Himalayan Cats

"To be created..." Himalayan cats Himalayan Persian, longhaired Color-Point - these are two names of one breed of cats of Persian type with Siamese color. American name of the breed is Himalayan Persian, in England this breed is called longhaired Color-Point. The name of Himalayan comes from that they bring so called himalayan gene, giving typival color to the animals. Himalayan gene was first studied on the himalayan breed of rabbits, for which dark color of prominent parts of body - face, ears, pads, tail - and light color of the rest body is typical.

History of the creation of the breed

Breed of cats of Persian type with Siamese color was created almost simultaneously in England and in the USA. Virginia Cobb and doctor Clyde Killer were the first in America who purposely tried to grow new breed of the cat. Their work was, sa they characterized it by themselves, a genetic experiment. In 1931 they began an experimental program of breeding. The goal of it was the study of inheritance of gene of Siamese color and also the creation of longhaired cat, having the clor Color-Point. In 5 years of work they were succeeded to receive first Himalayan kitten, which was called Newton's Debutante. Also "Newton's Debutante" was the name of the article, have been published in the journal "American Journal of Heredity". There were descripted the "formula-way" of creation of Himalayan cat. After the publication, having done the made aim, Verginia Cobb and Clyde Killer finished the programm of breeding Himalayan cats. Unfortunately, the later 20-years development of breed in the USA was under the veil of secrecy. Only in 50-ies of the last century the name of Margaret Gofort is mentioned, who made special contribution in the development of american lines of Himalayans. Owing to Margaret Gofort the breed was accepted in CFA in 1957. Himalayan were accepted as independent breed. And only in 1984 CFA unites Himalayan breed with Persian, making her as division in colors of Persian breed of cats. Thereby CFA opens the door for "hybrids" of Persian cats,carriers of color gene (cpc), giving them an opportunity to be showed on the exhibitions of CFA in separate division of colors.

But let's go back to England, because influence of English bloods of Color-Points on the America lines was significant. Native of England, Mrs Barton-Rite purposely visited the USA in 1935 to look at the work of american geneticists Virginia Cobb and Clyde Killer. She was carried away so much that after returning from America founded Experimental club of selectionists and began the breeding of longhaired Color-Points. Her first sires were Siamese cat named Mosa of color Seal-Point and non-registered Persian cat of blue color. Owing to the crossing of these sires the first generation of longhaired Color-Points were received.

Special contribute to the development of Color-Points were made by Brian Stirling-Webb and Mrs. Harding. Their program of breeding in 1950-1960 became the basis for creation of longhaired Color-Point in England. Brian was very interested in genetics and development of new breeds. Nowadays few knows that B. Stirling-Webb worked almost simultaneously over the development of longhaired Color-Points, Kornish-Rexs, Devon-Rexs and Persians of chocolate and lilac colors.

His work with longhaired Color-Points began in 1947 with purchasing of longhaired cat of black color Kala Sabu, of lines of breeding of above-mentioned Barton-Rite, and "wonderful pussy-cat". This cat was "wonderful" by that she was non-registered, homeless cat, found on the cemetery. But she was Color-Point, longhaired cat of good for that time type. From where Persian cat with Siamese color appeared on the cemetery it was unknown. It was a gift of fate! By that time first color-carriers were bred, but they were more closed to Siamese type than to Persian. That's why this "windfall" played important role in the development of the breed. In the result of crossing Kala Sabu and "wonderful" pussy-cat named Bubastis Georgina pussy-cat Briarry Gohar of color Seal-Point was borned, which began the first champion after the formal accepting of breed by GCCF (felinological association of Great Britain) in 1955.

After the accepting of the breed by GCCF Stirling-Webb in common with Mrs. Harding continued the breeding of the longhaired Color-Points of chocolate and Lilac colors. In the end of 1960-ies first champions of colors Chocolate-Point and Lilac-Point were from the nursery of Mrs. Harding and brought within themselves lines of nursery of Stirling-Webb. More than 40 Color-Points from their nurseries (Mingchiu and Briarry) were exported to the USA.

At present time it is difficult to speak about English and American lines of Himalayans, because they added each other in the work of perfection of this breed of cats during all development of the breed.

Standard of the breed

In 1984 in connection with complete type of exterior of Himalayan and Persian cats, the most mass association of the USA - CFA - united Himalayan breed with Persian, giving to Himalayans the status of group or "subbreed" (himalayan division): from this time in pedigrees in the column "breed" it is written "Himalayan Persian". That's why for the appreciation of Himalayan cats standard of cats of Persian breed with addition for himalayan division is used.

