1001Cats.com

Siamese.

1001Cats.com

Fidy Says
26th November 2007

Siamese.

posted in Cat Breeds. |

Siamese is one of the first distinctly recognised breeds of Oriental cat. The exact origins of the breed are unknown, but it is believed to be from Southeast Asia, and is said to be descended from the sacred temple cats of Siam (now Thailand). In Thailand, where they are one of several native breeds, they are called Wichien-maat (a name meaning “Moon diamond”). In the twentieth century the cats became one of the most popular breeds in Europe and North America.

siamesecat.jpg

All Siamese have a creamy base coat with coloured points on their snouts, ears, paws and lower legs, tails and (in males) scrota. All Siamese kittens, although pure cream or white at birth, develop visible points in the first few months of life. By the time a kitten is four weeks old the points should be clearly distinguishable enough to recognise which colour they are. Siamese cats tend to darken with age, and generally adult Siamese living in warm climates have lighter coats than those in cool climates.

Originally the vast majority of Siamese had seal (extremely dark brown, almost black) points, but occasionally Siamese were born with blue (a cool grey) points, genetically a dilution of seal point; chocolate (lighter brown) points, a genetic variation of seal point; or lilac (pale warm gray) points, genetically a diluted chocolate. Later, outcrosses with other breeds developed Siamese-mix cats with points in other cat colours and patterns including red point, lynx (tabby) point, and tortoise-shell (”tortie”) point.

Siamese have almond-shaped, bright blue eyes and short, flat-lying coats. Many Siamese cats from Thailand had a kink in their tails but over the years this trait has been considered to be a flaw and breeders have largely eradicated it, although it persists among street cats in Thailand. Many early Siamese were cross-eyed to compensate for the abnormal uncrossed wiring of the optic chiasm, which is produced by the same albino allele that produces coloured points. Like the kinked tails, the crossed eyes have been seen as a fault and through selective breeding, the trait is far less common today.

Siamese are affectionate and intelligent cats, renowned for their social nature. They enjoy being with people and are sometimes described as “extroverts”. They are extremely vocal, with a loud, low-pitched voice – known as “Meezer”, from which they get one of their nicknames. They also have a great need for human companionship. Often they bond strongly to a single person. These cats are typically active and playful, even as adults.

There are currently 8 responses to “Siamese.”

Why not let us know what you think by adding your own comment! Your opinion is as valid as anyone elses, so come on... let us know what you think.

  1. 1 On July 7th, 2008, peyton said:

    that siamese cat looks just like my kitty Otis!!

  2. 2 On November 29th, 2008, Marissa said:

    That Siamese is so beautiful! I have a Siamese also. We love him very much.

  3. 3 On December 25th, 2008, lfox said:

    i bought a kitten as a siamese x persian and he has grown up to look almost the same as this siamese….
    they are a wonderful breed and heaps of fun.

  4. 4 On January 2nd, 2009, kristy said:

    very accurate.i have a siamese kitten who is VERY attached to me. when ever im not grooming him or playing with him he will carry stuff animals in his mouth while doing the meezer meow and follow me around the house. he is very affectionate but also very jelouse if i play with other kitties. such loving cats to have! but they can get a little stalkerish and never leave you alone. i cant even take a shower without him trying to get in.

  5. 5 On January 19th, 2009, megan said:

    that siamese cat is so beautiful and you got it at the right angle it brought it out at its beauty

  6. 6 On March 22nd, 2009, Chloe said:

    I have a siamese cat just like the one “kristy” said! He’s a male but doesn’t really act like it! He’s always chasing me around the house and won’t let me study! He even wakes me up in the morning by licking my face! Haha I really love him though such a loving and lovable cat,just like all siamese!

  7. 7 On July 31st, 2009, becky said:

    I have a siamese cat too, he looks kinda like that cat except he’s a bit skinnier then that. Anyways I love siamese cats, ok I GTG buh-bye!!

  8. 8 On September 16th, 2009, Carol said:

    That looks just like my cat, Jenny, who died a few weeks ago at the age of 19. She always slept with me and wanted to be wherever I was. The keyboard was off limits. So, she settled for my lap. When I was engrossed in paperwork, so was she. I miss her. I will definitely get another Siamese.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.