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Breed Profile

Size: Medium
Origin: Persian/Siamese background
Colour: Siamese

This is the American name for a Persian Cat with Siamese colour-point markings. Its popular nickname is the 'Himmy' or 'Himmie'. It is sometimes referred to as a 'Colourpoint Persian'. In Britain it is officially called a 'Colourpoint Longhair'.

Owner's Guide

Domestic Breed: This is the American name for a Persian Cat with Siamese colour-point markings. Its popular nickname is the 'Himmy' or 'Himmie'. It is sometimes referred to as a 'Colourpoint Persian'. In Britain it is officially called a 'Colourpoint Longhair'.

In the 1920s references occur to a breed called the 'Malayan Persian'. This appears to have been an early, alternative name for the Himalayan which was soon abandoned. In 1947, the name 'Masked Silver' was given to certain Persians which carried Siamese markings - presumably yet another (now obsolete) name for the Himalayan.

Appearance: Almost exactly as for the Persian Cat, with snub nose, flat face, broad head, short body and thick, heavy, very long-haired coat. The only difference is that this breed shows the colour-pointed coat pattern of the Siamese.

History: In the 1920s and 1930s, breeders in several countries were striving to produce a cat with a typical Persian body, but with Siamese markings. The idea was to borrow only the coat pattern from the Siamese and nothing else. In 1924, Dr T. Tjebbes was making Persian/Siamese crosses in Sweden. In 1930, Dr Clyde Keeler and Virginia Cobb started a serious breeding programme in the United States with the same aim. After six years, the first true Himalayan kitten was born. It was appropriately named 'Debutante'. In September 1936 Miss Cobb was able to write an article for The Journal of Heredity describing the successful progress of their programme.

After World War II, the development of the Himalayan was taken up in earnest by Marguerita Goforth of San Diego. As the years passed, great improvements were achieved and the breed was finally given official recognition in the United States in 1957.

In Britain, similar breeding experiments were being carried out by Brian Stirling-Webb at Richmond in Surrey. Although his cats were condemned to the unimaginative title of 'Colourpoint Longhairs', their quality was so impressive that they gained official recognition as early as 1955 - two years before the American Himalayans.

Even today, some cat organizations still do not like to give this breed its own separate name. The fact that they carry a genetic contribution - admittedly small - from Siamese Cats, seems to be sufficient to justify the separate title, but in the end it is simply a matter of taste.

Personality: Terms used to describe this breed include: Docile, gentle, intelligent, outgoing, devoted, affectionate and demanding. The voice is slightly louder than that of the full Persian, but much quieter than the Siamese. Because of their mixed ancestry it is inevitable that they will show some characters derived from both their Persian and their Siamese backgrounds. Not surprisingly, they are closer to the Persian than the Siamese. One author commented that Himalayans 'are a rest cure to an owner who has endured the domineering ways and boisterous and violent affections of the Siamese.'

On the other hand, Himalayans are said to be more enterprising than full Persians, perhaps borrowing a small slice of the Siamese vigour.

Colour Forms:

GCCF: For colour forms, see under their British name of Colourpoint Longhair.

CFA: Seal Point, Chocolate Point; Blue Point; Lilac Point; Flame (Red) Point; Cream Point; Tortie Point; Chocolate Tortie Point; Blue-Cream Point; Lilac-Cream Point; Seal Lynx Point; Blue Lynx Point; Flame (Red) Lynx Point; Cream Lynx Point; Tortie Lynx Point; Blue-Cream Lynx Point; Chocolate Lynx Point; Lilac Lynx Point; Chocolate Tortie Lynx Point; Lilac-Cream Lynx Point.

Bibliography:

1976. Brearley, J.M. All About Himalayan Cats. TFH, New Jersey.

1979. Manton, S.M. Colourpoint Longhair and Himalayan Cats. Ferendune and Springwood.

Breed Club:

The Colourpoint Cat Club publishes a twice-yearly magazine. Address: 11 Chestnut Avenue, Ravenshead, Notts, England; Tel: 01623 793980.

Note: There are also two breed publications: Cat Tracks. Address: 167 West Genesee Street, Chittenango, NY 13037, USA; and The Western Edition. Address: 1575 Hurlburt lane, Sebastopol, CA 95472, USA.