Himalayan Cat

Himalayan cats are Persian cats with a Siamese coloring. They have blue eyes, white to tan colored bodies and their faces and extremities are tinted brown, red or blue.¹

The development of the Himalayan breed was from cross breeding Persian and Siamese cats to obtain a Persian with a Siamese coloring. Years of breeding were necessary to achieve these results.¹

Fast Facts

1. Decade of origin: 1930s²
2. Some have breathing and tearing issues²
3. Should be groomed daily³
4. The Cat Fanciers' Association suggests weekly bathing³

Health

Due to the shape of the head, some Himalayans have breathing issues and tearing eyes.²

History

The breeding of the Himalayn began in 1930 by Harvard Medical School doctor Clyde Keller and Virginia Cobb. The point was not to begin a new breed but to study cat genetics. The first successful Himalayan was named Newton's Debutante. By 1957, the breed was accepted by The Cat Fanciers' Association. In the 1980s, the breed became a subgroup of the Persian breed.^{2 4}

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