Colors

At present time in the CFA there are registered many of color variations of Himalayan cats, bred by selectionists on the basis of classic Siamese colors including such rare colors as Lilac, Chocoloate and derivatives from them. About 290 000 of Himalayans were registered in CFA since 01.01.1985 till present time. The most popular colors still remain Seal-Point (registered 97415 cats for the above-mentioned period), Blue-Point (65100 cats), Red-Point (36208 cats) and Torti-Point (35649 cats), and the most rare colors are Chocoloate-Torti-Lynx-Point (29 cats), Lilac-Cream-Lynx-Point (in all 15 cats).

Himalayan cats of colors Lilac-Point and Chocolate-Point are rare because of the difficulty to supply the combinations of recessive genes with high standards of Persian type. Lilac-Points are cats of extraordinary beauty, combining lilac color of face, ears, pads and tail with snow-white as though coated with hoar-frost, never darken fur of the rest body. They are always will be rarity, because it is the most difficult to breed them - it needs time, patience, ability of doing a selection and, of course, special knowledge.

Rare and the most elegant are also Lynx-Point colors. Lynx-Points have fancy face with typical for tabby color lines of more dark color than main tone. Lines form the letter "M" on the forehead, by vertical line stretch along the forehead and by horizontal lines along the cheeks. Underwhiskers are white with dark dots in the basis of whiskers. Inner surface of ears is white too, with white tassels. External surface has a color o0f mask, with dark separating zone along the edge of ear. Pads and tail are striped. Inner side of the tail is snow-white. Eyes are blue, delineated with a dark line. Miror of the nose is delineated with the dark line too. Lynx-Points got to the rare group nopt because of difficulty of breeding, but because the striped "wild" color were "driving away" from the breeding by breeders for a long time and only in the last time became fashionable.

Especially want to tell you aboput Persian cats-carriers of color gene because the question about crossing Himalayans with Persian cats of other colors is often discussed between breeders. As it is an interbreeding crossing it is always admissible, and in row of cases it is necessary. In the reasult of crossing Persian cats with Himalayans Persian cats born - carriers of color gene, which are not inferior to in their brothers, not having color gene, by exterior. Quite recently felinological association CFA has preconceived attitude to the Persian cats - carriers of color gene, not allowing them to take part in the exhibitions. Exactly because of it breeders didn't make their mind to include Persian cats in their breeding programs. And it was just necessary for the improvement of breed type.

Today the situation has changed and some nurseries include Persian cats of chinchilla, smoke, shaded, bicolors and other colors in the breeding. As the result we can see Himalayan cats ofinteresting colors, for example, Kaliko-Point, Silver Shaded Point, Sill-Point with White. Since 1985 CFA registered 1132 Himalayan cats with similar marvelous colors.

Himalayans today

In Russia first Himalayan cats appeared mainly because of import from the USA in the end of the 80-ies - beginning of the 90-ies of the last century. First-borns were exported from the nurseries Madame Nu, Prancenpaws, Twinshire, Blueskyeyes, Oakheaven. Today in our country Himalayans are mainly represented by the lines of the following nurseries: Careyata, De - Miara, Dragonfyre, FancyFriend, Fullmoon, Karabel, Mountcascade, Purringwood, Sunval, Teahs and Whisperwood.

All listed nurseries are the members of Atlantic Himalayan Club. Club was founded in 12th of October in 1969 in the USA and registered in the CFA in 1973. In 1978 the president of Atlantic Himalayan Club was Noel Newton, the owner of nursery Madame Nu. Noel Newton is still a president of the club. First that she have done is she divided club into regions (USA, Canada and International region), as in CFA. International region is represented by 21 country including Russia.

Atlantic Himalayan Club presents its awards to "The best Himalayan kitten", "The best Himalayan cat" on the exhibition of CFA, including in Russia. Every year, on completion of exhibition season of CFA, Atlantic Himalayan Club calls names of the best Himalayan cats, kittens, premiors, and also Persian cats (cpc). By overall results of exhibition season CFA 2001-2002 Best cat CFA was representative of Himalayan breed GC, BW, NW Teahs Mc Flurry - first for 95 years! In the exhibition season 2002-2003 Best Himalayan cat was GC, BW, NW Grovewood's Mr. Interstate, cat of color Seal-Lynx-Point (breeders and owners are K. Buker and D. Griggs). Best representatve of the breed in the international division was cat of color Cream-Point CH Maskado's Pinky Thinky (breeder and owner is A. Ipatova).

Russian owner by right can be proud of their achievements. Many Himalayans, borned in Russia, become GC and RW, winning at numerous exhibitions in many different countries. You can meet Himalayan cats of Russian breeding practically in any corner of the world. And we can be proud of it! I want to wish good luck to all breeders, who are working over the breeding of Himalayan cats, after all, the future of the breed depends exactly on them.