- The Himalayan cat breed came about in the 1930s when Dr. Clyde Keller, Harvard Medical School and Virginia Cobb, Newton Cattery, bred Persian and Siamese cats until the first Himalayan cat was recognized. In 1957, the Himalayan was accepted as a breed standard, but in 1980, it became a color variation of the Persian breed, no longer a completely different breed. Siamese cats are no longer permitted in the breeding line and there must be a registered Himalayan and/or Persian as the father and mother.
- Himalayan cats have long, thick fur and color points similar to Siamese cats. Color points are commonly located on the face, feet, legs, tail and genital region. These color points can be quite striking. Common color points include blue, chocolate, lilac, seal, tortie, red, cream, lynx and various combinations of these. The fur is often white or cream color and the eyes are typically blue, ranging from a light grey-blue to a piercing deep blue. These cats tend to have a round body and short legs, and in some cases, a flat face.
- The demeanor of Himalayan cats tends to be calm. They are often intelligent animals who like to observe what is going on around them. They tend to enjoy being social and like the company of people. Himalayan cats favor being petted frequently and have the tendency to be playful. Overall, these cats have a sweet temperament.
- Traditional Himalayan cats are also known as Doll Face cats and are considered a true breed of Persian cat. They have longer faces and noses than their extreme, or Peke, cat cousins. Their noses have only a slight indentation above the bridge, and because the nose is of longer length, their eyes don't tear like those of the extreme Himalayan cats. Their eyes are set normally in the face. Traditional Himalayan cats tend to have less health issues.
- Extreme Himalayan cats are also known as Ultra-type of Peke-face Himalayan cats. They are named after the flat-faced Pekingese dog. This particular strain of Himalayan cat came about as a result of a mutation in the red and red tabby Persian cats in the late 1950s. People began breeding them and they were registered as a breed. In the mid-1990s, however, the breed started to die out because of serious health issues. Despite this, breeders still liked its look and continued breeding it. Extreme Himalayans have a face that is "pushed in," similar to pugs. They also have large eyes and shortened tear ducts, which sometimes result in excessive tearing.
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