Himalayan cat grooming in Gloucester, MA

In CFA's standard the Himalayan is the colorpoint division of the Persian: a long, thick coat that stands off from the body, an immense ruff, deep vivid blue eyes, and a definite contrast between the pale body and the darker points. CFA calls a steel or Teflon-coated comb with long, coarse and fine teeth essential for keeping the coat free of mats and tangles, and notes that many Persian owners rely on professional groomers. Our Himalayan breed guide covers daily care at home in more depth.

For the studio, what matters is that the coat is long and fine enough to felt wherever the cat rubs, lies or sits: the belly, the armpits, behind the ears and the britches on the back legs. A coat combed every day can live on a bath rhythm. A coat that has slipped past daily combing usually needs work before water touches it, because CFA's advice is that a bath should come only after a thorough combing and nail clipping, not instead of them.

A Himalayan's points come from a temperature-sensitive pigment process, the same one behind Siamese coloring. Writing for the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, Sue Ann Bowling explained that it can only produce pigment below normal body temperature, which is why the cooler face, ears, legs and tail turn dark while the warm body stays pale. Shave the body, and the skin underneath runs cooler while the new hair grows in.

National Geographic quotes Betsy Arnold, a veterinarian with a cats-only practice, saying that fur shaved on a Siamese may grow back darker because the area is cooler while the hair regrows, and that it may become lighter again later. The same article reports that the gene causes the fur to darken as a cat ages. For a Himalayan owner that means two things: a winter lion cut may leave a darker saddle for a season, and an older cat's shaded body is pigment, not grime. Neither is a reason to skip a shave the coat needs.

Daily is the number that matters for this coat. Comb in layers to the skin, starting with the ruff and chest while the cat is settled, then the belly, armpits and britches, and finish with a wipe under each eye. Our guide to preventing mats on a cat explains the layer method and the tools. Through the heating season, dry indoor air makes loose hair cling, so expect the comb to fill faster from November to March.

Book online, in the Dogtown app or on 978 491-5922, Monday to Saturday; there is no evaluation visit, because the groomer assesses coat and temperament when your cat arrives. Bring your Himalayan in a secure carrier. For anything urgent between visits, the City of Gloucester lists local emergency veterinary offices, and Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn is open 24 hours.