Personality:
- Intelligent and very affectionate.
- Assertive, active, and conversational.
- Have big, deep voices.
- Easily trainable.
- Will fetch, walk on leashes, or learn to use the toilet.
History:
Believed to have originated in Thailand where they were temple guardians and the companions of royalty. Legend states that the Siamese cats accompanied souls to heaven. A pair of Siamese were given to President and Mrs. Rutherford Hayes in 1878 by the United States Consul to Bangkok. Other Siamese were imported to the United States from England, and by the turn of the century were appearing in American cat shows. Accepted by all breed associations for championship status.
Body Type:
- Medium-size with fine bones and firm muscles resulting in a svelte, firm cat with long, graceful tapering lines.
- Head is a long tapering smooth wedge with very large pointed ears.
- Deep blue eyes are medium sized and almond shaped.
Coat:
- Coat is short, fine, and glossy.
- Paler colored body has a distinctive pointed pattern of darker color on face, ears, legs, and tail.
- Kittens are born white and start getting color on the points at around ten days of age.
- Available in four color combinations: seal point (dark seal-brown points on a fawn body), blue point (deep silver-blue points on a light-gray body), chocolate point (milk-chocolate points on an ivory body), and lilac point (pinkish-gray points on a white body).
- The International Cat Association (TICA) also accepts other colors, such as lynx points, tortie points and red points in the Siamese class.
Health and Wellness:
- Endocardial fibroelastosis.
- Mucopolysaccaridosis.
- Aortic stenosis.
- Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).
- Amyloidosis.
- Allergic bronchitis.
- Food allergy.
- Psychogenic alopecia.
- Periocular leukotichia.
- Gastrointestinal track (GIT) adenocarcinoma.
- Cutaneous mast cell tumor.
- Mammary adenocarcinoma.
What you should know:
- Rated as the most popular cat among short haired breeds.
- Used as the foundation for many modern breeds.
- Although many original Siamese had kinked tails and crossed eyes, these are now considered faults in modern day cats.
- Although the extreme type of Siamese is favored in the show ring, the old style Siamese (Appleheads) with their round heads and stocky bodies are still popular as pets.
- Siamese should be bred not only for type, but for good temperaments as well.
- Look for a kitten with a friendly, happy nature.
