History of the creation of the breed

"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.

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.