Himalayan (cat)
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| Himalayan | |
|---|---|
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| A Lilac point Himalayan | |
| Alternative names | Colourpoint Persian |
| Common nicknames | Himmy |
| Breed standard | |
| CFA | standard |
| TICA | standard |
| AACE | standard |
The Himalayan cat is a breed of long-haired cat identical in type to the Persian, with the exception of its blue eyes and its point coloration, which were derived from the crossing of the Persian with the Siamese. In Europe they are referred to as Colourpoint Persians.
While the Himalayan is considered a breed separate from the Persian by The International Cat Association, it is grouped together with the Persian and Exotic Shorthair (shorthaired version of the Persian) under a "Persian Breed Group standard".[1] The Cat Fanciers' Association considers the Himalayan a color variation of the Persian rather than as a separate breed, although they do compete in their own color division.
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[edit] Body Type
Like Persian cats, the Himalayan cat tends to have a round (cobby) body with short legs, which makes it harder for them to jump as high as other cats do. Some do have more of a Siamese like body[citation needed], though, and can jump as high as seven feet[citation needed].
[edit] Temperament
These cats are sweet-tempered, intelligent and generally very social and good companions. Because of their heritage from the Siamese cats they tend to be more active than Persians.
[edit] Health Issues
Due to their Persian ancestry, some Himalayans may have the gene that causes Polycystic kidney disease, (PKD), but a genetic test can reveal which cats carry the PKD gene, so that they may be spayed or neutered.
[edit] Fur
Like many long-haired cats, Himalayans need to be brushed daily to keep their coats looking their best and healthiest. In addition, they may need their face wiped daily, depending on the cat. Bathing a Himalayan is also recommended by some breeders, to help reduce the amount of oil on the cat's fur and skin. The fur on the body of a Himalayan is white or cream, but the points come in many different colors: seal (or black), blue, lilac, chocolate, red and cream. The points can also be tabby or tortoiseshell-patterned. The chocolate and lilac point Himalayans are the most difficult to produce, because both parents must carry the gene for chocolate/lilac to produce a chocolate or lilac kitten, as the trait is autosomal recessive
[edit] Facial Features
Show Himalayans display a nose break as do show Persians (the "Peke" or "Ultra-Face" variety), and have very large, round eyes with the nose leather right between the eyes. Breeder or pet Himalayans generally have longer noses than the show cats, and may display a longer muzzle and smaller eyes than the show cats do. All three types of cat are Himalayans, however.
[edit] Colourpoint Classification Definitions
Blue Point:
- A cat whose blue coat color is confined to the points: the feet, ears, tail, and face mask.[2]
Chocolate Point:
- Chocolate color on the points (face mask, ears, tail, and legs), as opposed to the darker seal brown.[2]
Cream/Flame Point:
- These colors can be very close. There are hot creams and light reds. If both parent cats are definitely dilutes (blue, cream or bluecream), the offspring cannot be a flame point.[3]
Seal Point:
- Sealbrown color on the points.[3]
[edit] Himalayan Cats In The Media
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Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (April 2009) |
- Mr. Jinx was the pet Himalayan cat of Pam Byrnes adopted by Jack Byrnes as stated by Dina Byrnes 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 (or Kalpin in the English translation), to whom he's very attached.
- Martha Stewart owns seven Himalayan cats, all named after famous composers, such as Beethoven, Mozart and Bartok. 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.
- Webkinz [1],a popular online game where people can play with the plush pets they have purchased, has a Himalayan cat as one of their stuffed animals.
- In Flipping Out, Jeff Lewis' two Himalayan cats, Monkey and Stewie, are often featured.
[edit] References
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2009) |
[edit] External links
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