The Himalayan cat breed, commonly known as ‘Himmies’, originated in the early 1900s in the United States and grew to become one of the most popular cats around today. The cat breed draws from its ancestors from the Siamese and Persian breeds, although it has been crossed with other types of cats over time to improve certain features and characteristics of the Himalayan cats.
Here’s everything you need to know about keeping a Himalayan cat breed as your pet.
Is It Right For You?
Let’s start with whether it is right for you.
If you want an indoor cat, but your lifestyle often keeps you away from home, then perhaps not. The average lifespan of a Himalayan breed is between 15 and 20 years – which can be fun for you, but may take its toll on friends and family who have to care for them when you go on vacation. It takes daily commitment – time both in grooming as well as playing – to keep their beautiful coat shiny and soft; otherwise, they’ll look scruffy within a month. That said, they’re sweet cats who enjoy being part of your family.
How Much Do They Cost?
Like many purebred cats, the cost is an important factor in deciding whether or not to bring home one of these fluffy balls of delight.
The Himalayan cat breed is an exotic pet, which means they are fairly costly. One of these cats can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000depending on factors like bloodline and coat quality. Of course, it’s rare for any cat breeder to have several litters on hand at one time, so you might end up paying even more than that.
You also need to spend on spaying or neutering your cat, purchasing any necessary equipment (food bowls, litter box, scratching post), and visiting a veterinarian for basic vaccinations. Remember that you’ll also have expenses like yearly veterinary visits and regular grooming appointments down the road. Be sure to keep these factors in mind as you research different breeds of cats.
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Personality Traits of Himalayan Cat Breed
Cats are so good at being aloof and distant that some people think they can’t be tamed, but Himalayan cats are the exception to this rule. This list of the top personality traits of Himalayan cats gives you an idea of what makes these beautiful creatures so lovable—and how you can increase your chances of becoming friends with one, even if you aren’t planning on getting one as a pet anytime soon!
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Independence
Feline independence is a defining characteristic of the Himalayans. These cats can entertain themselves very well, so you don’t have to worry about getting up all hours of the night to play with them. You can rest assured that they’ll entertain themselves in style—it may even become difficult to wake them up in time for their breakfast!
However, when it comes to these cats, too much independence isn’t necessarily a good thing; make sure you provide them with proper care and attention.
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Playfulness
Even when they’re in their elderly years, you’ll never see a Himalayan cat getting bored! They love to play and will spend hours batting at toy mice and balls. This trait makes them ideal for kids and families. If you’re looking for a playful addition to your family, then consider adopting a Himalayan kitten from your local shelter or breeder.
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Brave
Himalayans are extremely brave, to a fault. For example, they can take on much larger animals—cats or dogs, and they will even go after people if they feel threatened. This quality makes them excellent guard cats! However, it also means that you should keep Himalayans away from small children or toddlers, who may accidentally provoke them into an attack. It’s important to have your cat spayed or neutered before he’s 2 years old.
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Friendly& Loyal
Your kitty may be small, but her heart is immense. Despite their exotic looks, these furry felines are quite docile and friendly. They love spending time with their owners and will even follow them around like little dogs.
If you want a pet who will stay by your side no matter what (and will be equally happy in both cold and warm weather), then look no further than a Himalayan cat breed.
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Gentle & Affectionate
The top personality trait that you will find in all Himalayan cats is their tendency to be quite mellow. They aren’t typically an extroverted breed, but they are incredibly friendly and kindhearted. The kind nature of these felines makes them wonderful companions who love their owners more than anything else in the world.
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Different Coat Colors and Patterns of Himalayan Cat Breed
The Himalayan breed has a varied and interesting array of colors and patterns, and all but one—the Siamese pattern—can be found in other cat breeds as well. That said, there’s no mistaking a Himalayan for another breed!
To understand what makes these cats unique, we need to take a closer look at each color or pattern individually. If you’re looking to buy a Himalayan cat, it’s important to know what color and pattern you want. The Himalayan breed has many distinctive characteristics that will appeal to some people and turn off others, so understanding what the different colors and patterns look like will help you find the right fit for your household.
Here are the five most popular colors and patterns when it comes to Himalayan cats:
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Blue Point
Blue Point is a specific variation of a Siamese cat with light gray or blue coloring on its face, ears, feet, legs, tail, and back. The rest of its body can be any color. These blue points have bluish-gray eyes. In terms of points scoring in shows, when it comes to color variations within Siamese breeds there is little difference between blue point Siamese cats and seal point Siamese cats.
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Chocolate point
These Himalayan cats have chocolate brown points with a cream body color. Chocolate point Himalayans have all the shades of milk chocolate!
