USA: Himalayan cat was first bred in the United States in the 1930’s. This breed was developed by crossing Siamese cats with Persians. Dr Clyde Keller of the Harvard Medical School and breeder Virginia Cobb of Newton Cattery are credited with first attempting this cross with the intention of getting a Persian cat with Siamese markings.

After several crossbreeding, they settled on a male cat they named Newton’s Debutante to be the first official Himalayan. The Cat Fanciers Association recognised the Himalayan as a breed in 1957, but in the 1980s, changed the Himalayan’s designation to a variety of Persian. The International Cat Association also considers the Himalayan a variety of Siamese.

Only the American Cat Fanciers Association recognises the Himalayan as a separate breed.