Himalayan cat

History of origin

Despite the name, blue-eyed Himalayan cats – a mixture of Siamese and Persian – are not related to the mountains of the same name in their origin. Himalayan is actually called a light color, in which the paws, ears, muzzle and tail of the animal have a darker shade (this is how the Himalayan rabbit is “decorated” by nature).

The origin of the breed is rather confusing: work on creating an ideal cat of the Persian type, but with a Siamese color, was carried out at the same time in Europe and America.

In the thirties of the last century, Anglo-American breeders first crossed a Siamese cat with a traditional Persian black cat. Born black kittens had short hair, which did not suit the authors of the experiment, because the goal was to get a long-haired breed. This work took many years, because due to the outbreak of World War II, it had to be postponed until better times. As a result, kittens with blue eyes, long “Persian” hair and a bright “Siamese” color appeared only in the 50s of the last century.

A significant contribution to the origin of the breed was made by the artist from California, Margaret Gofort, who owned her own nursery. Margarita met the Himalayans by chance – a friend asked to keep the kitten Color-point Princess. Goforth was simply captivated by the beauty of the Princess and decided to devote her life to popularizing this type of cat. It was thanks to her that in 1957 the Himalayans were recognized as an independent breed. True, 30 years later, Himalayan cats were included in the Persian breed, on the one hand, lowering their status, and on the other, giving them the opportunity to be presented at Persian shows.

In our country, the first Himalayan cats appeared only in 1986, when a high-bred cat was brought to Our Country, which became the ancestor of the “Himalayans”.

Breed description

Himalayans are endowed with a large stocky body, which adorns a very fluffy tail. The very same coat is very long, thick, fluffy and soft. These cats have short limbs, and therefore they are not nearly as bouncy as other breeds. But thanks to the short paws and the original “fur coat”, the Himalayans cannot be visually confused with any other species.

Shoulders, chest and back of cats are massive and muscular. The neck is short, the head is large and proportional. The nose is wide and short, the ears are very small, rounded at the tips, set low and wide. The eyes are large, wide open, the color is blue of a wide variety of shades.

“Himalayan cats can have different colors, while the color of the spots depends on the main shade,” says Lyudmila Duenko, owner of the Fleur de Mireille Himalayan and Persian cattery. – So, in animals of white or cream color, the spots will be dark brown, purple, red, blue, cream or chocolate. A rare case is lilac and chocolate colors, since the gene responsible for these colors is recessive. This means that in order for the kittens to be of these colors, both parents must be only of this color. The last “chip” is the coloring with the “brindle” pattern on the spots, now many breeders are striving to get this color.

An important point is the “mask” on the face of the Himalayan. It should have a clearly visible outline of a dark color and at the same time not extend onto the neck or chest. Although young kittens may also have such options, because the Himalayan cat acquires its permanent color only in the second or third year of life.

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Character

From the Siamese, these cats inherited curiosity, and from the Persians – measured movements and a calm character. They are very loving and affectionate, strongly attached to the owner and family. Many owners note that the Himalayas are real “tails”, follow them on their heels and try to do everything together. The favorite place of such a pet is the owner’s knees, and most of all they like the process of stroking and combing. However, these features do not prevent Himalayan cats from experiencing loneliness well and easily adapting to a new environment.

“By nature, Himalayan cats are very kind, with a gentle character, thanks to which they easily get along in families with children and other pets,” says Lyudmila Duenko. – With proper upbringing, these animals are not afraid of people, and when guests appear in the house, they do not hide in the back room. At the same time, if they don’t like something, they can stand up for themselves. Active outdoor games should not be expected from the Himalayan, they are too calm for this. And by the way, unlike most cats, Himalayans are very quiet, they hardly meow, even when necessary.

Himalayan cats are very smart and perfectly feel the mood of the owners. For all their affection, they are not intrusive and will suit even busy people who spend a lot of time at work. In addition, the gentle and gentle nature of the Himalayan makes them excellent companions for older owners.

Care and maintenance

The main concern of the owners of the Himalayans, of course, is related to their coat. Starting such a fluffy cat, one must be prepared for the fact that her long and soft hair needs careful care. Small kittens do not need to be combed daily, 1-2 times a week is enough. From childhood, accustom the animal to this procedure, otherwise your apartment will become “woolen”, and the pet will have tangles. Adult cats should be brushed daily with a special comb, paying special attention to the area around the neck, under the tail and on the legs. But you can bathe animals quite rarely – once every six months will be enough.

Himalayans should be fed high-quality cat food, selected by a veterinarian. In addition, the owners must monitor the volume of portions – otherwise, you may encounter the problem of overweight in your pet: Himalayans are prone to obesity. For the same reason, in no case give the cat food from your table: fatty, salty, fried, spicy and sweet foods are contraindicated for representatives of this breed. At the same time, if your Himalayan eats natural food, vitamins and minerals must be added to his diet (they are already included in professional feeds).

“It is also important to keep your cat’s eyes clean,” explains Lyudmila Duenko. – The tearfulness inherent in the breed can spoil the quality of the hair on the muzzle, and the dirt in the corners of the eyes can lead to inflammation. Eyes should be wiped every day with a cotton pad soaked in warm water or a special liquid, or a sterile gauze pad. In addition, it is important to remember that Himalayan cats are afraid of small enclosed spaces, so you should not close them, for example, in the bathroom or toilet.

Education and training

It is believed that Himalayan cats are difficult to train, but purebred kittens quickly learn the rules of behavior. Training is possible only if the animal shows interest and abilities in it. For example, you are unlikely to make a cat with short legs jump high, but they will be able to ask for food while sitting on their hind legs.

“Forcing a cat to train will be difficult even for an experienced owner,” Lyudmila Duenko is sure. – The only option is to gently encourage your pet to learn new exercises. This is where the reward system works best. The smaller the piece of reward, the harder the cat will try to earn it. And never forget to immediately treat your pet for the trick performed. Only in this way will he form a correct understanding of the “action-reward” chain.

Health and disease

In general, Himalayan cats are in good health, but due to the structure of the muzzle, problems with vision and breathing can occur. A flat muzzle for all breeds is a prerequisite for difficult disposal of discharge from the eyes. Representatives of the Himalayan breed are prone to eye diseases, and therefore require careful daily care.

The structure of the Himalayan nose often leads to respiratory problems. When the pet is excited and overheated, breathing can be difficult. To avoid such problems, it is important to maintain a warm temperature in the house and protect the cat from stress. Representatives of this breed, despite the thick cover, are sensitive to cold and especially drafts. In addition, in cold rooms, the Himalayan coat may darken.

– In rare cases, some cats suffer from polycystic kidney disease, says Lyudmila Duenko. – This is a hereditary disease, so when buying a kitten, it is important to pay attention to the health of his parents. The absence of the disease must be confirmed by documents.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about the breed of Himalayan cats with zoo engineer, veterinarian, cat breeder Anastasia Kalinina.