Himalayan Persian Cat Colors

Himalayan cats are a long-haired Persian breed crossed with the Siamese. Vivid blue eyes and dark colors on the body's "points" (face, ears, tail, and feet) distinguish the Himalayan from the Persian. The Himalayans' light-colored neutral coats contrast with concentrated point colors ranging from deep browns to bright reds. Distinct stripes, patterns or markings also define Himalayan Persian cat colors.

  1. Chocolate Point

    • Chocolate points have the most color contrast of all the Himalayan cats. Their points are a milk-chocolate warm tone and their coats are ivory white, with cinnamon pink noses and paw pads. They are more rare and valuable since both parents must carry the chocolate gene.

    Lilac Point

    • Lilac-point Himalayans have glacial white coats with frosty gray points and warm pinkish tones. They have lavender-pink noses and pink paw pads. The recessive lilac gene is a diluted chocolate gene and therefore also rare.

    Blue Point

    • Although called "blue," the points are actually a steel blue-gray. Their noses and paw pads are a cooler grayish-blue, with bluish-white coats. Blue-point Himalayans carry a recessive gene and are therefore more rare than seal brown points. Kittens are born white and their markings do not show until several weeks old.

    Seal Point

    • Seal points look most similar to the Siamese breed with their darkest seal-brown points. Their coat shades range from a pale fawn to cream color, shading gradually to a lighter color on the stomach and chest. Noses and paw pads are a seal brown.

    Flame/Red Point

    • Himalayan kittens with apricot-colored points are called red or flame points. Once the cats are adults, their points range from deep orange to a deep red. Their bodies have a creamy white shade with flesh/coral pink noses and paw pads. The red Persian gene dilutes the flame points.

    Cream Point

    • The lightest of all Himalayan cat colors, cream points have creamy white coats with slightly darker cream points. Like the flame points, their noses and pads are also a flesh or pink coral color. Cream points are diluted "sister" genes of the flame points.

    Tortie Point

    • Tortie points are like seal points but with unique patches of red and/or cream, or blotches of color. Their bodies are creamy white or pale fawn, with seal brown and/or coral pink noses and paw pads. The word "tortie" comes from the tortoiseshell-like pattern.

    Lynx Point

    • Lynx points have striped or tabby points (lines or swirls) which separate them from others. They have a distinct M" pattern on their face, stripes on the face, tail and legs, and a white border around the ears. Noses and paw pads vary depending on the color of the lynx point. Breeders create lynx points by crossing a Himalayan with a tabby Persian.