Among all the cat breeds, the Himalayan cat breed is quite popular and adorable. I personally love these cats a lot because of their unique traits and personality as well as characteristics. Now, if you are new to Himalayan cats, this is the right place for you to learn more about Himalayan cats.
Himalayan cats are very furry and beautiful. These cats have the beautiful coloring of the Siamese breed and Persian’s long hair coat, making them the perfect domestic cats. But if you are planning on getting one, there are a few more things that you should know.
Read on to know more about the Himalayan cat:
History of the Himalayan cat
In 1931, the first Himalayan cat came into this world as the hybrid of crossing the Persian with the slinky Siamese. It was right after when scientists wanted to make a hybrid of the Persian breed. They could then successfully give birth to this breed with unique coloring from Siamese and the Persian’s beautiful haircoat.
Though the perfect Himalayan cat was found after almost the third mutation, after World War II.
Marguerita Goforth succeeded in founding the very impressive and long-waited perfect Himalayan cat coloring and Persian like hair-type.
Even though Himalayan was introduced as a different breed or hybrid breed, many people still deny accepting his breed differently from a Persian.
Types of Himalayan cat
There are two types of Himalayan cats, doll-face and the peke-faced. But sometimes, you may also find the extreme squashed-looking facial type. The face of your Himalayan cat can be pushed in or flattened.
The doll face or traditional face type of Himalayan cats comes as round, face colored nose, blue, broad, and pointed eyes.
On the contrary, the extreme or peke-faced Himalayan cats come with flat and moody expressions. So, you can get the traditional one or the flat-faced Himalayan cat for you. Either way, both of these behave the same.
The personality of Himalayan cat
As Himalayan cats resemble the Persian cats, the personality is more likely a Persian. They are super-friendly toward humans and are best for domestic cats.
These cats are amusing to be with, like the Siamese breed. This cat can cheer you up even on the dullest day with its high energy. They are very intelligent and adaptive so you can teach them different tricks as well.
You can have tremendous fun with a Himalayan cat. You can play with them with cat toys or plush toys with your cat to have more fun. With its high energy, it’s always restless while playing.
So this cat can give you the most enjoyable experience. They are friendly to everyone. So even if your Himalayan cat takes a while to adapt to a new environment, after a time, it can make everyone happy and enjoyable.
But Himalayan cats tend to show quite unfriendly behavior towards other pets and kids. So, you should take care of this issue if you have any other pets at home. In this case, you can try to make your cat friendly towards them. Making them play together can do magic.
In my recent article, I have explained how to make your Himalayan cat get along with the dog.
Also, as this cat is an indoor cat, you will have the least hassle to handle it outside. Because most of the time, cats do not like to be inside for more than a while, which is not true about the Himalayans.
This cat comes with everything that a cat owner dreams of. The beautiful coat and the stunning blue eyes are their main attraction. The striking, exotic looks and loyal, affectionate personality makes a great combination.
How much Himalayan cat cost?
Himalayan cats are more expensive than many other cats out there. Himalayan cats cost like 200$-2500$, or sometimes even more. Each Himalayan cat costs differently from the other, and their cost is dependent on the age of the cat and the breeder.
Himalayan cats are in great demand and that’s why they are one of the most expensive breeds in the world.
Himalayan cats are a fascinating mix of a Siamese cat and a Persian cat. Cat lovers around the world love Himalayan cats for their beauty. However, Himalayan cats cost differently according to their coloration, age, fur, and size.
When you look at a Himalayan cat, you will notice the cat is Its fur. Their unique fur pattern and coloring are rare, and it is hard to find such beauty in any other breed. And that is the cause of more expensive price tags.
Himalayan kittens cost more than an adult cat as most people love to buy a cute kitten. A Himalayan kitten from highly preferred breeders with a silky coat of fur and good health is going to cost you the most. Annually, you have to spend around 500 to 1,000 dollars per year for your Himalayan cat.
How long does a Himalayan cat live?
Himalayan cats have an average lifespan like most other cat breeds. Himalayan tend to have an average lifespan of 9-15 years. If you are not concerned about the Himalayan cat’s health issues, it can dramatically reduce your cat’s life span. With proper diet and care, you can increase the average lifespan of a Himalayan cat.
Himalayans are easy to handle, as they are calm and devoted. The beauty of Himalayan cats draws everyone’s attention.
With such a gorgeous coat, there is no doubt that this cat needs routine grooming and care. And by doing so, you can increase the lifespan of your Himalayan cat.
Also, if you maintain a proper healthy diet for your cat with the necessary nutrients, you can increase your cat’s lifespan. But often, Himalayan cats face health issues that are quite severe.
And if you don’t take care of those issues seriously and do not take suggestions from your cat’s vet, then the issue can be life-hazardous.
Are Himalayan cats hypoallergenic?
Himalayan cats are not hypoallergenic. Even though no cat is entirely hypoallergenic, they can bring out allergies because of their long hair coat. Himalayan can have Fel d1 protein which can cause some allergic reactions.
