{{Bots|deny=OAbot}} {{Use British English|date=May 2025}} {{short description|Breed of cat}} {{Infobox Catbreed <!-- See: Wikipedia:WikiProject Cats/Templates for more info.--> | name = Himalayan | image = Sonny Bunny.jpg | imagecaption = Lilac point Himalayan | altname = Himalayan Persian<br />Colourpoint Persian<br />Longhaired Colourpoint {{small|(obsolete)}}<br />Siamese–Persian {{small|(obsolete)}} | nickname = Himmy | country = {{Tree list}} *{{flag|Nepal}} (Himalayas) **{{flag|United States}} (America) **{{flag|Iran}} (Persia) **{{flag|Thailand}} (Siam){{Tree list/end}} | cfastd = https://cfa.org/persian/persian-breed-standard/ | acfastd = http://www.acfacat.com/Breed%20Standards/HIMALAYAN.pdf | ticastd = https://www.tica.org/phocadownload/ps.pdf | ccastd = https://web.archive.org/web/20101025085425/http://acfacat.com/himalayan_standard.htm | acfstd = | gccfstd = | fifestd = | otherstd = https://web.archive.org/web/20060610032029/http://aaceinc.org/pages/breeds/him.htm | note = Recognized only as a variant of Persian by some organizations, not as a separate breed. |}}
The '''Himalayan''' (short for '''Himalayan Persian''', or '''Colourpoint Persian''' as it is commonly referred to in Europe), is a breed or sub-breed of long-haired cat similar in type to the Persian, with the exception of its blue eyes and its point colouration, which were derived from crossing the Persian with the Siamese. Some registries may classify the Himalayan as a long-haired sub-breed of Siamese, or a colourpoint sub-breed of Persian. The World Cat Federation has merged them with the Colourpoint Shorthair and Javanese into a single breed, the '''Colourpoint'''.
==History== {{See also|Persian cat}}
Work to formally establish a breed with combined Persian and Siamese traits, explicitly for the cat fancy, began in the United States in the 1930s at Harvard University, under the term '''Siamese–Persian''', and the results were published in the ''Journal of Heredity'' in 1936,<ref name="Keeler">{{cite journal |title=Siamese–Persian Cats |first1=Clyde E. |last1=Keeler |first2=Virginia |last2=Cobb |journal=Journal of Heredity |year=1936 |volume=27 |issue=9 |pages=339–340|publisher=American Genetic Association |doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a104243 |issn=0022-1503}} First page is available online at http://jhered.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pdf_extract/27/9/339/</ref> but were not adopted as a recognised breed by any major fancier groups at the time. Brian Sterling-Webb independently developed the cross-breed over a period of ten years in the UK, and in 1955 it was recognised there as the '''Longhaired Colourpoint''' by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF).<ref name="Berg">{{cite web |url=http://www.cfa.org/Breeds/BreedsKthruR/Persian/PERHIMArticle(1999).aspx |title=The Himalayan Persian |first=Linda |last=Berg |year=1999 |work=CFA.org |publisher=Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) |location=Alliance, Ohio, US |access-date=4 March 2004 |archive-date=16 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516195723/http://www.cfa.org/Breeds/BreedsKthruR/Persian/PERHIMArticle(1999).aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Cat breeder Jean Mill from California, US, took a series of graduate classes in genetics at the University of California, Davis. By 1948, she was one of three breeders independently crossing the Persian and Siamese to create the Himalayan cat.<ref name="Hamilton">{{cite news |last1=Hamilton |first1=Denise |title=A Little Cat Feat: A Covina woman's efforts at cross-breeding wild and domestic felines are paying off handsomely. |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-10-ga-32170-story.html |access-date=27 January 2019 |page=2 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=10 March 1994}}</ref>
Separate US-based breeding efforts had begun around 1950,<ref name="Berg" /> and a breeder known to sources simply as Mrs. Goforth received breed recognition from the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) near the end of 1957 for the '''Himalayan'''.<ref name="Berg" /> Early breeders were mostly interested in adding Siamese colouration to long-haired cats, and therefore reinforced the stock by outbreeding to Persians only to retain the Persian trait dominance.<ref name="Berg" /> However, by the 1960s, some were re-introducing Siamese stock and producing less "Persian-style" cats,<ref name="Berg" /> In the 1980s, a concerted effort to re-establish the breed along more formally Persian lines ultimately caused the breed to be merged into Persian as a variant in some registries (e.g. in 1984 by CFA), and a decline in the "old" or Siamese-like specimens.<ref name="Berg" />
