As breeders of Persians and Exotics, we all know that our breeds often improve with age. However, exhibitors of Himalayans and Colorpoints must often choose between showing their cats to a grand championship as quickly as possible, or have their cats penalized for the darkening of the body color that often happens as the poinyed cat ages.
To understand this special challenge faced by Himmy breeders, it’s necessary to first understand the unique character of the pointed gene.
The Colorpoint Gene
The gene that is responsible for the colored extremities of our Himalayan and Colorpoint cats is not uncommon in the animal kingdom. Mice, rabbits, and even goats also exhibit this striking phenomenon.
Animals with “points” must have received a double dose of the pointed gene since it is recessive. These animals all exhibit the striking darker hair coloration on their extremities that is typical of pointed mammals.
This coloration is a result of the fact that the pointed gene produces a color response in the hair development that is temperature dependent. The cooler the hair, the darker its color will be.
So… how does this affect the typical Himalayan kitten?
The Development Of The Point Color
Himalayan kittens are born pure white. This is because while they are in utero and growing their first hair, their entire body is maintained at their mother’s body temperature, a uniform temperature of approximately 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore all the hair on the body is white (lacks color).
Once born, the surface temperatures of the various parts of the the newborn bodies will vary according to the degree of blood supply and circulation to the different areas. Parts of the body with excellent blood circulation will have a slightly higher body temperature and will maintain a lighter color. Parts with lesser blood circulation, will have a slightly lower temperature that will result in a darker hair color. Within about 3-4 days after birth, the white color typical of a newborn Himalayan kitten will begin to show color in areas of lower blood circulation… the cooler parts of the body.
The development of the darker colorpoints such as on a seal point kitten will be more obvious at an earlier age then the lighter colors such as a flame point. These lighter point colors will appear stark white much longer.
The first hint of color appears on the ears. This will be quickly followed by the development of color on the nose, then on the whisker pads and chin… then finally the paws and tail. The darker color of the feet gradually “creeps up” the legs.
However, in the same way that some people have better circulatory systems than others, so too do some individual Himalayans have superior circulatory systems that result in a higher skin temperature and less darkening of the coat color with age.
Darkening With Age
So.. Now that you understand how and why a Himmy baby develops color on its extremities, why then does the paler body color eventually darken with age? As your grandma who bundles up in a sweater when the other members of the family are in shirt sleeves will tell you, as we age, we feel cold more easily. This is because with maturity, the blood circulation of the adult mammal usually decreases — and cats are no exception. So as the blood circulation decreases, the temperature of the body cools slightly. This results in the increased body shading often noted in older Himalayans. Typically, the shoulders and flanks are most effected.
Darkening After Neutering Or Spaying
The lowered hormone levels that accompany neutering or spaying can also result in a slight lowering of the metabolism that can result in additional darkening of the coat on the body.
Skin Injuries Or Clipping The Coat
Because of the hair color’s sensitivity to temperature, if a Himalayan suffers a skin wound or must have an area of hair on the body clipped, the resulting loss of circulation or lowering of temperature at the site, may result in the hair growing in much darker than the hairs beyond the injured area. For the same reason many Himalayan breeders do not shave down their breeding cats if there is a possibility of bringing them back into the showring on the future.
Color Differences
Naturally, the darkening of the body color is most apparent in sealpoints and bluepoints compared to a much lesser degree with flamepoints and creampoints. This makes it easier to show older cats of the lighter pointed colors, as any darkening in their body color will be less obvious as there is naturally less contrast between the body color and the points.
A knowledgeable Persian judge will make allowances for a darker body color in an older Himalayan.
Breeding For Pale Body Color
As with most physical characteristics, improved circulation can be bred for. There are both individual cats and lines of Himmies noted for maintaining pale body color well into adulthood. Breeders who are able to incorporate this characteristic into their breeding program gain the advantage of being able to show their cats at an older age because their adults cats maintain a lighter body color.
Final Thought
This is just one more characteristic that presents a special challenge to Himalayan fanciers in the development of their breeding programs.
Related Articles
- Coat Color, Part 7: The Colorpoint Gene
- Colors Of Persians & Exotics: The Colorpoints
- Himalayan Masking
