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