The Himalayan - russianblues.ca

Himalayan
The Himalayan
Goforth*
by Marguerita Goforth*
Going back to the year 1950
1950 an event
occurred
which,
while
no great
great
occurred which, while of
of no
itself, led to the vision,
vision, and
moment in itself,
eventual development,
development, of
of the
the HimalayHimalaycat. This
This minor
minor event
event was
was that
an cat.
that I
took
pet cat
cat belongbelongtook into
into my cattery a pet
friend to
to keep
keep it for her while
ing to a friend
she and her
her husband
husband moved
moved and rereshe
located.
What
I
had
expected
to
be
located. What had expected to be a
short visit
visit turned
be a matter
matter
short
turned out
out to
to be
several years,
of several
years, in
in fact
fact this
this cat,
cat, Princess Himalayan
recess
Himalayan Hope,
Hope, spent
spent the
the reMrs. Goforth
mainder of
life with me.
me. She
She was
was
mainder
of her life
mixed Siamese-Persian
Siamese-Persian which
Diego Humane
a mixed
which had
had been
been left
left at
at the San Diego
Society shelter,
given her a loving
loving
Society
shelter, where
where my
my friend
friend had
had found
found her
her and given
home.
She
was
a
Seal
Point
and
what
would
be
called
a
"long
hai'red
home. She was a Seal Point and
would be called "long haired
Siamese," since
showed more
elongated conformation
conformation and
Siamese,"
since she
she showed
more of
of the elongated
type
of
the
Siamese,
but
with
long
hair.
type
Siamese, but with
longer I had
had this
this cat,
cat, and
and the
the more
more IIstudied
studied her,
her, the
the greater
greater
The longer
became my
interest in what might
might be
be done
done toward
toward developing
developing a cat of
of
became
my interest
Persian type
type but with
with the
the striking
striking coloring
coloring of the
the Siamese,
Siamese, so
Persian
so with
with her
owner's consent,
consent, II began
began a breeding
breeding program
continues until
owner's
program that
that continues
until this
day. I first
first bred
bred Princess
Princess Hope
Hope to
fine Blue
Blue Persian
Persian male,
male, Delphi
Delphi
day.
to my fine
Blue Splendor of Goforth,
a
very
excellent
type
cat
bred
by
Mrs.
Pannie
Goforth, very excellent type cat bred Mrs. Fannie
Mood, who
time C.F.A.
c.P.A. Recorder,
Recorder, and who
who held
held that
thatoffice
office
Mood,
who was
was at that time
years. Splendor was
was a son of Imp. Lavender
Lavender Mischiefmaker,
Mischiefmaker,
for fourteen years.
owned and imported by
Miss Elsie
Elsie Hydon,
Hydon, bebeMiss
in
loved older
leader in
loved
older leader
C.F.A. Splendor's
Splendor's dam
C.F.A.
was
Rosedere
Blue
was Rosedere Blue
Starlet of Delphi,
breeder Miss
Miss Emma
Emma
breeder
Payne,
one of
of
Payne, also
also one
c.F.A.'s
older
breeders.
C.F.A.'s older breeders.
Quad. Ch. Goforth's
Goforth's Mona
Mona Lisa
Lisa B.P.
B.P. Female
Female
In other
other words
words I bred
bred
Quad.
In
order to
to break
break down
down the
to the
the very
very best
best available
available Persian
Persian blood
blood In
in order
to
eextreme
treme Siamese
Siamese type.
type.
_..;:0,.
