No other cat in the history of the cat fancy has so captured the admiration of cat lovers the way the Himalayan has! Siamese in color, Persian in type, this animal combines the best qualities of both breeds in one magnificent creature.

           Since the 1950s, when the Himalayan cat began to come more into the public eye it was necessary to conduct more educational programs in order to inform the public as to just what a Himalayan cat is. A Himalayan cat is a Persian cat with the color pattern of the Siamese cat. True, in the beginning the breed was created by breeding a Persian to a Siamese, but only to pick up the Himalayan (or Siamese) color pattern, nothing more. The only thing "Siamese" about the Himalayan is the color pattern, and once that was established there has been no further need to go back to the Siamese breed.

          The Himalayan cat is one of the comparatively few breeds of domesticated animals for which a complete and verifiable history of origin is known. Miss. Virginia Cobb and Dr. Clyde Keeler were among the very first to create what is now known as the Himalayan cat in the United States, Breeding of the Siamese/Persian cross has undoubtedly been tried. but it was Virginia Cobb who actually possessed the foresight to see the potential In the magnificent blending of the two most popular breeds. Miss Cobb, who was associated with the Howe Laboratory at Harvard Medical School and an active member of the Siamese Cat Society in America, and Dr. Clyde Keeler, an instructor at the Harvard Medical School and Fellow of the Bussey Institution of Harvard ended their six years of work successfully with the first Himalayan kitten named "Debutante."

           After World War II, the Himalayan started to come into its own. When Mrs. Marguerita Goforth in the USA and Mr Brian Stirling- Web in England took the breed beyond the self color stage and presented an eager public with the Himalayan cat with its transmissible characteristics which set it apart as a new breed in 1957, the breed was recognized by ACPA (American Cat Fanciers Association) and by CFA (Cat Fanciers Association).

A Seal Lynx Point and A Tortie Lynx Point Himalayan

           For cat lovers who favor the appearance of the Siamese cat but can't tolerate their active lifestyle or the raucous calling when they are in season, the Himalayan has to be considered the perfect alternative! For as I stated before, the only likeness between the Siamese and Himalayan Is the color pattern.

Francine, A Seal Point Himalayan

           Himalayans have come a long way since their inception, and one of the most outstanding improvements has been in the fascinating coat characteristics and coloring! Today's Himalayan can equal the best Persian in the length and density of their coats, and it's a great achievement on the part of the dedicated breeders who have worked so hard in perfecting it.

This is an excerpt from All About Himalayan Cats by Joan McDonald Brearley published by T.F.H. Publications, Inc.

Reprinted with permission of The Pet Tribune - The Magazine For Florida Pet Lovers. No reproduction of this article may be made without written permission from the publisher. Copywrite © 1997

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