These cats were an offshoot of breeding programs aimed at producing pointed Himalayans with short cobby bodies and short-nosed flat faces. Once only seen inside a cattery, several years ago breeders campaigned to gain acceptance of these beautiful cats.
Some associations allow non-pointed Himalayans to be shown as Persians. Others, including the Canadian Cat Association felt that because these cats carry the recessive gene for the Siamese/Himalayan restrictive colour pattern, they should be recognized under the separate breed heading of Non-Pointed Himalayan.
The standard is exactly the same as for the Persian - a powerfully built cat with a round head, short snub nose with a decided break between the eyes. The eyes are to be round and very expressive. Non-Pointed Himalayans are recognized in most Persian colours with the exception of bi-colours and calicos colour patterns. They are also recognized in the rarer non-Persian colours of chocolate and lilac and the resulting tabby/tortie and shaded colours.
The coat is long and thick standing away from the body. the fine texture requires almost daily grooming so that tangles and mats do not occur.
The Non-Pointed Himalayan has a quiet chirpy voice and adapts readily to most environments. They shared the same sweet natures as the Persian and pointed Himalayans.