Siamese cats have been in existence for hundreds of years,making them one of the oldest established breeds of cat. It is thought that they originate from Siam, or Thailand as it’s known today.
It’s believed that they may well be descendants of the King of Siam’s palace cats. Originally only royalty were allowed to keep Siamese cats, and they were believed to bring good fortune to their owners.
In the late 1800′s the first of these breed of cats were brought to Britain, and since then they have become one of the most popular and admired breed of cats.
There are several varieties of Siamese cat. The first is the traditional or Applehead. They have a round head, with round eyes and proportionate rounded ears. Other breeds of Siamese have almond shaped eyes and a more triangular shaped head. They are normal sized cats with stockier athletic bodies. It is thought that this particular breed has the original characteristics of the earlier Siamese imported from Siam.
The second variety is known as the Wedgehead Siamese. The head is triangular in shape with large pointed ears. The eyes are slanted with an almond shape. The body shape of the Wedgehead is thinner and more graceful looking than the Applehead, with a whip like tail. This modern version of the Siamese has been refined by breeders and is typically the kind you will see competing in cat shows.
In the past, Siamese cats had unusual traits, such as, kinked tails and crossed eyes. While these tendencies can still be found in the Siamese, they are considered flaws and through breeders using discriminating breeding practices, occur much less frequently. All Siamese cats are shorthaired and have vivid blue eyes, except for albinos.
Siamese cats are recognised for their point colour pattern. The body coat is lighter in colour, while the points are darker. The points are found on the face, paws, ears, lower legs and tail. Siamese kittens are born completely white, and the points gradually appear over the first year of their lives until when they are usually fully developed. There are four basic colour points.
The first is the more widely known Seal Point. The body is fawn in colour with dark brown points. The second is the Chocolate Point, and as the name suggests the points are a chocolate brown colour. The main body colour is off white. The Blue Point has a white body with a bluish tint. The points are a deep bluish-grey. Lastly is the Lilac Point. This breed is much scarcer and has a white body with pinky-grey points. There are many variations on these body colours and points.
Siamese cats are regarded as highly intelligent, with a curious nature. It’s not unknown for them to learn how to open cupboards and try to help themselves to food! They are very sociable and make loyal and loving pets. They can be very vocal with loud crying sounds not unlike a human baby in some cases. If left alone they can get very lonely and depend a great deal on their owners for company. Be prepared to give your Siamese lots of attention. A good idea may be to get 2 cats so that they are company for each other. This is ideal if you are away from your home for part of the day.
Siamese cats are short haired and don’t require a lot of grooming. However you should give them an occasional brush. It’s generally a healthy breed of cat, although there are some genetic disorders that may occur. Make sure you keep your cat’s inoculations up to date and get them spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Provided you live in a safe area and have a garden, there is no reason why you shouldn’t let your cat outside. The downside though is theft or risk of injury, however I feel it’s cruel not to let your cat roam outside as they love to explore and hunt. Just keep any eye on your cat, and only let it outside when you are at home. You could also consider getting your Siamese cat microchipped just in case it goes missing.
Siamese cats are tolerant of small children and love to play. They are also perfect company for elderly people and so make a great family pet.