Himalayan Cat Color Information

Himalayan Cat Colors

The beautiful Himalayan cat is one of the most popular cat breeds. The Himalayan cat colors range from lilac to chocolate lynx and multiple other shades.

Himalayan Colorpoints

Himalayan cats are a colorpoint breed that is considered a color classification of the Persian cat breed. The term color point as it relates to the Himalayan cat with an even and light colored body, but its face and extremities feature a darker coat color. Across the face, there will be a darker "mask-like" shade which will also appear along the length of the tail and the tip of the paws.

When a colorpoint cat is shown, the even color of its body is critical in emphasizing the contrast of its paws, tail, and face. Points are docked for any markings, and, in fact, markings can render a cat ineligible in many cases.

 

Himalayan Colorpoints

Himalayan cats are considered a color point breed that is a color division of the Persian cat breed.

The term colorpoint translates to a cat with an even and light colored body, with coloring on it’s “points” referring to the head, tail and legs.  Across the face, there will be a darker "mask-like" shade which will also appear along the length of the tail and the tip of the paws.

Himalayan Cat Colors

In the Cat Fanciers' Association, the following color point combinations are acceptable. These include:

• Chocolate
• Seal
• Lilac
• Blue
• Red
• Cream tortie
• Blue-cream
• Chocolate-tortie
• Lilac-cream
• Seal lynx
• Blue lynx
• Red lynx
• Cream lynx
• Tortie lynx
• Blue-cream lynx
• Chocolate lynx
• Lilac lynx
• Chocolate-tortie lynx
• Lilac-cream lynx

This information regarding color recognition has been acquired from the Himalayan profile page. Not all Himalayan colors were recognized from the start. There have been breed favorites over the decades, and colors such as lynx points only received recognition in the late '70s and early '80s.

Himalayan Tortie Point Cats

The body of a Himalayan color point is typically ivory or fawn. An ivory body is offset well by flame and tortie shadings. In fact, these color combinations are, according to the CFA, reportedly the "darlings of the Himalayan world". Breeders who enjoy sleek and striking colors generally avoid tortie patterns because they can be chaotic. However, for the Himalayan cat, the tortie colors are apparently an asset. If you are unfamiliar with the term "tortie" in reference to a cat color, the term is the shortened version of "tortoiseshell", which describes the pattern of this shading. Torties possess a mottled hue of certain colors similar to those of a tortoise's shell. This color can be both complicated and interesting, and it adds a certain flair to a colorpoint.

 

Himalayan Cat Seal Points

Seal point Himalayans have points on their ears, facial mask, legs, paws and tail that are a rich brown color, which is known as "seal." Their paw and nose pads should also be the same brown color. Like other Himalayans the rest of their body is white to a pale fawn color. Seal Point Himalayans were one of the four original colors accepted by CFA in 1957.

 

Himalayan Cat Lynx Points

Lynx points are amongst the last to receive recognition, and this color combination is even more striking than the tortie. A lynx pattern is striped and tabby. It can present a very interesting contrast against the single-shade body of a Himalayan.

 

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