Introduction

The Himalayan cat breed is a gorgeous hybrid of Persian and Siamese cats. They sport the long, luscious hair of the Persians and the contrasting colour points and bright blue eyes of the Siamese. The points refer to having a darker colour on the tips of the ears, tail, and legs.

They have a big-boned body, which along with their long hair, makes them appear to be quite large. When you touch a Himalayan, its body should feel stocky and sturdy, but not chubby. It has a large, round face with wide-set eyes. Himalayan cats come in a range of colours from grey, blue, lilac, chocolate, tortoiseshell, black, brown, silver, golden, and cream.

The breed first appeared in the 1930s after breeders made several attempts to create a breed that blended the gorgeous Persian hair with the distinctive pointed-colour pattern of the Siamese. Interestingly, the first successful Himalayan was not produced by breeders by rather a pair of medical researchers at Harvard studying how genetic characteristics are inherited.

9 - 15 Years

Lifespan

3 - 5kg

Weight

5/5

Affection

4/5

Child friendliness

4/5

Grooming difficulty

3/5

Intelligence

4/5

Dog friendly

5/5

Shedding

Behaviour and personality

Cats tend to have the reputation of being a bit aloof and only showing interest in their owners when they are hungry. Not the Himalayan. This sweet, affectionate kitty loves to spend time with their owner curled up on their lap. If you’re busy, they will play quietly nearby. Like most cats, they can be left at home for periods of time, but they will complain about the absence when their owner finally arrives.

They are known for being docile and gentle. They tend to get along well with children and even dogs as companions as long as the dog isn’t overly excitable and noisy.

Himalayans are not necessarily active cats, though they will show bursts of kitten-like energy on occasion.

Ideal owner / home

House

Children

Families

Dogs

Himalayans do well with families because they get along well with both kids and other pets. They can spend time alone, but prefer to have company.

They aren’t overly known for being active on their own and are prone to weight issues. For this reason, companionship is good, especially with another pet or children that will encourage play and exercise. Of course, they do well in a house and don’t need lots of outdoor space to get the exercise they need.

In short, the Himalayan is an all-around companionable cat suitable for most families.

White and grey cat sat on a laminated floor

Grooming

There is a price to pay for the beauty of the Himalayan cat’s coat — it sheds a lot. Plus, the long hair can get tangled and matted quite easily, resulting in quite the mess. To avoid this, daily brushing is recommended. Even so, the amount of hair they shed is astonishing. If you prefer a pet hair-free home (or at least a manageable amount) the Himalayan cat is not the breed for you.

To further keep a Himalayan cat’s hair shiny and lustrous, regular trips to the groomer are a must. The nice thing is that Himalayan cats enjoy receiving attention so daily brushing and in-depth grooming sessions tend to be an enjoyable experience for both the cat and its owner.

To protect furniture, your legs, and the cats own paws, regular nail trimming is an excellent practice.

Health

There is enough genetic variation among Himalayans that they typically don’t present many health issues. However, because of their flat faces, they can sometimes struggle with certain respiratory issues. Sometimes they can have enough trouble breathing that they won’t be able to exercise.

It’s important to always keep an eye on a Himalayan’s weight and keep it under control. It’s easy for their stocky, short bodies to take on a bit of extra weight and owners often don’t notice the difference under all that hair. If a Himalayan begins to take on too much weight, a special diet may be required to control the gain.

Though the Himalayan’s coat is beautiful, it can present a couple of difficulties. First, they tend to be more prone to hairballs because they are constantly grooming that long, gorgeous hair. Second, they can develop skin problems like ringworm if they are not regularly groomed properly.

Himalayan cat pet insurance can be a great idea to cover unexpected vet bills.

Common health issues

Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is an inherited condition that causes multiple cysts to form in the kidneys. It has become quite common amongst certain cat breeds, like Persians, but is still rare in other breeds.

Persian cats have the highest risk of PKD, with roughly one-third of all Persians diagnosed with the condition.

The cysts are present at birth and are initially very small, but they will gradually grow through the cat’s life.

The number of cysts and the growth rate varies in every cat, but in most cats the cysts enlarge slowly, so signs of the disease don’t appear until later in life, often around 7 years old.

Extreme cases may disrupt kidney function, resulting in kidney failure.

Diagnosis can be made via blood, urine and genetic tests. If you’re looking at purchasing a Persian, make sure they have been tested for the defective gene first. If they have the gene, they should not be bred.

There is sadly no specific treatment for PKD, but special diets, fluid therapy and nausea reducing medication can help treat the symptoms.

Ringworm

Despite the name, Ringworm is not caused by a worm at all, it is a fungus that causes patchy areas of hair loss and red skin generally on the head, ears and forelimbs.

Also known as dermatophytosis, this disease is highly contagious. If you suspect your pet is infected, you must quarantine them and speak to your vet for advice. If one cat has ringworm, it’s very common for a whole household to become infected, so you’ll want to check all other pets and humans for symptoms.

Ringworm can be transmitted through direct contact or contact with items like bedding and food bowls that have been contaminated with skin cells and hair.

Treatment depends on the severity, and your vet will advise what’s best. Generally, a special shampoo used regularly for a month or two will do the trick. If the disease is more severe, you may need to administer oral medication.

Himalayan

Introduction

Behaviour and personality

Ideal owner / home

Grooming

Health

Common health issues

Other Breeds

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Himalayan cats can be troubled with health issues like Polycystic Kidney Disease