Himalayan (cat)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Himalayan, also called colorpoint Persian, is a breed of cat with extremely long, fluffy fur, and the blue eyes and the points of a Siamese. Himalayan is the American term, while in Europe they are referred to as colorpoint Persians.
They were bred from Siamese (for the markings) and Persians (for coat-length and temperament), and share the characteristics of both breeds. Himalayans are now considered the same breed for cat registries (CFA), (TICA) as the modern Persian show cat since they have the exact same conformation with a pointed coat.
The body of a Himalyan is white, but the points come in many different colors: blue, brown, lilac, chocolate, flame, red and cream. The points can also be tabby or tortie-patterned.
These cats are sweet-tempered, intelligent, very social and good companions. Because of their heritage from the Siamese cats they tend to be more active than ordinary Persians. Their coat needs daily attention and grooming, because, like many long-haired cats, they have an abundance of fur.
Known for their rarity and fluffy fur, Himalayans range from $100-$200 in price for a cross-bred cat. The purebred's price range from $300-$2500. The less expensive ones are pet quality; the more expensive ones are show quality. The mixed points (such as seal-tortie point) are more rare than the single points alone.
[edit] Trivia
- The Himalayan cat has become well-known in recent years with the movies Meet the Parents (2000) and Meet the Fockers (2004). The cat seen in the two movies was named Mr. Jinx.
- 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).
- The main character of the anime/manga Prince of Tennis, Ryoma Echizen, owns a playful, mischievous and surprisingly smart Himalayan cat named Karupin, whom he's very attached to.
