A HIMALAYAN is a blue eyed Persian cat with Siamese color points.
In 1930 Dr. Clyde Keeler of Harvard Medical School teamed with Virginia Cobb of Newton Cattery to merge the two most popular breeds of cats-Persian and Siamese. Their first generation offspring produced color point carriers, solid-colored Persians carrying the color point gene. First they bred a Siamese female to a black Persian male, producing Bozo, a black male kitten with a wavy coat. Next they bred a Siamese male to a black Persian female and got a black female named Bitzie. They then crossed Bozo and Bitzie, which resulted in a long-haired black female Babbit. Babbit was then bred to Bozo and that cross introduced the first HIMALAYAN, Newtons Debutante.
The name HIMALAYAN was selected for the new breed because the color evolution of the Himalayan cat coincided with the color pattern found on rabbits and goats living in the Himalayan Mountains in Asia. In other words, they have light bodies and dark extremities, although they are born with almost white coats and develop their color points over several weeks. The darker colored ears, nose, paws and tail is attributed to the cooler body temperature in their extremities.
Breeders such as Marguerita Goforth of San Diego, CA, Brian Sterling-Webb in England, the Borretts of Chestermere Cattery in Canada and Boris Teron and Larry Keely of Nevah-Tep Cattery worked diligently to promote the new breed. In fact, Chestermere Kinuba of Nevah-Tep, blue point male, was the first Himalayans to earn Grand Champion status in four cat associations. He granded in CFA in 1966.
The Himalayan was recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc. (CFA) for breed status in 1957. The colors included seal, blue, chocolate and lilac points. Since that date, CFA has added flame, tortie, blue-cream, cream, lynx with its several variations and OPCC (Other Pointed Colors Class). In 1964 CFA also incorporated the solid colored Himalayans into the Persian Division and called them Color Point Persians (CPC) and accepted Color Point Carriers (Hybrids) in the show ring.
Impressed by the heritage and tradition of the Himalayan breed, we fell in love with the look which included the stocky heavily boned body, tiny ears, big round blue eyes, and long flowing coat of the Persian mixed with the point color of the Siamese and set out to breed Himalayans.
The Himalayan is a cat whose looks have enthralled both breeder and pet owners for many years. This fascination about the Himalayan stems from the way this breed combines the grace and elegance of the Persian, with the strking color pattern and beautiful blue eyes of the Siamese.
The Himalayan is actually one of the few breeds of domesticated cats for which we have a complete history of their origin...
Milestones in the history of Himalayans over the six decades
between 1930 to 1990
1930's U.S.
In 1931, Virginia Cobb (Newton Cattery) and Dr. Clyde Keeler (Harvard Medical School) began an experimental breeding program with the purpose of learning the inheritance involved in producing a Colorpoint Longhair. Five years later, their efforts produced the first Himalayan kitten, named "Newton's Debutante", as well as an article published in the American Journal of Heredity that detailed the "formula" by which she had been produced. After publishing their paper, the breeding program was abandoned, having accomplished
it's purpose.
1950's England
A Colorpoint Longhair stray named "Bubastis Georgina" found her way to Brian Stirling-Webb (Briarry cattery).
Inspired by her looks, and joined by Mrs. S.M. Harding (Mingchiu cattery), he began his work to develop this variety further.
(right is a photo of an early Mingchui cat)
1950's Canada
Ben Borrett (Chestermere cattery), a rancher and cattle judge in Southern Alberta began working on a similar breeding program, to create a longhair colorpoint cat. He and his wife, Ann, imported several colourpoint longhairs from Brian Stirling-Webb (Briarry cattery).
1950's
U.S.
Marguerita Goforth, a California artist and cat breeder (Goforth cattery), agreed to take care of a cat for a friend who was moving. The friend's cat, obtained from the San Diego Humane Society, was a longhaired cat with seal point coloring, named "Princess Himalayan Hope".
Inspired by her striking looks, Miss Goforth received permission from her owners to use this cat and begin a breeding program to create a cat of Persian type, with the Siamese coloring.
(The photo on the right is of Mrs. Goforth with Princess Himalayan Hopeand sitting next to her on the couch)
1955
England
GCCF recognizes the Colourpoint Persian, and from the beginning, the Colourpoint is part of the Persian breed
1957
Canada
The Borretts exhibit two of their imported cats at an ACFA show in Calgary, and are later asked to write the breed standard for the Himalayan. This standard was used by Mrs Goforth when requesting status for the Himalayan in CFA.
1957
U.S.
CFA is petitioned by Marguerita Goforth to recognize the Himalayan as a new breed, which is granted. In later years, Miss Goforth regretted that decision, writing in the 1960's "I have felt for many years that the Himalayan cat should be recognized as a color of Longhair". The Himalayan was recognized in 4 colors at this point - seal point, chocolate point, blue point, and lilac point.
1964
U.S.
CFA recognizes the additional colors of flame point and tortie point.
1966
U.S.
The first Himalayan to earn a CFA Grand Championship - GC Chestermere Kinuba of Nevah-Tep, a blue point male.
1972
U.S.
CFA recognizes the blue-cream point.
1973
U.S.
The first Himalayan to earn a CFA National win - GC, NW Lord Byron, a seal point male.
1979
U.S.
CFA recognizes the cream point. (Up until this time, the cream point was often registered and shown as the color it most looked like - the flame point).