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Seal Point
The seal point is a black, brown, or dark gray cat. Their nose leather is also typically of these same colors. Seal points are easily confused with their derivative colorpoint cats, especially by novice owners. However, seal points tend to have more white on their chests and legs than colorpoints do; they’re also often born with blue eyes before eventually changing to yellow as they age.
Seal points also have light facial markings that form a distinctive mask around their eyes. These felines can be either short-haired or long-haired; both varieties make excellent pets.
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Red Point
It is a flame-like color in which there is no limit on how dark or light it can be. Some points are darker than others, with red being the darkest, but all have deep ruddy tones somewhere on their body. This color will have a lighter undercoat that often shows through around its neck, chest, belly, and legs.
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Siamese Pattern
Siamese pattern Himalayans often have white toes. Often, there is a white underbelly, as well as white on their face, ears, and tail tip. The legs and feet may also be solid white or mixed with another color (black). A Siamese pattern Himalayan looks like it’s wearing a tuxedo (or at least a stylish sweater vest). This pattern can be found in both longhair and shorthair variations.
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Special Needs of Himalayan Cat Breed
The Himalayan breed has several physical characteristics that require extra care if you want a healthy and happy pet. You’ll want to know what these are if you’re thinking about bringing home one of these interesting creatures as a pet.
Here’s an overview as to why the Himalayan cats may need special attention:
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Activity Level
These cats love nothing more than a good romp. They’re built for action and have a lot of energy stored up—energy that they need to release on a regular basis. If you want to keep your Himalayan indoors as an indoor/outdoor cat, make sure you have a large yard with plenty of hiding places or nooks and crannies for them to go when they want some alone time from you and other members of your family.
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Exercise Needs
The Himalayan is not an especially active cat breed. These cats are laid back and relaxed. Himalayans tend to get along well with other animals, though males may be aggressive toward male intruders; if you’re planning on having another cat in your home, take extra care when introducing them. Your Himalayan will likely spend most of her time indoors, but she should still get regular playtime outside in order to enjoy some sunshine and exercise.
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Coat Care
The Himalayan cat breed features a wide variety of coat colors and patterns. But, if you want your kitty to look like picture-perfect beautiful cats, then there are two things you’ll need: time and love. That’s because most Himalayans require extensive grooming to maintain their long coats.
The best way to maintain your cat’s coat is to brush her once or twice daily. It’s also good practice to comb or brush your pet before you bathe her; that way, you can avoid matting and tangle problems. When brushing your cat breed, take care not to pull out hair; instead, use long strokes with minimal pressure.
Some frequently asked questions about the Himalayan Cat breed
The Himalaya breed has grown in popularity over the last decade, and it’s not hard to see why. This list of frequently asked questions about the Himalayan cat should help you get started on your path to Himalayan cat ownership!
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Are they good at adapting to a new home?
One of the biggest challenges in bringing a new cat into your home is getting them to accept their new owners. Well, sometimes it doesn’t take long for cats to feel comfortable in their new homes—they walk right in, look around at all of your stuff, find a nice spot on the floor, plop down and go right to sleep. This feels like magic sometimes! Other times though things don’t go so smoothly—it might take days or even weeks for cats to feel at ease in their surroundings.
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Can my new kitten be placed with my current pets (dogs, cats)?
Yes, as long as you do your research and understand that introducing two animals into a home is a process. Your pets may not get along right away but it’s important to give them time and allow them to get used to each other slowly. It’s best if both cats grow up together so they can develop confidence around other felines.
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What size are they?
The size of a Himalayan cat depends on breed, but generally, they are medium-sized. Males will typically weigh from 8-12 pounds and females from 6-10 pounds. The adult male will stand around 10 to 12 inches tall at their shoulder and have a length of 15 to 18 inches from head to tail. Females are just slightly smaller, standing 10 to 12 inches at their shoulder with a body length of 14 to 16 inches long.
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Are they hypoallergenic?
Unfortunately, there’s no definitive yes or no answer for whether these cats are hypoallergenic. Some humans are allergic to cats, but it’s not clear if their reactions are caused by pet dander and/or saliva vs. non-pet allergens (dust mites, pollen). If you do have allergies and aren’t sure if Himalayans will exacerbate them, check with your doctor or a qualified vet before bringing one home.
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Do they shed excessively?
Contrary to popular belief, Himalayans do not shed more than other breeds. Many people assume that their fine-haired coats mean their fur falls out easily—but in fact, they have similar shedding patterns as most other longhaired cats. However, owners of these sweet felines often take extra steps in order to keep their pets healthy and happy. These include brushing them several times a week—and sometimes even daily!
As long as you groom them regularly, you won’t have any extra fur to clean up around your home or on your clothing or furniture either.
