Caring for Himalayan and Exotic Shorthair kittens requires dedication and knowledge to ensure they thrive. At A Love 4 Paws, our Himalayan cat breeders share expert tips to help you provide the best care for these beloved breeds.

That’s why, when you first bring your kitten home or I recommend keeping them in a safe room.   Make this safe room comfortable and fun by including a bed and some toys.

You also may want to purchase a Feliway Diffuser.  This product duplicates your cat’s happy pheromones and will make the adjustment period easier.  Your Himalayan, Exotic, or Persian kitten will let you know when they are ready to come out of the safe room.

Understanding the Breeds

  • Himalayan Cats: Known for their long, luxurious coats and blue eyes, Himalayans are calm and affectionate. They require regular grooming and a quiet environment.

  • Exotic Shorthair Kittens: With short, dense coats and playful personalities, Exotics are low-maintenance but love interactive playtime.

Both breeds are prone to certain health issues, such as respiratory concerns due to their flat faces, making proper care essential.

Grooming Tips

Himalayan Cats

  • Daily Brushing: Prevent matting by brushing their long coat daily with a wide-tooth comb.

  • Eye Cleaning: Wipe tear stains gently with a damp cloth to prevent infections.

  • Bathing: Bathe monthly with a cat-safe shampoo to keep their coat clean.

Exotic Shorthair Kittens

  • Weekly Brushing: Use a soft brush to remove loose hair and reduce shedding.

  • Face Cleaning: Wipe their face daily to prevent tear buildup.

  • Nail Trimming: Trim nails every 2–3 weeks to avoid overgrowth.

A cat that is still hiding from you (hiding is normal when a cat changes homes) or isn’t playing and eating is a kitty that still has some adjusting to do. Once your kitten is eating, drinking, using the litter box, not hiding, is playing with you, and moving about the safe room comfortably, then it’s time to let them explore another room of the house.

Some cats and kittens adjust quickly than others.  Let your Exotic, Himalayan, Persian kitten or cat be curious about you, and let them be the one to approach you.

Nutrition Needs Kitty Litter

Make sure you use the same food and kitty litter that your breeder uses.  I feed all of my Exotic, Himalayan and Persian kittens and cats Royal Canin and a quality canned food.  It’s important for cats to eat some wet food everyday as cats generally don’t drink enough water.

You can even add a little bit of water to the wet food.  I also feed all of my cats and kittens a supplement called L-Lysine, which has been proven to help cat’s immune system.  You can purchase L-Lysine from many companies on the Web.

One of the companies I purchase from is Bodybuilder.com.  I purchase the loose L-Lysine and then add it to my cats wet food every day.

All of my kittens use The World’s Best Kitty Litter. This is a corn based kitty litter that you can even flush in the toilet.  Sometimes when kittens first start using the litter box, they eat the kitty litter, so that’s one of the reasons I use this product.

I also use it because it has less dust than some of the other clumping litters on the market.   My adult cats use Scoop Away Kitty litter as they seem to prefer this over The World’s Best Kitty litter.  Make sure you use the same litter your breeder did when you first bring your kitty home.

Health and Veterinary Care

I vaccinate my Exotic, Persian, and Himalayan kittens at 8 and 12 weeks with either the Felocell 3 MLV vaccine or the FVRCP intranasal vaccine.  These vaccines protect my kittens from Feline Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia.

If a kitten is still at my home at 16 weeks, then I will give another vaccine.    The final vaccine for a kitten should be given at 16 weeks or after because you never know if the earlier vaccines actually provided immunity, because the Maternally derived antibodies may interfere with the immunity provided by the vaccine.

Exercise and Enrichment

  • Himalayan Cats: Provide quiet playtime with feather wands or laser pointers to stimulate their gentle nature.

  • Exotic Shorthair Kittens: Engage in interactive play with balls or tunnels to satisfy their playful energy.

