Himalayan Cat and Kitten Information

The Himalayan cat is sometimes called the color point Persian, especially in Europe. It has very long fur with the Siamese points and blue eyes. The fur of this breed is white with points in various colors such as red, creme, lilac, chocolate, blue, brown and flame. The points are tortie or tabby pattern.

The temperament of the Himalayan is said to be that of affectionate and sweetness. They are social cats and make great human companions. The fur of the Himalayan is long, thick and luxurious, requiring daily grooming. Himalayans love the attention and daily grooming will help to keep their coat looking great.

Himalayan Cat History

The Himalayan are said to have been bred from Persians and Siamese. Cat registries sometimes consider this breed in the same category as the modern Persian. The American Association of Cat Enthusiasts AACE has established a breed standard and treats the Himalayan as a breed apart from Persians. According to the AACE standard, any resemblance to the Siamese is considered a detriment. The history of this beautiful breed goes back some 50 years. Referred to as Himalayans in North America, the breed is still classified as a Color Point Long Hair in Europe.

The ancestor of all domestic cats is the African Wildcat, the genus Felis Lybica. This genus is comprised of smaller cats. Cats are thought to have been domesticated with the advent of farming and the storage of grain. The grain attracted rats and other vermin which naturally attracted wild cats. As time evolved, certain of these cats were domesticated for the mutual benefit of both cat and man. The African Wildcat has certain features which is obvious in the housecat of today.

Feline Health Considerations

Cats who reside in the house should generally visit the veterinarian yearly, unless health problems are evident. Cats who enjoy the outdoors may need to see the vet as many as four times a year. When you take your cat to the vet, be sure to bring along a fresh stool sample so the vet can do a fecal exam to check for worms such as tapeworm, round Worm, whip worms and hook worms. The vet can also check for fleas and other external parasites such as lice ticks and ear mites. Decisions about vaccinations can be made at this time. Maintaining a regular schedule of required vaccinations is essential to good feline health.

Any vet check should include a comprehensive dental examination and a cleaning if necessary. Cats who are eight years plus are considered geriatric and additional blood and urine tests may be necessary to catch any health problems. At about six months of age, the kitten should also be examined for sexual maturity and decisions about birth control should be made.

Himalayan Kittens

The Himalayan cat is very rare and expensive but can sometimes be found for sale. Kittens are generally available and the price depends upon bloodlines color and markings. Unlike puppies, kittens should not be separated from their mother until twelve to sixteen weeks of age. Some very important developmental stages occur during this period including emotional, mental and health. Curtailing this development may lead to any number of medical and behavioral problems.

Kittens that are separated from their mother at too young an age often fail to gain weight fast enough, have immune system problems because they have not had enough mothers milk. The may also develop eating and eliminating problems, and can have problems socializing with other cats and with people.

Every cat and kitten is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your cat or kitten. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.

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