Himalayan

Like every breed, the Himalayan is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:

• Children

  Usually better with older, calmer children.

• Indoors and outdoors

  Often content as an indoor cat.

• Being left alone

  Often copes well alone during the day.

• First-time owners

  Some cat experience helps.

Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own cat’s health.

• Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)

  Narrow nostrils, narrow nasal passages and a soft palate that is too long make breathing difficult, sometimes severely. International Cat Care says BOAS is common in these cats.

• Eye problems

  Very prominent eyes that cannot close fully are prone to keratitis, corneal sequestrum and painful ulcers. Short, deformed tear ducts often cause runny eyes and tear staining.

• Dental and jaw problems

  In short-nosed Persians the teeth often do not line up properly, which can make biting, chewing, eating and grooming harder and can lead to dental disease.

• Skin fold infections

  Excess skin folds on a flat face can lead to soreness and bacterial or fungal infection.

• Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

  An inherited condition in which cysts form in the kidneys and can eventually lead to kidney failure. GCCF rules have required PKD testing for breeding Persians on the Active Register since 2016. Ask the breeder to show PKD certificates for the parents.

• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)

  An inherited disorder in which part of the eye degenerates, which can lead to blindness. A DNA test is available.

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)

  The heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, so the heart cannot beat effectively. TICA advises owners to check with their breeder and vet about this condition.

• Other inherited conditions

  Hip dysplasia is seen more often in Persians than in many other breeds. Alpha-mannosidosis, a rare inherited storage disease that affects many organs, has also been seen.

Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Himalayan home, it is reasonable to ask about:

• Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
• Veterinary and vaccination records. Kittens should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
• Microchip information. In England, cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
• Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a kitten was raised.

There are two costs: bringing a Himalayan home, and looking after one well. Kitten prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.

Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, litter, scratching posts and toys, and a cattery or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the cat’s life, typically 14–16 years, not just the first year.

If you have decided the Himalayan suits your life, take the same care choosing where your cat comes from. Meet the kitten in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.

• Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
• Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
• Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
• Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.

Himalayans do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the cat. An adult cat arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.

Rescues will usually talk you through the cat’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a cat once, well.