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Milestones in the history of Himalayans over the six decades
between 1930 to 1990
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1930's U.S.
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In 1931, Virginia Cobb (Newton Cattery) and Dr. Clyde Keeler (Harvard Medical School) began an experimental breeding program with the purpose of learning the inheritance involved in producing a Colorpoint Longhair. Five years later, their efforts produced the first Himalayan kitten, named "Newton's Debutante", as well as an article published in the American Journal of Heredity that detailed the "formula" by which she had been produced. After publishing their paper, the breeding program was abandoned, having accomplished
it's purpose. |
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1950's England
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 A Colorpoint Longhair stray named "Bubastis Georgina" found her way to Brian Stirling-Webb (Briarry cattery).
Inspired by her looks, and joined by Mrs. S.M. Harding (Mingchiu cattery), he began his work to develop this variety further.
(right is a photo of an early Mingchui cat)
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1950's Canada
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Ben Borrett (Chestermere cattery), a rancher and cattle judge in Southern Alberta began working on a similar breeding program, to create a longhair colorpoint cat. He and his wife, Ann, imported several colourpoint longhairs from Brian Stirling-Webb (Briarry cattery). |
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1950's
U.S.
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 Marguerita Goforth, a California artist and cat breeder (Goforth cattery), agreed to take care of a cat for a friend who was moving. The friend's cat, obtained from the San Diego Humane Society, was a longhaired cat with seal point coloring, named "Princess Himalayan Hope".
Inspired by her striking looks, Miss Goforth received permission from her owners to use this cat and begin a breeding program to create a cat of Persian type, with the Siamese coloring.
(The photo on the right is of Mrs. Goforth with Princess Himalayan Hopeand sitting next to her on the couch)
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1955
England
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GCCF recognizes the Colourpoint Persian, and from the beginning, the Colourpoint is part of the Persian breed |
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1957
Canada
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The Borretts exhibit two of their imported cats at an ACFA show in Calgary, and are later asked to write the breed standard for the Himalayan. This standard was used by Mrs Goforth when requesting status for the Himalayan in CFA. |
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1957
U.S.
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CFA is petitioned by Marguerita Goforth to recognize the Himalayan as a new breed, which is granted. In later years, Miss Goforth regretted that decision, writing in the 1960's "I have felt for many years that the Himalayan cat should be recognized as a color of Longhair". The Himalayan was recognized in 4 colors at this point - seal point, chocolate point, blue point, and lilac point. |
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1964
U.S.
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CFA recognizes the additional colors of flame point and tortie point. |
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1966
U.S.
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The first Himalayan to earn a CFA Grand Championship - GC Chestermere Kinuba of Nevah-Tep, a blue point male. |
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1972
U.S.
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CFA recognizes the blue-cream point. |
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1973
U.S.
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The first Himalayan to earn a CFA National win - GC, NW Lord Byron, a seal point male. |
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1979
U.S.
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CFA recognizes the cream point. (Up until this time, the cream point was often registered and shown as the color it most looked like - the flame point). |
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1981
U.S.
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CFA recognizes chocolate and lilac "selfs" (solid chocolate and lilac Persians) as a "solid" division of the Himalayan, and they are allowed to be shown in the Himalayan class. |
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1982
U.S.
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CFA recognizes the first of the lynx points - the seal lynx and blue lynx. Other lynx colors are gradually phased in over the next 10 years. Lynx point history will be covered in more detail in the follow-up to this article. |
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1984
U.S.
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CFA combines the Himalayan & Persian breeds, making the Himalayan a separate division of the Persian breed, and thus opening the door for the hybrids (or CPC's) to be shown in their appropriate color class. |
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1987
U.S.
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CFA recognizes the chocolate tortie point and the lilac cream point. |
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1989
U.S.
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The first Himalayan to earn a CFA DM award - CH Westpoint Brigadier of Thesaurus, DM, a blue point male. The DM award was institued in 1984. |
