Himalayan (cat)

The Himalayan, also called colorpoint Persian, is a breed of cat with extremely long, fluffy fur, and the blue eyes and the points of a Siamese. Himalayan is the American term, while in Europe they are referred to as colorpoint Persians.

They were bred from Siamese (for the markings) and Persians (for coat-length and temperament), and share the characteristics of both breeds. Himalayans are now considered the same breed for cat registries (CFA), (TICA) as the modern Persian show cat since they have the exact same conformation with a pointed coat.

The body of a Himalayan is white, but the points come in many different colors: blue, brown, lilac, chocolate, flame, red and cream. The points can also be tabby or tortoiseshell-patterned.

These cats are sweet-tempered, intelligent, very social and good companions. Because of their heritage from the Siamese cats they tend to be more active than ordinary Persians. Their coat needs daily attention and grooming, because, like many long-haired cats, they have an abundance of fur. They are more prone to hairballs than other breeds. Due to the amount of inbreeding involved in breeding these cats commercially, they are prone to genetic deformities and have a greater likelihood for developing inherited problems such as joint problems, organ abnormalities, and particularly Polycystic kidney disease among other diseases.

Himalayans need to be brushed with a wire or slicker brush 2 or 3 times a day to keep its coat looking its best and healthy. In addition, they need their face wiped daily.

The rarest colour Himalayan is Chocolate Point, with very few bred per year.[citation needed]

Himalayan Cats In The Media

* Mr. Jinx was the pet Himalayan cat of Robert DeNiro in the movies Meet the Parents (2000) and Meet the Fockers (2004).

* 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).

* In the spoof film, Date Movie (2006) Mr. Jinxers is a parody of his Meet the Parents counterpart.

* The main character of the anime/manga Prince of Tennis, Ryoma Echizen, owns a playful, mischievous and surprisingly smart Himalayan cat named Karupin, to whom he's very attached.