John K. Rosembert
The Himalayan cat is a medium-sized cat very similar in appearance to the Persian cat but distinguished by the points on the cats’ extremities (the facial mask, feet, ears, and tail) which results in a Persian-type cat with the coloring and deep blue eyes of the Siamese-patterned cat. The ideal Himalayan is a strong cat with excellent boning and musculature, a well-balanced cat, giving the impression of robust power.
As with their Persian cousins, the Himalayan cat has two facial variations : traditional / doll-faced, or peke-faced (named after the Pekingese dog with squashed-looking features).
The Himalayans make great indoor pets. They possess the best characteristics from the Siamese and the Persian. Their activity levels lay between that of the Siamese and Persian, so they’re equally happy to play as they are to relax, making them great family pets
They are loyal and affectionate cats who require lots of attention and love but tend to play favorites among their owners. They are very social, sweet and intelligent, and have been known to be quite talkative.
Here we bring you the most common Himalayan Cat Diseases & Conditions.
Polycystic kidney disease. PKD is a condition that is inherited and symptoms can start to show at a young age. Polycystic Kidney Disease causes cysts of fluid to form in the kidneys, obstructing them from functioning properly. It can cause chronic renal failure if not detected . Look for symptoms like poor appetite, vomiting, drinking excessively, frequent urination, lethargy and depression.
Breathing issues. Peke-faced cats have a compacted snout and airway and as a result, it may suffer shortness of breath or noisy breathing.
Cherry eye . is a condition affecting the eye, causing the third eyelid to well and cause irritation It generally appears as a red mass (hence the name cherry) on the corner of the cat’s eye. It is treated with surgery.
Progressive retinal atrophy. Refers to a family of eye conditions which cause the retina’s gradual deterioration. Night vision is lost in the early stages of the disease, and day vision is lost as the disease progresses. Many cats adapt to the loss of vision well, as long as their environment stays the same.
Entropion. It is a condition that can occur in Persians and causes the eyelid to roll inwards, which can lead to irritation or injury of the eyeball. Signs include rubbing or scratching around the eye area. It can be treated surgically if necessary.
Primary seborrhea. is a skin condition in which the skin becomes greasy, scaly and smelly due to the overproduction of skin cells.
Sources:
http://www.vetstreet.com/cats/himalayan#1_ugw20zmq
https://bowwowinsurance.com.au/cats/cat-breeds/himalayan-cat/
Photo credit: https://www.shutterstock.com/ search / himalayan + cat
https://www.wwwallaboutcats.com/best-food-for-himalayan-cats