Book, 1964
1964
Year Book,
"-
...:-..,
147
course experiments
experiments in
crossing Persians
Siamese were
Of course
in crossing
Persians and
and Siamese
were made
prior to
this date,
date, but none
none of
of them
them were
were continued
continued more
few
prior
to this
more than
than a few
crosses and
crosses
and never
never long
long enough
enough to
to produce
produce aa breed,
breed, in
in fact
fact probably
probably with
so. Among
Among these
these earlier
earlier experiments
experiments were
were those
those
intention of
of doing
doing so.
no intention
Mrs, Virginia
Virginia Cobb
Newton Cattery,
Cattery, but
but as
as previously
previously
done by
by Mrs.
done
Cobb of
of the Newton
connected with
stated all of
of these
these were
were discontinued
discontinued and
stated
and so
so are
are not
not connected
with the
breed. Simple crosses,
crosses, whether
present Himalayan breed.
whether planned
planned or accidental~
accidental,
do not make
make breeds.
breeds. IfIf itit were
were that
easy, the
cats, left
left to
to their
their own
own
do
that easy,
the cats,
instincts,
would
produce
"new
breeds"
with
fact one
one
instincts, would produce "new breeds" with every
every litter.
litter. In
In fact
lady wrote
she had a cat
cat of
of unusual
unusual color
color and
and wished
wished to
to know
know
lady
wrote me
me that
that she
litter sired
sired by
by
how she
how
she could
could establish
establish aa breed
breed from
from him.
him. She
She had
had aa litter
of aa tortie
tortie domestic,
domestic, some
some long
long hair, some
some short, some
some without
him out of
from that
that kind
kind of
of background
background
tails but none like the sire.
sire. I replied
replied that from
tails
if it
she might
might very
very well
never get
she
well never
get another
another kitten
kitten like
like the
the sIre,
sire, that
that if
were
that
easy
to
originate
a
breed,
she
already
had
four
new
breeds
were that easy to originate breed, she already
four new breeds
in the
the one
one litter.
litter. No,
No, itit takes
takes many
many years
years of
of breeding,
breeding, many
many cages
cages and
many cats,
cats, before
before animals
begin to
to show
show the
the desired
desired
many
animals breed
breed true
true and
and begin
characteristics. Besides
characteristics.
Besidesthis
thisthere
thereare
are many
many unwanted
unwanted kittens
kittens to
to be
placed in
lovIng homes
homes where
be used
used for
for breeding.
breeding. By
By
placed
in loving
where they
they will
will not be
unwanted, I mean kittens
kittens which
which are the
the wrong
wrong color
color or incorrect
incorrect type
unwanted,
for further use in producing
producing the envisioned
envisioned product.
for
product. These
These "by-product'~
"by-product"
kittens
often very
very attractive
attractive and have
have delightful
delightful dispcsitions
dispcsitions which
kittens are
are often
make them
very desirable
desirable pets.
pets to be
be neutered.
neutered.
make
them very
pets. These
These are
are sold
sold as
as pets
them
so
lovely
that
he
comes
back
Sometimes
the
owner
finds
Sometimes the owner finds them so lovely that he comes back for
for a
show. This is
is never
never given
given
pedi'gree so
pedigree
sothat
that the
the kitten
kitten may be entered in a show.
is certified
certified by the veterinarian
veterinarian who
who does
does the work.
work.
after neutering
neutering is
until after
England, Mr.
Mr. Brian
Brian Stirling-Webb
Stirling-Webb has produced
produced a similar line of
In England,
cats known
known there
Colorpoint. Neither
aware that
cats
there as
as the
the Colorpoint.
Neither of
of us
us was
was aware
that the
other
was
developing
such
a
cat
although
we
have
been
working
other was developing such a cat although we have been working at
at it
oyer about
England the
Colm'point is
over
about the
the same
same period
period of
of time.
time. In
In England
the Colorpoint
is clasas aa Persian
Persian and
and interbred
interbred with
with other
other Persians
Persians without
loss of
sified as
sified
without loss
pedigree
status.
In
America
the
Himalayan
is
classified
ar.
a
new
breed
pedigree status. In America the Himalayan is classified as new breed
notaapure
purebred
bredPersian.
