| Country of Origin: | United Kingdom |
| Colors: | Chocolate, Seal, Lilac, Blue, Black, Flame, Red, Cream, Tortoiseshell, Frost, Silver, Golden, Brown, Fawn, Cinnamon |
| Average Size: | Weight: 8-12 lbs (3.6 – 5.44 kg) Length: Medium: to Large |
| Life Span: | 8-11 yrs. |
| Coat: | Long |
| Personality: | A lovable cat, friendly to everyone, both a quiet companion and energetic playmate |
| Characteristics: | Energy: High Talkative: Moderate Kid Friendly: Yes Allergic: No |
Longhaired cat with markings (Colorpoint ), is known as a Himalayan cat breed, created by a man while during experiments in breeding, while trying to solve the problem of genetic disease in cat when Swedish geneticist Dr. Tjebbes in the twenties of the 20th century crossed Siamese, Persian and Birman cats.
Then in the thirties, two researchers at the Harvard School of Medicine concluded that it was necessary further crossing – this time of known pedigree cats – in order to achieve the inheritance of certain characteristics. They mated Siamese smoky, silver tabby and a black long-bristle Persian cat, but this time in a deliberate attempt to obtain a sample of a Siamese cat with Persian hair and body type. First long-haired Himalayan kitten with markings was born in 1935.
They called this cat Himalayan, but not because of any geographical connection with the mountain chain, but because it is the name used for the same samples of colors for other farmed animal, such as rabbits.
Growing Himalayan cats with pedigree in the United States began 1957 as they were never introduced on any competitions or cat shows. When two such cats were presented at the exhibition in San Diego, California, they caused a sensation.
While this is only one of many long-haired breeds of Siamese patterns, one can immediately recognize the broad head, small ears with rounded tips, short, thick and powerful legs, shaggy tail, short nose and long, thick and silky coat. However, longhaired Himalayan cats don’t allow the same density of color labels that we see in Siamese cats.
During the early history of the breed, some associations recognize only certain colors, but today are recognized colors such as black, blue, chocolate, purple and red (fire) colors, and all colors with striped markings.
Himalayan cats are excellent perfect indoor companions. They are very gentle, calm, and playful. The same as the Siamese cats, Himalayans also love to play fetch which can entertain them for hours.
Himalayans are very devoted and dependent upon their owners. They love to be groomed and petted. They are also very docile and will never harass their owner for attention. Also, they are more vocal that Persian cats, but quieter that Siamese.
