Himalayan — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD1)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
An autosomal dominant mutation causes fluid-filled kidney cysts from early in life, usually progressing to renal failure in mid-to-later adulthood. The Himalayan is the colourpoint Persian and carries the identical PKD1 mutation as the Persian and Exotic Shorthair.
Ask to see: PKD1 DNA test on both parents
UC Davis VGL — Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD1), breed list includes Himalayan (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/pkd1-cat)
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-pd)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A Persian-derived recessive mutation in AIPL1 causes early, rapid retinal degeneration, with severe vision loss typically by 16 weeks of age in affected kittens. UC Davis lists Himalayan directly among the breeds this test applies to.
Ask to see: PRA-pd (Persian-derived progressive retinal atrophy) DNA test on both parents
UC Davis VGL — PRA-pd (Persian), breed list includes Himalayan (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/pra-pd)
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A thickening of the heart muscle that can cause sudden cardiac death; Cornell's Feline Health Center lists Persian — of which the Himalayan is a colour variety — among the breeds where HCM is more prevalent than average. No specific causal DNA mutation has been established for Persian-type HCM, so a genetic test cannot rule it out.
Ask to see: Cardiologist echocardiogram of both parents (no validated breed-specific DNA marker exists)
Cornell Feline Health Center — Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy)
Brachycephalic conformation (BOAS and related effects)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
The flattened Persian-type face narrows the airway (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, which can be severe), shortens the tear ducts and deforms the eyelids, causing chronic eye discharge and corneal exposure, and crowds the teeth. This comes directly from the facial shape itself and cannot be tested away while keeping that shape.
Ask to see: No DNA test exists — assess the parents' own breathing and facial conformation in person, or ask for a vet's airway assessment
International Cat Care — Persian cats and brachycephaly (https://icatcare.org/articles/persian-cats-and-brachycephaly)