Persian. C.F.A.
c.F.A. requires
requIres that
that
of longhair
longhair since
since it isis not
of
Himalayans be
be fourth
fourth generation
generation Himalayan
Himalayan registry
registry before
before being
being
Himalayans
good rule
compete in
shows. This is a very good
eligible to compete
in shows.
rule since
since it
it eliminates
accidental crosses
crosses from
from being
being entered.
entered.
accidental
Many of these first
first crosses
crosses are
type~
are good
good in
in color
color but
but very
very lackmg
lacking in
in type,
and in the
the past
past inexperienced
inexperienced judges
judges have
realized that
that type
type must
must
and
have not
not realized
fi'rst. Color is easy
easy to
cat of
of poor
poor type,
type, a so-called
come first.
to come
come by,
by, but
but a cat
hair Siamese"
Siamese" isis not
not aa Himalayan.
Himalayan. A
A "long
"long haired
haired Siamese"
Siamese'~
"long hair
"long
would be
cat of
of Siamese
Siamese type,
type, long
long in
in every
every feature
feature which
would
be a cat
which is
is the
exact opposite
standard, which calls for
for Persian
Persian type,
type~
exact
opposite of the Himalayan standard,
148
C. F.
F. A.
bby body,
body, short
legs, head
tail. The
The "long
"long hair
hair Siamese"
Siamese" type
type
ccbby
short legs,
head and
and tail.
cat is
is not
not only
only incorrect
incorrect in
in the
the Himalayan,
Himalayan, but
but isis also
also an
anoffense
offense
off cat
the Siamese
Siamese breeder.
breeder. Since
Since I have
have been a Siamese
Siamese breeder
breeder for twenty
to the
long hair on
on aa Siamese
Siamese is
is the last
last
Ii
am keenly
keenly aware
aware that
fivee years, I am
that long
breeder would
would want.
want. The
The elegant,
elegant, svelte
svelte lines
lines of
of the
the Siamese
Siamese
thing aa breeder
would be lost
lost
is the
the most outstanding
outstanding characteristic
is
characteristicof
of the
the breed
breed and
and would
anything other
other than
than its
itsrequisite
requisite close,
close, sleek
sleek coat
coat which
which reveals
reveals
under anything
the ripple
ripple of
of every
every muscle
muscle playing
playing beneath.
beneath. In short,
short, the
the Siamese
Siamese colorcoloris all that
that isis retained
retained in
in the
the Himalayan,
Himalayan, all
allelse
elsebecoming
becoming Persian.
Persian.
ing is
While Himalayans
Himalayans breed
breed true,
true, II have
have used
used several
several lines
lines of
of Persian
Persian
blood,
also of
of the
the Siamese,
Siamese, in
in order
order to
to avoid
avoid too
too close
close inbreeding.
inbreeding.
blood, and also
This makes
makes itit possible
possible also
also to
to supply
supply pairs
pairs not
not too
too closely
closely related.
related.
the Siamese
Siamese
All four colors found in the
have been
been developed
developed in
have
in the
the Himalaythis year
year at
at the
the C.F.A.
c.P.A. Annual
an, and this
Plame
Las Vegas
Vegas a fifth
fifth color,
color, the Flame
at Las
very
Point was
was recognized.
recognized. This
Point
This isis a very
beautiful cat,
having a
striking and
striking
and beautiful
cat, having
creamy white
body and
and delicate
delicate
creamy
white body
orange-flame colored
of
orange-flame
colored points,
points, and
and of
course the
blue eyes,
eyes, requisite
requisite in
course
the blue
in all
Himalayans.
recent shows
shows Himalayans are
In the recent
frequently
found
in the finals,
Flame Point
Point
frequently found in
finals, which
which
Flame
Kllten
is
doing
very
well
considering
the brief
brief
is
very well
Kitten
time they
they have
have been
been recognized,
recognized, just
years in
fact, whereas
whereas the
the
time
just six
six years
in fact,
Persian has been
been hundreds
hundreds of
the making.
making.
