Posh Persians  

of Nefertiti

The Himalayan Cat Colour-Points

The Himalayan is one of the most popular of all Persians. The Himalayan can be a:

Chocolate point Himalayan, seal point Himalayan, lilac point Himalayan, blue point Himalayan, flame (red) point or cream point Himalayan, tortie point Himalayan, blue-cream, chocolate-tortie, lilac-cream, seal lynx(tabby), blue lynx(tabby), red lynx(tabby), cream lynx(tabby), tortie lynx(tabby), blue-cream lynx(tabby), chocolate lynx(tabby), lilac lynx(tabby), chocolate-tortie lynx(tabby) and lilac-cream lynx(tabby) etc...

Colour is restricted to the facial mask and extremities with the body of various shades of white to fawn. Himalayans were developed by breeding Persians to Siamese to combine the Siamese point colouring with Persian type. After many years of cross breeding they were approved as accepted colour variations of Persians. All must have deep vivid blue eyes as eyes other than blue are a disqualification.

* Kittens are born creamy white with pink paw pads, noses and ears. Point color gradually develops over the first few weeks. In seal point and blue point, a blob of color first appears on the nose after 10 days, but it may be 3 months before chocolate and lilac points become apparent. Colors may not be fully developed until 1 year.

* Blue Point or Lilac Point? - Check the nose leather and paw pads. A blue point has slate grey, a lilac point has lavender pink.

* Seal Point or Chocolate Point? - Check the nose leather and paw pads. A chocolate point has cinnamon pink, the seal point has seal brown.

* Seal Point or Tortie Point? - Check the nose leather and paw pads. If they are mottled seal brown and flesh/pink, the cat is a tortie point, not a seal point.

* Blue Point or Bluecream Point? - Check the paw pads and nose leather. If the color is a mottled blue and pink, the cat is a bluecream point, not a blue point.

* Flame/Red Point or Cream Point? - These colors can be very close. There are hot creams and light reds. If both parent cats are definitely dilutes (blue, cream or bluecream), the offspring cannot be a flame point.

The black gene's, "quiet sister" is the recessive or dilute gene of the black or "seal." Unlike with a new-born Persian Himalayan breeders find it more difficult at birth to tell just what colour a Himalayan is, as their points don't start to come in until the first few weeks have past. If a Himalayan kitten is born white, rather than a fawn colour, it could be a blue point. While called "blue," the actual points are a beautiful steel blue grey. Their noses and paw pads are a cold grey "blue." Blue points are more rare than seal points, because of the recessive gene.

The Himalayan cats that have the most contrast between their Hershey-coloured points and their light body coat colour is the chocolate point Himalayan. Chocolate points are rare and more valuable because both parents have to carry the chocolate gene in order to produce a "visual" chocolate point Himalayan. Many Himalayan cat breeders do not produce chocolates because of this. A chocolate point should have deep, blue eyes, dark "chocolate" points and pink paw pads.

* Red Point

Also known
as Flame point

The Himalayan kitten that has apricot-looking points are called Red or Flame point Himalayan. It is really the red gene, "Himalayan" style. If a breeder had Persian kittens from the red gene, they would be solid red; but with a Himalayan kitten, merely the points are red or 'flame.' Just like with the other colour genes, the red gene has a dilute "sister" which is called cream. Himalayan breeders will offer a cream point Himalayan if someone wants the lightest colour possible in a Himalayan breed. These darling cats will have pink noses and pink paw pads!

more pictures of Khaleesi

Lilac Point kittens are even more unusual Himalayan kitten. The lilac gene is the dilute of the chocolate gene, and since it's recessive, it is more difficult to produce. Himalayan kitten breeders get quite excited when one of their "Mamas" produce one of these beautiful babies. This colour is almost the lightest of a Himalayan kitten available. The body colour will stay a crisp white colour, with the points being a warm, almost "pinkish" grey. The lilac point will have blue eyes, a purplish nose and warm pink paw pads

It's not too often that we have this rare colour, but they are available for purchase sometimes ...and they go fast! Khaleesi is my 1st Lilac Point but hopefully she will give me more Lilac Points in the future.

more pictures of Luna

The most well-known is the seal point Himalayan. Their points derive from the black gene (shows as dark Brown) . If you have a Persian, it would be solid black; but that black gene becomes black "points"...hence, the seal point Himalayan, which is the darkest of all the Himalayan colours. Seal points have deep blue eyes and very dark noses and paw pads.

They can be born as Ultra Seal point, darker features, similar to Safari.

The Himalayan kitten with the unique "blotches" on her face and paws is the tortoiseshell or "tortie" point Himalayan. Himalayan breeders love having a tortie in their midst, as they are considered the "rainbow" of Himalayan points. A Tortie can throw more colours than any other Himalayan pointed cat. What's really fun is that like a calico, each tortie has it's own unique pattern of colours. Tortie points that are chocolate visuals are called chocolate tortie point Himalayans.

Also known as lynx(tabby) Point

Carrying the agouti Gene

Tabby or lynx point" Himalayan cats actually refer to the pattern of this Himalayan. A lynx(tabby) point can come in all the colours that "regular" Himalayan kittens come in. The lynx(tabby) point was produced by Himalayan breeders , by mating a Himalayan with a tabby Persian. You can tell a lynx(tabby) point by the "M" pattern on the front of the head, the subtle "stripes" on the face, tail and legs, and by the white "border" around the ears. Their noses and paw pads will differ depending on the actual colour.

Wispa & Larissa has a tabby pattern.