The Himalayan Cat Is A Persian In Siamese Drag.

The Himalayan, or Himmie for short, is a Persian in Siamese drag, affectionate but discriminating.

Unlike its parent breeds the Persian and the Siamese, which are considered natural breeds, meaning they weren't created through human intervention, the Himalayan is a man-made breed developed by crossing Persians with Siamese to bring in the color points and blue eyes of the Siamese

This is a medium- to large-sized cat with heavy bones, a well-knit body, and a short tail.

It possesses short legs and a long, thick, glossy coat. The Himalayan's most striking features, however, are its broad head and large, round, vivid-blue eyes.

There are two facial types for the Himalayan: extreme and traditional. Although the current show trend is toward a more extreme facial type, cats of this type are more prone to health problems. As such, the TCA (Traditional Cat Association) advises pet owners to only acquire traditional or "Doll-faced" Himalayan cats.

The Himmy combines the best of two very different breeds.

Like the Persian, he has small ears, large round eyes, a snub nose and a sweet expression. His long, beautiful coat, which comes in seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, flame, tortoiseshell, blue-cream, cream, lynx points and many more colors and patterns, brings Siamese style to a short, heavy-boned Persian-style body.

This is a people-oriented cat with the sweet and sedate personality of the Persian

the "what-cha doin' and how can I help?" attitude of the Siamese and, of course, the striking points and bold blue eyes of the Siamese. He communicates with his expressive eyes and his soft, melodious voice. The affectionate Himmy loves a lap, but if you're busy with other things, he will be there to supervise, perhaps while playing with a favorite toy. He's not a jumper or climber, instead posing regally on a chair or sofa. Himalayans are adaptable and will make themselves just as at home with a loud, boisterous family as with a pair of empty-nesters, as long as they have everyone's complete devotion.

Due to their Persian ancestry

some Himalayans may have the gene that causes Polycystic kidney disease, (PKD), but a genetic test can reveal which cats carry the PKD gene, so that they may be spayed or neutered.

Like many long-haired cats, Himalayans need to be brushed daily to keep their coats looking their best and healthiest. In addition, they may need their face wiped daily, depending on the cat. Bathing a Himalayan is also recommended by some breeders, to help reduce the amount of oil on the cat's fur and skin.

These cats are sweet-tempered, intelligent and generally very social and good companions.

Because of their heritage from the Siamese cats they tend to be more active than Persians.

Himmies, as fanciers call them, are good indoor companion animals.

They are gentle, calm, and sweet-tempered, but they possess a playful side as well. Like the Siamese, Himalayans love to play fetch, and a scrap of crumpled paper or a kitty toy will entertain them for hours. Himalayans are devoted and dependent upon their humans for companionship and protection. They crave affection and love to be petted and groomed

A Himalayan-Persian named Colonel Meow became an Internet celebrity in 2012, and entered Guinness World Records 2014 as the cat with the longest fur.

A Himalayan named Luna The Fashion Kitty became a social media phenomenon in 2011 with a popular Facebook page, a website, and many media references.

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).

In Flipping Out, Jeff Lewis's two Himalayan cats, Monkey and Stewie, are often featured.

Himalayans are gentle, calm, easygoing cats. They enjoy playing, but are not overly active. They also tend to be quiet.