Persian
of years
years in
in the
these cats
be stressed
stressed too
too strongly.
strongly, In these
these
Proper breeding of
of these
cats cannot be
formative years
essential that
standard be
be
formative
years of
of this
this new
new breed,
breed, itit is
is essential
that the standard
kept
mind and
and that
that we
we must
must breed
breed with
with the
the idea
idea of
ofcorrecting
correcting any
any
kept in mind
weak
points either in type
type or
or color
color by
by proper
proper selection
selection of
strong
weak points
of a mate strong
those same
same points.
points. Breeding
Breeding without
careful selection
selection will
will run
in those
without this careful
breed down
build itit up.
up.Accidental
Accidental gutter-bred
gutter-bred cats
cats
the breed
down rather
rather than build
Himalayans and
and their
theiruse
use will
will produce
produce poor
poor type
type for
for generations
generations
are not Himalayans
if used
used to breed
breed your
your good
good cat.
finest of
of blood
blood has
has made
made the
cat. Only
Only the
the finest
Himalayan cat
cat and
and accidental
accidental matings
matings do
do not
not carry
carry this
this quality
quality of
of blood.
blood.
Himalayan
As an
artist all my
my life
life I feel
feel very
line, and
As
an artist
very sensitive
sensitiveto
to color
color and
and line,
somehow itit gives
g've" me
same thrill to
to constantly
constantly work
work toward
toward the
the
somehow
me the
the same
perfect Himalayan
gives the
artist to
to see
see aa canvas
canvas or
or sculpture
sculpture
perfect
Himalayan as
as itit gives
the artist
com~etion. Just
little color
color here
here or
or
coming to
coming
to completion.
Justasas the
the artist
artist adds
adds aa little
YearBook,
1964
Year Book, 1964
149
149
changes aa line there, so
changes
corrects and
the breeder corrects
changes by
changes
by proper
proper matsees the
ing, and sees
the results
in each
each new
ne\\' litter
litter of
of
in
babies, constantly
constantly imbabies,
provi'ng year
by year.
year.
proving
year by
Himalayan Standard
Type and conformaconformaType
Quad, Ch.
Ch, Goforth's
Goforth's Chocolate
Chocolate Soldier
Soldier C P Male
Male
tion same
same as
as for
for PerPertion
Quad.
sians. Color
Color and points
points of
of Seal
Seal Points,
Points, Blue
Blue Points,
Points, Chocolate
Chocolate Points
Points
sians.
and Lilac
Lilac Points,
Points, same
same as
as for
for Siamese
Siamese of
color. Eyes
Eyes blue,
blue, the
and
of that color.
deeper the
better. In
judging, stress
stress should
placed on
type rather
rather
deeper
the better.
In judging,
should be
be placed
on type
than color
color alone.
alone.
Flame Points:
Points: Body
Body a creamy
creamy white.
white. Points
Points aa delicate
delicate orange-flame
orange-flame
Flame
color, free
uniform as
as possible
possible in
i'n color.
color. Feet
Feet are
are slower
slower
color,
free of
of barring
barring and uniform
to color
color and
and allowance
allowance should
made for
for this
this in
in young
young animals.
animals.
to
should be
be made
Any shading
body to
same tint as
as the
the points.
points. Nose
Nose
Any
shading on
on the
the body
to be
be of
of the same
pads pink.
pink. Eyes
Eyes blue.
blue.
and pads
Undesirable and incorrect
incorrect for
Any similarity
Undesirable
for all
all Himalayans: Any
similarity in type
Siamese. Eyes
to Siamese.
Eyes any
any color
color other
other than
than blue. Winners to be withheld for
toes.
kinked
crossed eyes,
eyes, or
kinked tails, crossed
or white toes.
·Mrs, Goforth,
U. S.
S, operates
operates the
the Goforth
Goforth Cattery.
Cattery.
*Mrs.
Goforth, who
who originatC'd
originatedthe
the Himalayan
Himalayan in
in thr'
the U.
She has
has been
been aa judge
judge and
and Cat
Cat Fancier
Fancier for
for many
m"ny years,
years. having
having bred
bred Longhairs
Longhairs and
and
She
Shorthairs of
of top
top show
show quality—Ed.
quality-Ed.
Shorthairs