The entire selection of Persian longhaired cats until this point has been based on a solid color cat modified by the introduction of the tabby pattern, sex linked color, silver or white patching.
The pioneers of Colorpoint Himalayan breeding fused the Persian type longhair with the Himalayan (which is why this breed is known in America as Himalayan) pattern of the Siamese cat.
The result was a cat of Persian type with long hair and the restricted coat pattern of the Siamese. The points (mask, legs, feet and tail) are evenly colored and there is a good contrast between the points and body color.
Himalayan Persian Cat
Light body shading, if present, should be confined to the shoulders and flanks, and should complement the points. The mask covers the entire face. It should not extend over the head, although the mask of a mature male is more extensive than that of a mature female.
Kittens are born white and fluffy, the point colors starting to appear in less than a week. Attempts to transfer the Siamese pattern to Persian type were being made before world War II, but the cats were not shown until 1957 in California, and were only officially incorporated into the Persian breed by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1984.
Breeding lines have since expanded to develop the full range of point colors. The Colorpoint Himalayan Persian has now outstripped the Blue in the longhair popularity stakes.
Himalayan Persian Cat
Cream Colorpoint Himalayan Rosjoy Rambo, Supreme Grand Champion, has the wonderful blue eyes of a Siamese set against the red gold cream of his fur. The darkened points of the Siamese are blanded with all the characteristics of the Persian Longhair. The cat is a Blue Colorpoint Himalayan.
Individual organizations recognize point colors that include the Silver series and Red sex linked Silver series. In Britain, the point colors are represented by four distinct groupings:
Solid point colors – Seal, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Red and Cream
Tortie point colors – Seal Tortie, Blue Cream, Chocolate Tortie and Lilac Cream
Tabby point colors – Seal Tabby, Blue Tabby, Chocolate Tabby, Lilac Tabby, Red Tabby and Cream Tabby
Tortie Tabby point colors – Seal Tortie Tabby, Blue Cream Tabby, Chocolate Tortie Tabby and Lilac Cream Tabby
In the United States, seven varieties are recognized : Blue Point, Chocolate Point, Seal Point, Flame Point, Lilac Point, Blue Cream Point and Tortoiseshell Point
| coat | thick, dense, no trace of wooliness, glossy, full frill over shoulders and continuing betwen front legs |
| eyes | large, round, brilliant blue |
| other features | nose and paw pad color matches the point color |
| grooming | demanding, thorough, daily |
| temperament | placid |
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