Lifespan	9 - 15 years
Height (at the withers)	Males and Females: 25.4cm – 30cm
Weight	Males and Females: 5kg – 6kg
Coat	Fine, glossy double coat
Colour	The bulk of their body can range from white to fawn, with the colourpoint marking coming in a wide range of hues, including: blue, lilac, seal, chocolate, tortoiseshell
Eye colour	Blue, copper, green
Common health issues	Breathing problems, cherry eye, entropion, progressive hyperesthesia syndrome, polycystic kidney disease, ringworm, seborrhea oleosa
Other Names	Himmy, Himalayan Persian, Colourpoint Persian

Chilled out by nature, the Himalayan is a relaxed kitty that can exhibit kitten-like activity where and when they feel like it; one moment they’ll be sleeping in the sun and the next they’ll be running around the room and rolling around!

‘Himmies’, as they’re sometimes called, are furbulous indoor companions. While they’re generally gentle and sweet cats, they also possess a playful side as well; they'll happily play a game of fetch and they enjoy playing with their toys for hours, or, until it's time for their next cat-nap!

These cats crave affection and depend on their humans for protection and companionship. While they love being petted and groomed, they aren’t overly demanding of attention due to their relaxed nature.

The history of the Himalayan can be traced to the 1920s and ‘30s, when breeders wanted to produce a cat with a typical Persian body but with the markings of a Siamese. The first signs of success were seen in America in 1924, when White Persians were crossed with Siamese – resulting in what was called the ‘Malayan Persian’. Successful crossbreeds were also found in Sweden.

In 1930, Dr. Clyde Keeler of Harvard University and Virginia Cobb began a breeding program in order to access how certain traits could be inherited. The first litter produced a litter of black, short haired kittens which were the result of crossing a Siamese female with a black Persian male. A black Persian female then mated with a Siamese male to produce a litter with a similar result. Dr. Keeler then crossed a female from the second litter with a male from the first. The result? A cat named "Debutante", the first Himalayan kitten!

After the Second World War, an American breeder named Marguerita Goforth succeeded in creating the sought-after Persian-like colourpoint. It was officially recognised as a new breed by the Cat Fanciers’ Association and American Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1957. In 1984, the DFA united the Persian and Himalayan breed, claiming they had similar body types. Even today, some cat organisations do not give this breed its own separate name. However, this breed now has Championship status in all associations (as the Himalayan or Persian).