==Recognition== The Himalayan is considered a colour variant of the Persian and not a separate breed by the CFA and the GCCF.<ref name="CFA">{{cite web |title=Persian Standard |url=https://cfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/persian-standard.pdf |website=Cat Fanciers' Association |access-date=14 January 2024 |archive-date=26 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126214547/https://cfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/persian-standard.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="GCCF">{{cite web |title=Persian Standard |url=https://www.gccfcats.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/PERSIAN.SOP_.October2023.pdf |website=Governing Council of the Cat Fancy |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref>The International Cat Association considers the Himalayan a part of the Persian Breed Group <ref name="TICA">{{cite web |title=Himalayan |url=https://tica.org/breed/himalayan/ |website=The International Cat Association |publisher=TICA |access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref> and the American Cat Fanciers Association considers the Himalayan a separate breed.<ref name="ACFA">{{cite web |title=Himalayan Breed Synopsis |url=https://acfacat.com/himalayan.htm |website=American Cat Fanciers Association |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref>
==Appearance== thumb|A 3-year-old male seal-point doll-faced Himalayan The Himalayan resembles the Persian in type, conformation, and coat length and texture. The Himalayan does not resemble the Siamese in type.<ref name="ACFA Standard">{{cite web |title=Himalayan Standard |url=https://acfacat.com/Breed%20Standards/Himalayan%202022.pdf |website=American Cat Fanciers Association |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref>
===Body=== The Himalayan is medium to large in size with a cobby body and low legs.<ref name="ACFA Standard"/>
===Head=== The Himalayan's head is round and massive with a round face and a thick neck. The nose is snubbed and pushed in.<ref name="ACFA Standard"/>
===Ears=== The ears of the Himalayan are small and round tipped and slightly pointed forward.<ref name="ACFA Standard"/>
===Eyes=== The eyes are large and round and spread well apart. Pointed Himalayans have blue eyes, non-pointed Himalayans have copper eyes except for the silver and golden tabby which have green eyes.<ref name="ACFA Standard"/>
===Coat=== The Himalayan has a long and thick coat all over the body including the tail and ear and toe tufts.<ref name="ACFA Standard"/>
====Coat colours==== The Himalayan comes in most colours with prohibited colours being mink and sepia.<ref name="ACFA Standard"/>
==Health== [[File:Himalayan CAT.jpg|thumb|A red-point showing the typical brachycephalic peke face]]
Like the Persian, the Himalayan is a brachycephalic breed which predisposes it to health issues such as respiratory infections, epiphora, corneal abrasions, ulcers, and corneal sequestration.<ref name="Long Beach">{{cite web |title=Himalayan Cat |url=https://lbah.com/breed-disease/himalayan-cat/ |website=Long Beach Animal Hospital |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref> Himalayans are also susceptible to polycystic kidney disease, a hereditary condition that results in cysts growing in the kidney.<ref name="Long Beach" /> Himalayans have a higher incidence of feline asthma.<ref name="Long Beach" /> In a review of over 5,000 cases of urate urolithiasis the Himalayan was under-represented, with an odds ratio of 0.37.<ref name="pmid22443437">{{cite journal|last1=Albasan|first1=H.|last2=Osborne|first2=C. A.|last3=Lulich|first3=J. P.|last4=Lekcharoensuk|first4=C.|title=Risk factors for urate uroliths in cats.|journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association|date=2012|volume=240|issue=7|pages=842–847|pmid=22443437|doi=10.2460/javma.240.7.842|doi-access=free|url=https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/240/7/javma.240.7.842.xml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107085652/https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/240/7/javma.240.7.842.xml|url-status=live|archive-date=January 7, 2024|access-date=July 26, 2025}}</ref> A study of cats presented to the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital that underwent radiography found four Himalayans out of a population of 16 to have hip dysplasia, higher than the 6.6% average for all cats.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Keller | first1=G.G. | last2=Reed | first2=A.L. | last3=Lattimer | first3=J.C. | last4=Corley | first4=E.A. | title=Hip Dysplasia: A Feline Population Study | journal=Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound | publisher=Wiley | volume=40 | issue=5 | year=1999 | issn=1058-8183 | doi=10.1111/j.1740-8261.1999.tb00375.x | pages=460–464| pmid=10528838 }}</ref>
Himalayans are predisposed to dermatophytosis (ringworm).<ref>{{cite book | last1=Hnilica | first1=Keith A. | last2=Patterson | first2=Adam P. | title=Small Animal Dermatology | publisher=Saunders | publication-place=St. Louis, MO | date=2016-09-19 | isbn=978-0-323-37651-8 | page=}}</ref>
The Himalayan is also predisposed to urticaria pigmentosa, a type of benign mast cell disorder.<ref>{{cite book | last1=Rhodes | first1=Karen Helton | last2=Werner | first2=Alexander H. | title=Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion | publisher=Wiley-Blackwell | publication-place=Ames, Iowa | date=2011-01-25 | isbn=978-0-8138-1596-1 | page=389}}</ref>
Idiopathic facial dermatitis, also known as facial dermatitis of the Persian and Himalayan cat, is a type of dermatitis only observed in the Persian and Himalayan cat. It is characterised by greasy skin, debris adhering to the folds of the face and nose, ceruminous otitis externa, secondary bacterial folliculitis and ''Malassezia'' dermatitis, and pruritus. Onset is at 10 months to six years.<ref>{{cite book | last1=Rhodes | first1=Karen Helton | last2=Werner | first2=Alexander H. | title=Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion | publisher=Wiley-Blackwell | publication-place=Ames, Iowa | date=2011-01-25 | isbn=978-0-8138-1596-1 | page=476}}</ref>
