Himalayan Cats? Tips, Q's, Etc...?

Question

I really want a Himalayan cat... Can you give me any advice on them, or answer these questions:

-Are they good with kids?

-Do they shed a lot?

-Are they nice and like to play/hang around with their owner?

**My sister is allergic to dogs but she sometimes gets allergic to cats too, but I rEaLLy want one... Anyways, any tips on allergies, or if I should get a Himalayan?**

Thank You!!!!

Answer 1

Nice breed, himalayans. They kind of run in my family, so I know what I'm dealing with here. First off, they can be as good with kids as you train them to be. Pets are a reflection of the owner, so if the kids are hard on the cat, the cat will be hard on the kids. Teach them that a cat is a fragile and delicate being, and they need to be very gentle with them. They need to let the cat sniff their hand, then go on to *gently* pet the cat on its upper back. Not the stomach. Most cats are sensitive around their stomach, and we don't want any scratched up kids, do we? But make sure that they aren't afraid of the cat because of the danger it could possibly bring with little to no care. Let them get involved with the cat, such as naming it, petting it, and showing the new cat around the place. Scold when he hisses or swats, and praise when he is quiet and still around the children. Tell the kids not to make too much noise around the cat, as this can really, in layman's terms, tick them off. And, being that they are fluffy cats, there is a good chance he may shed. But, hey, if you have a vacuum cleaner, just pick up the hair on the couch next to the animal cracker crumbs. (which I'm assuming you have, since you asked the kids question) And, again, with the being nice thing, it all depends on how you treat and train it. Like I said, if you are nice with the cat, the cat will be nice with you. And don't really worry about your sister. My mother was very allergic to cats, but she has lived with them all her life, with no problems what-so-ever. Why? Because if you have constant prolonged exposure to the object causing the reaction, you slowly get used to it. And I would suggest the Himalayan to anyone considering purchasing a cat, because if you take the time to train this cat, you will most certainly enjoy the end results, being around 10 years of happiness. Also, just one last tip: When you go to the shelter to look at the cats (and I am assuming you are going to a shelter, because its better to adopt one of the lonely souls then to breed and only make another animal have to be euthanized. Now, we don't want that, do we? Didn't think so.) ask if you can play with some of the cats, to take a good look at its normal behavior. One last thing: I'm sorry if this answer has seemed slightly too frank for your opinion, but I offer up the honest truth on things I know not from google, but from real life experiences. I thank you for your time, good luck, and I hope I helped!

Answer 2

- Kids - how old are you kids?  If they're under 5 NO cat is good with children that young.  Babies and young children aren't intelligent enough to know when they're hurting a cat or kitten and can easily injure or even kill it.  And if the child is hurting the cat it will naturally react back by biting or scratching the child.  And if your children are over 5 but very boisterous, loud or bratty a Himalayan would NOT be a good cat for you as they would tolerate this sort of environment.

- Himalayans are pointed Persians.  Meaning, a Persian with markings of a Siamese as this was the breed they were crossed with to make Himalayans.  Their coats need to be fully combed at LEAST every other day to prevent matting.  You can NOT brush a Himalayan.  A brush will do little to remove the dead hairs of the undercoat and can pull out and break topcoat hairs.  The more you groom the cat, the less it will shed.  You can not feed a Himalayan or Persian cheap grocery store cat food.  Not that ANY cat should eat this but with the longhaired cats the poor nutrition will really show in their coats.  If you can not afford a premium MEAT based food with little to no grain - don't get a Himalayan.

- Yes they are a very sweet, affectionate breed of cat - this comes from their Persian heritage

- People are allergic to the dander (skin) of a cat - not the fur.  So someone isn't necessarily more allergic to a longhaired cat.  Does this person live with you or not?  And has she tried allergy meds?  I'm highly allergic to cats but with Allegra D daily I not only peacefully coexist with four cats in my home but also spend most of my time helping out at a no-kill cat shelter and can attend cat shows with 150+ cats at them.

Question for you - you say you "really want a Himalayan cat" yet asked a lot of questions about them - all of which you could easily find out if you read up about the breed.  Are you "really wanting" one simply because you saw a picture and liked what you saw?  That's now how you should pick a cat.  RESEARCH the breed and make sure it fits your lifestyle.

Answer 3

~Himalayans are good with kids, but be careful with any cats around kids under age 6.

~Himalayans do shed a lot.  

~If your sister is allergic to pet dander, then chances are she'll be allergic to a Himalayan.  

~Himalayans can be very cuddly.

Answer 4

- Not sure about kids

-yes they shed a whole lot

-of course all cats do it depends how you treat them will you you there buddy.(if you play and pet them they will like you) If you ignore them they will dislike you it all depends on the type of owner you are.