All About The Siamese Cat

  • There are many colour variations in Siamese cats. All Siamese  are colourpoint cats
  • The result of thousands of generations of selective breeding and the pressures of competition, there are two sub-breeds of Siamese- The Modern Show Siamese and the Traditional Siamese
  • One of the most popular cat breeds in Australia
  • Siamese kittens are born blind and are pure white( due to being in the constant warmth of the mother's womb). Their points darken as the kitten matures.
  • Eyes open in about 7 days after they are born
  • Points include facial mask, ears, legs, feet and tail
  • Kittens develop early and show their individual personalities

Colours

  • Seal Point

-Body Colour: Pale Fawn

-Points Colour: Deep seal brown

-Points tend to darken with age

 - a flashy, elegant cat

- tends to be more dignified than the other colours

  • Blue Point

-Body Colour: pale grey blue

- Points: two colours-deep slate blue and a light, silver blue

- Points tend to darken with age

- loyal

-extremely affectionate

- first appeared in 1934

  • Chocolate Point                                                                            

Body Colour: Ivory   

Point Colour: Milk Chocolate                                                                                

                                                                  

- lighter version of the Seal Point

- colour doesn't darken with age

- most extroverted of the four colours

- extremely affectionate and loyal

- fun loving

- In 1946 the Chocolate Point was recognised

  • Lilac Point

Body Colour: glacial white

Point Colour: Pale pinkish lilac

- colour doesn't darken with age

- demands attention

- artistic temperament

- In 1955, the Lilac Point was recognised

Other colours:

  • Cinnamon
  • Fawn
  • Red
  • Cream
  • Apricot
  • Caramel
  • Tortie and Tabby Point
  • Lynx Point

Traditional Siamese

  • are much sturdier than the Modern Siamese. Their head is round and their ears are more in proportion to their body size.
  • these are pure bred cats, descended from the original cats imported from Siam
  • also known as Applehead or Classic Siamese
  • the traditional siamese does not compete at cat shows

Modern Siamese

  • this cat type is the most frequently observed in cat shows
  • have been bred to be extremely elongated, with slender bodies almost to the point of emancipation.
  • they have a y-shaped head (wedged shape) with a very long muzzle
  • their ears are extra large-bat wing like
  • current breeding practises have led to some serious health issues. The narrower head may affect vision and loss of sight. The smaller head and hence brain, can affect the cat's temperment. Siamese can have a reputation for aggressive behavior and poor temperment. But on the other hand, many Siamese are sociable and friendly and extremely loyal. A reputable breeder will not breed from an aggressive cat.  The extremely thin or waif like Siamese may have reduced immunity to chronic respiratory diseases. Lymphosarcoma, a heritable cancer has also been reported.

Characteristics

  • Extremely intelligent and elegant
  • Deep blue almond eyes

The Siamese eyes radiate intelligence and emotion. They exhibit the most captivating eyes.

  • Loving nature
  • Entertaining
  • demanding
  • feisty
  • Converses loudly and sometimes in a harsh voice. Often sounds like a baby crying .The Siamese voice is quite legendary.

Great communicators and speak with their voice and their bodies. Definitely not a quiet companion.

  • Very active

Daily play and interaction are critical to a Siamese's emotional and mental wellbeing.

  • Inquisitive personalities
  • Strong personalities
  • Like to be the centre of attention and do not like to be ignored

They are a 'people' cat. They love to be on your lap, on or in your bed, at your table and in your heart  

  • They regard themselves as people rather than as cats
  • Very territorial and are keen hunters
  • Like the Burmese, they love company and dislike being on their own

Feline companionship will help keep a lonely Siamese happy, but is not a ssubstitute for human interaction

  • Slender, svelte body

Muscular, tubular body which is supported by long legs and graced with a long neck and tail

Medium sized body with stong muscles and fine bone structure

  • Coat is short and fine with no undercoat. A very silky coat

Requires little grooming. Brushing or combing two times a week to remove loose hair is all that is needed. Their hair is hooked at the end unlike other female species

  • Lifespan is 15-17 years
  • Low maintenance
  • Mischievous

They are notorious for climbing curtains and wirescreens, scratching carpets and furniture and are generally quite destructive if left alone and are bored. Like Burmese,  a scratching pole needs to be provided and plenty of toys.

Siamese cats carry a gene(cb) which is heat sensitive. The depth of colour of the coat is partly determined by climate. The cooler the area, the darker the colour. This is why the Siamese Cat has dark extremities such as the face, tail and legs. The body, being the warmest part of the cat remains the lighter in colour. In cooler months, your Siamese cat will become darker in colour.

Siamese cats cary the Himalayan gene. This gene causes partial albinism.  It is interesting to note, that genetically a Seal Point is a black cat. But the Himalayan gene inhibits the full expression of the pigment.

Originally Siamese cats had a kink in their tail, and this was seen as a unique feature of the breed. In recent years, a kinked tail has been viewed as a flaw in the breed, and has been largely eradicated from Show Siamese.

In Summary

The Siamese is an extremely beautiful and elegant cat. With their sleek lines, striking colour contrasts, aristocratic head, deep blue almond eyes and short, silky coats, it is hard not to fall in love with them. If you are not willing to spend plenty of time with them, this is not the breed for you. They are demanding, vocal, playful, affectionate and extremely loyal.