  • Scratching Posts: Offer multiple scratching surfaces to protect furniture.

Create a stimulating environment with cat trees and cozy beds to keep your cat happy.

RUMORS, LIES AND MYTHS

  1. Cats are aloof:  I actually used to believe this one myself and thought only dogs were loving.   That was before I owned a Persian cat. My Exotic, Persian, and Himalayan cats greet me when I come home. When they hear my voice, they want to be near me. When I’m at the computer, they all sit next to me, and when I’m in bed, they all pile in bed with me. Cats are different then dogs.  Cats are predators, so they take in their whole environment, and they are stimulated by even the slightest movement that may indicate there is a chance of them catching prey.  Cats are not like dogs in the sense that they don’t have the pack mentality, and therefore some cats prefer to have more space than others.  That being said, Exotics, Himalayans, and Persians enjoy the company of other ate compared to other breeds of cats such as the Siamese.  I often find my cats sleeping in a pack with each other and grooming each other.
  2. Litter boxes always stink: As long as you maintain an adequate cleaning schedule, your litter boxes will not stink.  You should have one litter box for every cat you own.  If you have a two-story house, then you should have a litter box upstairs and downstairs.  I scoop all of my litter boxes twice a day. This is probably not necessary, but I have noticed that as soon as I start scooping, all of my cats start using the litter box.  Cats are very clean creatures, and they don’t like using dirty bathrooms (just like people).  I also believe that by scooping my cats’ kitty litter boxes frequently, I prevent bladder infections.  I know some breeders have issues with bladder infections.  So far, none of my cats have had a bladder infection.
  3. Cats ruin your furniture:  There’s some truth to this, but only if you neglect to provide your cat with a scratching post that satisfies their need to scratch.  Some cats are vertical scratchers, and some cats are horizontal scratchers.  I have a very nice home, and one thing I didn’t want was an ugly, rug-covered scratching post in my living room.   The one that I have now is from the Refined Feline.  It looks more like an elegant piece of furniture instead of the traditional rug-covered one.  What I like about it is that the scratching surfaces are made of sisal and have velcro on the bottom of them so they can be easily taken off and cleaned.
  4. Certain genders are more loving:  I have owned and bred many Exotic, Himalayan, and Persian cats and kittens.  I disagree that one gender is more loving than another.  What I have seen is that they are usually born with certain personalities (just like people).   One or two in a litter will be more outgoing and be the first to try new things, one will be more laid back, one more friendly, and one more timid than the rest.  All Persian, Exotic and Himalayan’s are loving when they are raised in the right environment.    Some will require more time to build a relationship with and some will take no time at all.

Should you purchase a kitten or a cat?

Adult cats will adjust to your home but may take longer than a kitten to feel comfortable.  When you adopt an adult, you know what you are getting physically, and you can get a good sense of their temperament when you meet them at your breeder’s home.

All kittens tend to be playful, friendly, and cute.  As they grow up, their personalities change, and they also change physically.   Their coat, body type, and eye color can change. Also, if you adopt a kitten, you need to make sure your home is a safe place for them. Kittens tend to get in more trouble than an adult.

Adopting a very young kitten (8 weeks or younger) so that we can bond with the kitten.   Several times a year, I get calls from people wanting an 8-week-old or younger kitten because they think they will be able to bond with the kitten better.

This is a terrible myth!!!  Kittens should never be adopted out this young. They still need time to develop and learn social skills from their mom and littermates.  It’s also not healthy for them to leave their home this young, and instead of getting a confident, healthy kitten, you could end up with a sickly, unsocialized kitten.   I have placed many older adults who become very attached and bonded with their new owners.

Ready to Care for Your Cat?

Whether you’re adopting from A Love 4 Paws or another source, our care guide ensures your Himalayan or Exotic Shorthair thrives. Contact us via our Contact Us page for personalized advice or explore our About Our Breeding Program page to learn about our kittens.