In fact, from my personal experience, I found out that the rate of shedding in Himalayan cats is a little bit more than in other cats because of their long hair. They produce allergens like Fel d 1 in higher amounts. In my recent article, I have explained how to reduce cat shedding.
Can you be allergic to Himalayan cat?
The main reason for allergies caused by a Himalayan cats is their Fel d1 protein, dried skin flakes, urine, and saliva in the hair. Mainly, cat allergies are caused by tiny particles of allergenic protein located in their hairs.
So, if you tend to face allergic reactions from a cat, then Himalayan cats might not be the right choice for you.
So, if you are thinking about how you get allergic reactions from your cat’s hair, then let me introduce you to the real culprit: Fel d1 protein.
This protein is presented in Himalayan cats’ saliva, and then it gets stuck into their body hair when they lick their body. Afterward, when the shedding occurs, the proteins of the hair will cause allergies to you.
Himalayan Cats Allergic Symptoms
If you face a runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezing because of the Himalayan cat, you will probably face allergic reactions.
Himalayan cats are more allergenic because of their long hairs that contain allergy-causing proteins. Besides, as they shed more, the allergens in their body tend to spread fast.
But here’s one thing that you should know, researchers found that male Himalayan cats shed more than female cats.
So if you can’t help but get a Himalayan cat for yourself, you can get a female Himalayan cat. But don’t think that you can be entirely free of allergens, cause that’s not possible.
Ways to avoid hair shedding in Himalayan cats
Surprisingly, you can do some tactics to avoid hair shedding. You can groom your cat regularly to make the shedding less.
And when the shedding becomes less, the possibility of having an allergic reaction decreases. As a result, you will feel less troubled by your cat’s hair shedding and allergies.
Now in the case of grooming, you can do regular baths and use cats’ hair shampoos to avoid hair fall.
Maintaining a healthy diet can also help with lessening the hair shedding. Moreover, you can consult your cat’s vet to get help with excessive hair shedding.
Moreover, during spring and summer, the Himalayan cat can shed more. As a result, the risk of getting allergic reactions during those seasons is likely to be more.
But surprisingly, people get fewer allergic reactions from their cats during winter. So, the summertime can be quite difficult for you with your Himalayan cat if you are dealing with allergic problems.
How to groom a Himalayan cat?
Grooming Himalayan cats doesn’t require anything special that other cats or Persians.
But you might need to groom them more often cause as they have long and more hair, they tend to shed more.
In this case, maintaining a proper healthy diet, using veteran suggested medicines, and brushing their fur regularly can help with the hair fall.
Let’s know how you can groom your Himalayan cat:
Brush the hair regularly: if you are a cat owner, you might know brushing cat hair regularly reduces hair fall. When you brush the hair regularly, there will be fewer dead hairs and loose furs to shed. As a result, your home will be free from messes, and you can get relief from your allergy.
Shampoo the hair: with different cat shampoos, you can make the shedding much less than usual. But do not forget to take suggestions from your pet’s vet before applying any kind of shampoo to your cat.
Regular baths: weekly two times bath is necessary for Himalayan cats. It will keep your cat clean, and also it will reduce hair shedding. During the bath, your cat will lose all the dead furs, so there will be the least shedding afterward.
Healthy diet: maintaining a healthy diet can keep your feline healthier. A healthy diet can increase the lifespan of your cat. Your cat will also feel good and free from any diseases if you maintain the proper diet, including every necessary nutrient. But always take the suggestions of your pet’s vet before starting a new diet.
Do not forget to use a soft bristle brush while combing your cat’s fur. Otherwise, stiff brushes can cause injuries.
How to clean Himalayan cat’s eyes?
Often we can see some stains or dirt around the eyes of our Himalayan cat. Cleaning those stains and specks of dirt from a Himalayan cat’s eyes is a sensitive job that requires patience and a few steps. For cleaning your cat’s eyes, you will need some stuff which are:
- Cleaning pads (you can use makeup cleaning pads)
- Toilet tissue or kitchen towels
- Earbuds
- Baby powder
- Non-alcoholic witch hazel
Steps to clean Himalayan cat eyes:
- First of all, you have to start drying the area around the eyes to remove the dampness, with the tissue paper. Don’t be harsh while doing this. Try to do this job slowly and smoothly. Just wipe away the dampness. The tissue is kinda perfect for absorbing the dampness.
- Now pick one of the pads and wet it with the non-alcoholic witch hazel. Wet the pad with plenty of that liquid. Now wipe across the eyes and the cheeks of the cat. You will see the stains coming off with the cleaning pad. Don’t be so harsh. Just wipe and clean as much as you can. Non-alcoholic witch hazel won’t do any harm to the eyes.
- For cleaning the crease of the eyes, pick an earbud, and dip it into the witch hazel. Then lightly clean the crease and the sides of the nose with the earbud. Make sure you don’t do anything with the eyeball because the cat will find that very painful.
- Now pick a thin brush and apply the powder to the gutter area, under the eye, and above the upper eyelids. The powder will really help to absorb the tears when they come. Put some powder on the cheeks as well.
