditions. Unfortunately, his particular morphology can make his life a little more challenging! Here are the main items to watch out for:

• Breathing difficulties and heat sensitivity (caused by his crushed nostrils)
• Dental malocclusion (misalignment of teeth)
• Progressive retinal atrophy, entropion, nictate glans prolapse, and excessive tearing
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Predisposition to worms
• Oily seborrhea (skin disease)
• Feline hyperesthesia (nervous system disorder)

Not all felines will experience this ordeal. Choose responsible breeders with a substantial (and written) health guarantee with their kitten, and ask to see the parents’ health tests.

The maintenance and grooming of the Himalayan

Brushing your hair every day is essential to avoid the formation of knots and keep it at the peak of its beauty. It also sheds a lot, so your carpets will thank you.

Limit the risk of oral disease by brushing his teeth at least a few times a week, trimming his nails as needed, and inspecting his ears weekly for infections.

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