1981
U.S.
CFA recognizes chocolate and lilac "selfs" (solid chocolate and lilac Persians) as a "solid" division of the Himalayan, and they are allowed to be shown in the Himalayan class.
1982
U.S.
CFA recognizes the first of the lynx points - the seal lynx and blue lynx. Other lynx colors are gradually phased in over the next 10 years. Lynx point history will be covered in more detail in the follow-up to this article.
1984
U.S.
CFA combines the Himalayan & Persian breeds, making the Himalayan a separate division of the Persian breed, and thus opening the door for the hybrids (or CPC's) to be shown in their appropriate color class.
1987
U.S.
CFA recognizes the chocolate tortie point and the lilac cream point.
1989
U.S.
The first Himalayan to earn a CFA DM award - CH Westpoint Brigadier of Thesaurus, DM, a blue point male. The DM award was institued in 1984.
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Order and Year of Acceptance of Himalayan Colors in CFA
1957
Seal Point, Blue Point,
Chocolate Point, Lilac Point
1964
Flame Point, Tortie Point
1972
Blue Cream Point
1979
Cream Point
1981
Chocolate and Lilac Selfs (Solids)
1982
Seal Lynx Point, Blue Lynx Point... phasing in other lynx colors over the next 10 years
HIMALAYAN (POINT) PATTERN: Body: clear color is preferred with subtle shading allowed. Allowance should be made for darker color in older cats but there must be a definite contrast between body color and point color. The points, consisting of ears, legs, feet, tail, and mask show the basic color of the cat. The ideal mask extends from above the eyes down through the chin and stretches beyond
the eyes from side to side. CHOCOLATE POINT:body ivory. Points milk-chocolate color, warm in tone. Nose leather and paw pads: cinnamon pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue. Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. SEAL POINT: body even pale fawn to cream, warm in tone, shading gradually into lighter color on the stomach and chest. Points deep seal brown. Nose leather and paw pads: seal brown. Eye color: deep
vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. LILAC POINT:body glacial white. Points frosty grey with pinkish tone. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. BLUE POINT:body bluish white, cold in tone. Points blue. Nose leather and paw pads: slate blue. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. FLAME (Red) POINT:body creamy white. Points deep orange flame to deep red. Nose leather and paw pads: flesh to coral pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. CREAM POINT:body creamy white. Points buff cream
Nose leather and paw pads: flesh to coral pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. TORTIE POINT: body creamy white or pale fawn. Points seal with unbrindled patches of red and/or cream. Nose leather and paw pads: seal brown and/or coral pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. BLUE-CREAM POINT:body bluish white or creamy white. Points blue with patches of cream. Nose leather and paw pads: slate blue and/or pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. CHOCOLATE-TORTIE POINT:body ivory. Points chocolate with unbrindled patches of red and/or cream. Nose leather and paw pads: cinnamon pink and/or coral pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. LILAC-CREAM POINT: body glacial white. Points lilac with patches of cream. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink and/or pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue.
HIMALAYAN LYNX (POINT) PATTERN:Mask must be clearly lined with dark stripes, vertical and forming the classic “M” on the forehead; horizontal on the cheeks. The mask contains light rings around the
eyes and dark spots on light whisker pads, clearly outlined in dark color edges. Inner ear light with ticking on outer ear. Markings dense, clearly defined and broad. Legs evenly barred with bracelets. Tail
barred with lighter underside. No striping or mottling on body. SEAL LYNX POINT: points beige-brown ticked with darker brown tabby markings. Body color pale cream to fawn, warm in tone. Nose leather: seal brown or brick red. Paw pads: seal brown. Eye color:
deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. BLuE LYNX POINT:points light, silvery blue, ticked with darker blue tabby markings. Body color bluish white, cold in tone. Nose leather: blue or old rose. Paw pads: blue. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. FLAME (RED) LYNX POINT:points deep orange flame ticked with deep red tabby markings. Body color creamy white. Nose leather and paw pads: flesh to coral pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. CREAM LYNX POINT:points pale cream ticked with dark cream tabby markings. Body color creamy white, significantly lighter in tone than the points. Nose leather and paw pads: flesh to coral pink. Eye
color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. TORTIE LYNX POINT:points beige-brown
with dark brown tabby markings and patches of red. Body color creamy white or pale fawn. Nose leather and paw pads: seal brown, brick red and/or coral pink.
Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. BLuE-CREAM LYNX POINT: points blue with darker blue tabby markings and patches of cream. Body color bluish white, cold in tone. Nose leather and paw pads: blue, old rose and/or pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. CHOCOLATE LYNX POINT:points milk-chocolate ticked with darker chocolate tabby markings. Body color ivory. Nose leather and paw pads: cinnamon pink or coral pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. LILAC LYNX POINT:points pale frosty grey with pinkish tone ticked with darker lilac tabby markings. Body color glacial white. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. CHOCOLATE-TORTIE LYNX POINT:points milk-chocolate ticked with darker chocolate tabby markings and patches of red. Body color ivory. Nose leather and paw pads: cinnamon pink and/or coral pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue. LILAC-CREAM LYNX POINT:points pale frosty grey with pinkish tone ticked with darker lilac tabby markings and patches of cream. Body color glacial white. Nose leather and paw pads: lavender pink and/or coral pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
Disqualify: white toes, eye color other than blue.
