At a glance the quick version
Hill's gives males over 12 lb (about 5.4 kg) and females 8-12 lb; PetMD gives 7-12 lb overall; GCCF's Persian standard gives females 6-12 lb and males over 12 lb. The long coat makes the cat look bigger than it is.
Coat and looks how to spot one
long, thick double coat with colourpoint pattern
A sturdy, cobby cat on short legs, with a broad round head, a short nose, small rounded ears and big round eyes that are blue in pointed cats. The coat is long, dense and glossy all over, with a pale body and darker colour on the face mask, ears, legs and tail, the classic Siamese-style points on a Persian body.1635
Personality what they are like
A soft-spoken, easygoing cat that likes a peaceful home. Himalayans tend to show their feelings with their big eyes rather than loud meows, enjoy curling up on laps and beds, and are usually friendly with visitors, children and other pets once introduced. Now and then they break out of their relaxed routine with short, kitten-like play sessions.2346
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Moderate to low. They are happy to lounge but benefit from daily short play sessions with wand toys, balls, catnip mice or food puzzles; an owner often needs to invite them to play to keep them fit.234
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
High maintenance. Comb and brush the long coat every day, down to the undercoat, so it stays tangle-free; a metal comb works well. Occasional baths or visits to a professional groomer help. Gently wipe around the eyes and face daily. Trim nails weekly for kittens and every 2-3 weeks for adults, and brush teeth regularly.2345
Home where they are happiest
Well suited to a calm indoor home. Offer soft resting places, a few interactive toys and a steady routine; a quiet household suits this breed best.235
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A good-quality complete cat food with proper protein, fed in measured meals rather than left out all day, since this relaxed breed easily puts on weight. Keep fresh water available daily, ideally in a bowl placed a little away from the food.234
Company who they like around
Affectionate and people-oriented, enjoys quiet company and lap time. Gets along with gentle children and other pets when introduced properly.234
The story where it all began
The idea of a longhaired cat with Siamese colouring began as a genetics project at Harvard in the early 1930s, where Virginia Cobb and Dr Clyde Keeler crossed Persians with Siamese and produced the first such kitten, Newton's Debutante; their results appeared in the Journal of Heredity in 1936, but no breed was recognised then. Work picked up again around 1950 on several fronts: Brian Sterling-Webb in Britain, Ben Borrett in Canada, and breeders in the US including Marguerita Goforth, whose cat Princess Himalayan Hope helped set the Persian type with pointed markings. Britain's GCCF accepted the cats as the Longhaired Colourpoint in 1955, and US associations followed in 1957, with every American registry on board by the 1960s. In the 1980s breeders pushed the type ever closer to the Persian, and in 1984 CFA folded the Himalayan into the Persian breed as its own colour division, which is how many registries treat it today.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The very first kitten from the 1930s Harvard breeding programme was named Newton's Debutante.2
- 2
Sassy, the chatty cat in the films Homeward Bound (1993) and its 1996 sequel, is a Himalayan.1
- 3
Mr. Jinx, the scene-stealing cat in the Meet the Parents films, is a seal-point Himalayan.1
- 4
A Himalayan-Persian called Colonel Meow became an internet star in 2012 and appeared in Guinness World Records 2014 for having the longest fur on a cat.1
- 5
Martha Stewart has kept Himalayans named after composers: Beethoven, Mozart and Bartók.1
- 6
In CFA and GCCF the Himalayan is not a breed of its own but a pointed colour group within the Persian breed.1
- 7
Karupin, the pet cat of the main character in the anime and manga The Prince of Tennis, is a Himalayan.1
Recognised by the official bits
- CFA
- Recognised around the end of 1957 after Marguerita Goforth's work; since 1984 shown as the Himalayan division of the Persian breed rather than a separate breed1
- CFA
- Current standard lists the Himalayan (pointed) division within the Persian breed6
- GCCF
- Recognised in 1955 as the Longhaired Colourpoint; today a Colourpoint pattern within the Persian standard2
- TICA
- Accepted in all pointed colours as part of the Persian breed group2
- ACFA / CAA
- Listed as a separate breed1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Himalayan. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery day
- Deshedding springBrush more while sheddingevery day
- Nail trimevery 3 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- Litter scoopevery day
- Litter changeevery week
- PlayAbout 15 minutes of play a dayevery day
- Eye wipeGently wipe around the eyesevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 11every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Himalayan cat - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for history, recognition, other names, fun facts
- TICA - Himalayan breed profile tica.orgused for history, recognition, lifespan, colours, temperament, care
- Hill's Pet - Himalayan hillspet.comused for weight, lifespan, temperament, exercise, grooming, diet, history
- PetMD - Himalayan cat breed petmd.comused for weight, height, lifespan, colours, temperament, care
- GCCF - Persian breed (Colourpoint) gccfcats.orgused for weight, coat, grooming, temperament
- CFA - Persian breed (Himalayan division) cfa.orgused for recognition, colours, coat standard, temperament
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.