|
No other cat in the history of the cat fancy has so
captured the admiration of cat lovers the way the Himalayan has! Siamese in color, Persian in type, this animal combines the
best qualities of both breeds in one magnificent creature.
Since the 1950s, when the Himalayan cat began to come more into the public eye it was necessary to conduct more educational
programs in order to inform the public as to just what a Himalayan cat is. A Himalayan cat is a Persian cat with the color
pattern of the Siamese cat. True, in the beginning the breed was created by breeding a Persian to a Siamese, but only to pick
up the Himalayan (or Siamese) color pattern, nothing more. The only thing "Siamese" about the Himalayan is the color pattern,
and once that was established there has been no further need to go back to the Siamese breed.
The
Himalayan cat is one of the comparatively few breeds of domesticated animals for which a complete and verifiable history of
origin is known. Miss. Virginia Cobb and Dr. Clyde Keeler were among the very first to create what is now known as the Himalayan
cat in the United States, Breeding of the Siamese/Persian cross has undoubtedly been tried. but it was Virginia Cobb who actually
possessed the foresight to see the potential In the magnificent blending of the two most popular breeds. Miss Cobb, who was
associated with the Howe Laboratory at Harvard Medical School and an active member of the Siamese Cat Society in America,
and Dr. Clyde Keeler, an instructor at the Harvard Medical School and Fellow of the Bussey Institution of Harvard ended their
six years of work successfully with the first Himalayan kitten named "Debutante."
After World War II, the Himalayan started to come into its own. When Mrs. Marguerita Goforth in the USA and Mr Brian Stirling-
Web in England took the breed beyond the self color stage and presented an eager public with the Himalayan cat with its transmissible
characteristics which set it apart as a new breed in 1957, the breed was recognized by ACPA (American Cat Fanciers Association)
and by CFA (Cat Fanciers Association).
A Seal Lynx Point and A Tortie Lynx Point
Himalayan
For
cat lovers who favor the appearance of the Siamese cat but can't tolerate their active lifestyle or the raucous calling when
they are in season, the Himalayan has to be considered the perfect alternative! For as I stated before, the only likeness
between the Siamese and Himalayan Is the color pattern.
Francine, A Seal Point Himalayan
Himalayans have come a long way since their inception, and one of the most
outstanding improvements has been in the fascinating coat characteristics and coloring! Today's Himalayan can equal the best
Persian in the length and density of their coats, and it's a great achievement on the part of the dedicated breeders who have
worked so hard in perfecting it.
This is an excerpt from All About Himalayan Cats by Joan McDonald Brearley
published by T.F.H. Publications, Inc.
|
