| Loved the world over, the ever so popular | | | | that most people cannot resist them. |
| Himalayan cat achieves its beauty from both | | | | |
| the Siamese from whom it gets its colored | | | | However, the creation of the Himalayan was |
| points, and to the Persian, which it most | | | | not a simple achievement. The earliest known |
| closely resembles. The Himalayan is one of | | | | attempts at the breed actually occurred in |
| those strictly human engineered breeds that | | | | Sweden and the United States in the early |
| took over ten years to develop by British | | | | 1920s. In the United States, it took five |
| breeder Brian Sterling-Webb, finally earning | | | | long years of dedicated breeding by a couple |
| breed registration status in 1955. In | | | | that was both associated with the Harvard |
| England, the Himalayan is actually known as | | | | Medical School. And although a successful |
| the Colourpoint Longhair. | | | | Himalayan was produced in 1931, named |
| | | | Debutante, there is no record in existence |
| Himalayans have luxurious, long coats that | | | | that she gave birth to a new generation of |
| mat easily, therefore requiring daily | | | | Himalayans. Actually, the breeding experiment |
| grooming to keep their coats free of the | | | | was conducted not to produce a new breed of |
| painful mats that they can get so easily. So | | | | cat but to try and solve some genetic |
| make sure that you are willing to give them | | | | problems. |
| the care that they need before adopting one | | | | |
| into your family. They are gentle, docile | | | | It wasn't easy producing the perfect |
| cats, but they still love to play as most | | | | Himalayan. It takes a lot more than cross |
| typical cats do. | | | | breeding a Siamese to a Persian. The initial |
| | | | consequences of those first breedings |
| Himalayans are actually considered to be a | | | | produced non-pointed, short haired kittens |
| breed of the Persian family, since they most | | | | with copper to yellow eyes, long noses, big |
| resemble the Persian cat in their body type. | | | | ears and a much daintier body than Persian |
| But the Himalayan is defined by the point | | | | cats are supposed to have. They were |
| colors, which they get from their Siamese | | | | literally ugly ducklings. |
| side, and while their points can vary from | | | | |
| chocolate, seal, and red to lilac cream lynx, | | | | Initially, only one in sixteen kittens were |
| their body colors run in a variety of shades | | | | produced with the desired effects, leaving |
| from white to fawn. One of the most | | | | perseverance, hard work, calendar watching |
| beautiful and outstanding features of the | | | | and back crossing to finally do the trick. |
| Himalayan cat is the deep, vivid, blue eyes | | | | Today, an overwhelming sixty-two percent of |
| that they get from their Siamese ancestors. | | | | all registered cats are Persians, which |
| The Himalayan also has tiny ears set a top a | | | | includes the beloved Himalayans and color |
| broad head, full large cheeks, a snub nose, | | | | point carriers, and as far as Himalayan cat |
| and large round eyes, a combination that | | | | lovers are concerned, long hair and bright |
| creates such a sweet yet extreme expression | | | | colors are the prevailing vogues. |