This cute cat breed, which comes from England, arose from a mating of a Siamese cat and a Persian cat. The striking point drawing on her face has also earned her the name “Maskenperser”. You will also find the name “Colorpoint Perser” from time to time. Some call the Himalayan cat a separate breed. Others see them more as a special variant of the Persian cat.
History of the Breed
In the 1920s, cat breeder Virginia Cobb and a Harvard Medical School researcher Dr. Clyde Keeler laid the foundation for a new breeding program. Dr. Back then, Clyde Keeler was researching the gene that is responsible for the development of color points in cats.
The aim of the breeder and researcher at that time was to breed a cat with the fur of a Persian and at the same time to develop it with the blue eyes and markings of a Siamese. That was the hour of birth of the Himalayan cat.
Appearance
The Himalayan is medium to large in size, its body is short – what is known as a “cobby”.
The legs are short and stocky, and the bone structure is quite strong. The physique of the Himalayan cat is rather stocky. She has stocky legs, a broad chest, and a broad back. The weight of this relatively rare breed tends to be impressive: male cats weigh up to 10 kg, cats weigh up to 8 kg.
The head of the Himalayan is round in shape. Their characteristic point nose is short and stocky. Their ears are quite small and rounded. The round eyes are large and set wide apart. They are always blue and very radiant at the same time.
The coat is long, of a very silky texture, and it has a thick undercoat. The Himalayan cat comes in the coat colors Seal Tortie, Seal Point, and Blue Point. Their tail is strong and bushy. It is in balance with the rest of the body. The Himalayan has the long fur of the Persian cat – and very unique “points” on the face, ears, paws, and tail, just like the Siamese.
By the way, the Himalayan cat is available in a traditional and extreme “look”.
Himalayan Cat Temperament
Himalayan fans often refer to the feline furry creatures with their squat noses as “Persian cats disguised as Siamese”. The Himalayan is counted to the standard of the Persian cat. However, it is more similar to the nature of the Siamese cat. However, the characters of the two breeds of cats from which the Himalayan cat was bred are very different. The Siamese part is evident in its lively character, while the gentle and cozy aspect suggests the personality of the Persian cat.
The Himalayans prefer to give their affection to those people whom they trust and whom they have grown particularly fond of. So she is a little selective in who she gives her love to. However, she then likes to cuddle especially deeply with the people who have won her heart. Basically, this feline fur creature is very related to its beloved roommate. Also, remember to offer your Himalayan cat enough activity with various cat toys. The sensitive Himalayan does not feel comfortable in noisy environments or households where there is too much activity. Your nature is more like a quiet environment with people who behave more quietly.
Care and Attitude
The long coat of the Himalayan cat should be groomed daily with a soft cat brush in order to maintain the attractive appearance of this splendor. It also intensifies the bond between you and your beloved feline fur friend. Otherwise, the fur of the Persian cat also quickly becomes matted and tends to form knots.
You should also bathe your “Himmie”, as she is affectionately known, regularly. You should also clean your face regularly to keep your loved one clean and healthy. Due to the long fur, residues can quickly get caught in the paws. If possible, you could also clean these gently.
Himalayan cats can also tend to gain weight. Therefore, you should be conscious about your diet and monitor your weight. Unfortunately, the Himalayan is relatively susceptible to various clinical pictures. She is typically prone to respiratory diseases. Due to questionable breeding, the nose of the Himalayan cat can even be so sticky that it suffers from shortness of breath. Animal rights activists often express legitimate concerns about such so-called torture breeding.
Himalayan Diet
When feeding the Himalayans, attention should be paid to their tendency to gain weight. Apart from that, the same nutritional recommendations apply to them as much as possible as to other pedigree and non-pedigree cats. The following nutritional methods can be used:
Some experts call barf the most species-appropriate form of diet because it comes closest to the diet of cats in nature. Here, too, the highest proportion of their naturally chosen food is raw meat. On the other hand, a very small proportion is made up of the grain that the cat ingests via the stomach contents of a mouse, for example.
The wet feed has the advantage that the moisture content of the feed is around 80%. This is to be recommended because cats generally drink little. The intake of sufficient liquid is therefore ensured through the wet food. Because of the risk of allergies or hypersensitivity, the feed should not contain any unnecessary chemical components. Other fillers, by-products, or preservatives can also harm your house tiger. If the food is of high quality, this can also offer the undreamt-of advantage that the cat’s feces are less odorous. When it comes to wet food, you should ensure that you only use high-quality products. These do not have to be more expensive than those of lower quality. Test results from recognized institutes will provide you with information on this. High-quality food contains a large proportion of high-quality proteins and is easy for the cat’s stomach to digest. It should provide energy without promoting weight gain.
Dry food has some critics, but also numerous proponents. Some cat experts even only feed dry food. It has the advantage of being very “convenient” for the human roommate of the cat: It does not begin to develop a negative odor even if it is left standing for a long time – in contrast to wet food. Care should be taken when feeding dry food, especially if you are exclusively feeding the cat in this way, that it is drinking enough fluids. You can ensure this by setting up drinking fountains or bowls – at a different location than the feeding station. In its natural environment, the cat also takes in both separately from each other.
How Do I Find the Right Breeder?
Reputable breeders always recognize you by certain characteristics. For example, because the cats are involved in the household or family life of the breeder. This also ensures that the kittens are already familiar with household noises such as vacuum cleaners and other loud appliances when they come to your home. Otherwise, the little kittens could be quite frightened by such monsters – in their opinion – which naturally does not occur in the cat’s wild.
Of course, many breeders still have a separate cat room, in which the kitties can really let off steam on scratching posts and climbing opportunities. In addition, the breeder should be a member of a recognized breed club. Here breeders support each other. A trustworthy cat breeder is also an advisor and is also interested in the well-being of the kittens that have grown up with him beyond the mediation. Accordingly, he will answer all your questions in connection with your Himalayan cat willingly and competently. Ask the breeder about the parents of your kittens and also about the litter frequency. Good cat breeders are experts in genetics and have some understanding of which breeds of cats should not be mated together under any circumstances.
Hygiene is a very important factor. You can also recognize the trustworthy breeder mainly by the fact that the cat bowls and litter boxes are in perfect condition. Cats themselves are considered to be extremely clean and particularly value a litter box that is cleaned regularly and thoroughly. Most good breeders specialize in one or two breeds because breeding cats requires a great deal of specialist knowledge. It is also very important that kittens from a reputable breed are only placed in a new home from the age of 12 weeks and usually not individually, but together with a sibling. A good breeder will draw up a sales contract with you. This regulates, among other things, how to proceed if unexpected problems arise with the kitten. The breeder will also give you tips on how to feed the new feline fur creatures that will enrich your home from now on. Your intuition is also a valuable and indispensable advisor when choosing the right breeder.
Whether you choose a cat from animal welfare or from a reputable breeder is entirely up to you.