==In popular culture== {{in popular culture|section|date=June 2023}} *In the CBS television detective series ''Tucker's Witch'' (1982), a Himalayan cat named Dickens is the familiar to witch Amanda Tucker. Amanda Tucker has a telepathic link with Dickens, who provides her and her husband with clairvoyant clues to help them solve mysteries. Dickens is featured prominently in the show's opening and closing credits.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tucker's Witch – "The Good Witch of Laurel Canyon" |url=https://cinemacats.com/tuckers-witch-the-good-witch-of-laurel-canyon/ |website=Cinema Cats |date=July 2014 |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref> *In the spoof film ''Date Movie'' (2006), Mr. Jinxers is a parody of his ''Meet the Parents'' counterpart.<ref>{{cite web |title=Date Movie 2006 |url=https://cinemacats.com/date-movie-2006/ |website=Cinema Cats |date=15 November 2017 |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref> *In the movies ''Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey'' (1993) and ''Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco'' (1996), one of the main characters is a Himalayan cat named Sassy (voiced by Sally Field).<ref>{{cite web |title=Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey |url=https://libremdb.iket.me/title/tt0107131 |website=IMDB |date=12 February 1993 |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref> *The main character of the anime/manga ''Prince of Tennis'', Ryoma Echizen, owns a Himalayan cat named Karupin (or Kalpin in the English translation).<ref>{{cite web |title=Karupin |url=https://myanimelist.net/character/28944/Karupin |website=My Anime List |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref> *Martha Stewart owns three Himalayans, named after composers: Beethoven, Mozart and Bartók. The cats have been featured in her commercials for Kmart, on her television show, ''Martha Stewart Living'', and in her magazine, such as the cover of the February 1999 issue.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fluffy Himalayan Cats |url=https://www.themarthablog.com/2009/01/my-new-adopted-fluffy-himalayan-cats.html |website=The Martha Stewart Blog |date=21 January 2009 |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref> *A Himalayan named Luna the Fashion Kitty became a social media phenomenon in 2011 with a popular Facebook page, a website, and several media references.<ref name="Racked 2">{{cite web|author=Lilit Marcus |url=http://racked.com/archives/2011/11/07/meet-luna-the-fashion-kitty.php |title=Meet Luna, the Fashion Kitty - Bitches in Stitches - Racked National |publisher=Racked.com |date=2011-11-07 |accessdate=2012-01-29}}</ref> *A Himalayan-Persian named Colonel Meow became an Internet celebrity in 2012, and entered ''Guinness World Records 2014'' as the cat with the longest fur. *Mr. Jinx (also known as Jinxy, or simply just Jinx) from the ''Meet the Parents'' trilogy is a seal-point peke-faced Himalayan with an all-black tail.<ref>{{cite book | last=Sandler | first=Corey |title=Econoguide Walt Disney World Resort Universal Orlando, 5th Edition |year=2007 |publisher=Globe Pequot |isbn=978-0-7627-4169-4 |page=307 |chapter=Animal Planet Live! }}</ref> *The "narrator" of David Michie's series of books that begins with "The Dalai Lama's Cat" is a Himalayan cat. *A community-created cosmetic item for the Medic and Spy classes in the 2007 computer game ''Team Fortress 2'' is a Red Point Himalayan cat named "Harry".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam Community Market - Harry |url=https://steamcommunity.com/market/listings/440/Harry |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=Steam}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Himalayan-sharapova.jpg|Red (flame) point File:Strathcona-Siamese-Persian-mix-cat-3730.jpg|Blue-point File:Chocolate Himlayan.jpg|Chocolate-point File:Himalayan Persian.jpg|Red-point File:Himalayan close-up.jpg|Tortie-point File:Himalayan Male Cat 5 years Old Lilac Point.jpg|alt=Himalayan Male Cat 5 years Old Lilac Point|5-year-old male lilac-point File:Himalayan Cat Male with Brown Colour 3.JPG|Male Himalayan cat with brown colouring (note the points inherited from siamese and relatively long hair inherited from Persian parent) File:Himalayan cat m3.JPG|Seal lynx point Himalayan cat File:Bluepoint Himalayan Kitten Cirrus at 6 months by Asilverstein 2014mar14 IMG 2542b.jpg|Example of blue-point feline markings on juvenile male File:Sealpoint Himalayan Kitten Genghis at 6 months by Asilverstein 2014mar14 IMG 2626.jpg|Example of seal-point feline markings on juvenile male File:Seal point himalayan.jpg|Seal-point Himalayan </gallery>
==References== {{reflist|32em}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Himalayan cats}} * [http://catsplace.org/himalayan-cat-breed/ Himalayan Cat Breed] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080509194432/http://www.cfa.org/breeds/profiles/articles/persian-himalayan.html Himalayan-Persian CFA Breed Article]
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