- That’s all you need to clean the areas around the eyes of your Himalayan cat. Be very careful while applying these steps because otherwise, your cat might get hurt. After following these steps, you will find the eyes of your cat really clean.
Color pattern of Himalayan cats
Himalayan cats come with significant colour variations just like Persian cats. You can get nearly 10-12 colours in these cats, which are very cute and lovable.
The prominent colours that Himalayan cats come in are the seal (or Black), blue, lilac, chocolate, red, and Cream. You can also get variations like:
- Brownish like chocolate l
- Lilac
- Flame red
- Cream tortie
- Blue-cream
- Chocolate-tortie
- Lilac-cream
- Seal Lynx
- Tortie lynx
- Blue-cream lynx
- Chocolate lynx
- Lilac lynx
- Chocolate-tortie lynx
- Lilac-cream lynx
When is a Himalayan cat full grown?
Himalayan cat has a lifespan of 9-15 years. And up to their 15 years, they can grow for 7-12 pounds per year. Besides, the average height that a Himalayan cat grows up to is 10.0″-12.0″ with a body length of 17″-19″. They are considered adults when they become 4 years old.
So if you see that your little cat has grown up to 12 pounds with 12 inches in height, then you can assume that your cat has fully grown. But sometimes it can be more than that, which is a rare case.
If you feed your cat healthy foods, then there is a probability that your cat will face better growth.
Himalayan cat feeding chart
Your Himalayan cat will be free of any trouble if you follow a nutritional feeding chart.
So, at this phase, I am going to share a feeding chart for the healthiest feedback of your Himalayan cat.
You need to feed your cat foods low in carbohydrates, protein-enriched, and medium fat.
So have a look at the foods which will be the best for your Himalayan cat.
| Food | Nutritional factors | Beneficial feeding limit |
| Cooked beef, chicken, turkey | Rich in protein | Once per meal |
| Fishes and salmon | Rich in protein, minerals, and vitamins | Once per meal |
| Apples, Bananas, Celery, Green beans | Rich in potassium, minerals, and vitamins | twice/ thrice every week |
| Cat foods | Rich in protein and fats with all kinds of nutrients | One/twice every day if possible |
Also, read 27 types of food your cat can & can’t eat.
Heath issue of the Himalayan cat
Himalayan cats face severe health issues like breathing problems because of narrow nasal passages, Polycystic Kidney Disease, Respiratory issues, ringworm, feline cutaneous asthenia, and other issues caused by the digestion of hairballs.
Some of these health issues can bring severe life-threatening problems. So you have to handle each of these carefully. Learn more about common health problem in cat to give your cat a health life.
While the Himalayas’ short noses might seem cute, it creates breathing problems sometimes. Himalayans have smaller sinus cavities, which increases the possibility of breathing problems.
The respiratory issues of Himalayan cats sometimes become very serious because of their respiration track system.
Polycystic Kidney Disease
They commonly face another disorder, where kidney cysts develop, taking the place of functional tissue. This disease is known as Polycystic Kidney Disease.
Though it’s not life-threatening, it is painful and cureless. Despite not being fully curable, doctors use a technique to drain larger cysts, which is the solution.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Moreover, Saggy and painful skin is a disorder that is caused by a deficiency in collagen. It is feline cutaneous asthenia in medical language and is commonly known as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
If the cat has this disorder, it feels so much pain in its body’s skin. This disorder is a genetically arisen disorder, and scientists are trying hard to change these cats’ genes to eliminate this disease.
Your Himalayan kitty can also suffer from ringworm, which is a common fungal infection in cats. If your cat faces this, you have to use vet-suggested creams or sprays.
diarrhea and vomiting
Besides, your Himalayan cat can face diarrhea, and vomiting because of the digestion of hairballs. In this case, you have to ensure proper grooming to it.
If your Himalayan cat has any kind of health issues like the ones described above, take your cat to the vet.
The more proper care you will take of your cat, the healthier your cat will be. By doing so, you can also increase the lifespan of your cat.
Does Himalayan cat shed?
Yes! Himalayan cats shed a lot. As Himalayan cats have arrived from Persian cats, they have long and dense fur. As a result, it makes them shed more than other cats.
You can notice your house turning into a mess of hair after getting a Himalayan cat.
Though these cats are beautiful, they can annoy you with their excessive shedding.
As a result, you need to do proper grooming every day. If you can keep your Himalayan cat clean and healthy, then it will shed less.
Shedding occurs when your cat has dead furs. So, if you get rid of the furs with necessary groomings, you can make the shedding less. You can follow the grooming ways that we have shared earlier.
Did I cover everything you want to know about Himalayan cat?
I hope that I could help you with a lot of necessary information about Himalayan cats. Himalayan cats are the cutest and one of the most loving cat breeds.
These are great for indoor cats so that you won’t face any hassle. But now you know that you can only meet the shedding problem, which can be eliminated slightly by proper grooming.
I hope that all this information will lead you to a happy journey with your Himalayan cat. And lastly, do not forget to seek your cat’s vet’s help if you want to make any diet changes.