Siamese Cat - Complete Breed Info Pictures and Video

Probably one of the most popular and the most intelligent cat, Siamese, or Meezers as they are lovingly called, are a delight to have. They can be aptly counted as one the family members as they make their presence very known. They also tend to get attached to their owners very quickly and are suitable for children older than 6 or adults including senior citizens.

Origin of Siamese Cat

Like most cat breeds, the origin of this cat is also not known for sure. However, it can be traced back to as early as 1350 in Saim which is today Thailand. “The Cat-book Poem” written at that time confirms the presence of this breed in Siam’s capital, Ayudha. It is most probably the oldest manuscript written on cats and is preserved in Bangkok’s National Library. The illustrations are very exacting and similar to Siamese cats.

This cat is said to have possessed special powers in olden times and thus, only noblemen could keep it. They were revered to so much that they were kept in temples so their breed remains pure. Because of the extreme care taken and possessiveness, the cat didn’t make a world-wide debut until 1871 when it was shown at a cat show in London.

The Siamese apparently had 2 faults: a kink in the tail and crossed eyes. Both of these have been more or less removed by selective breeding and are hardly found in the Siamese today.

Appearance of Siamese Cat

The Siamese can be found in seal, chocolate, blue and lilac colors. There are also other colors in which this cat comes but those are not recognized by CFA. The pattern that they have is called colorpoint (or point restricted). Ears, face mask, feet and tail are those points where the color is darker as they are further away from the heart. These points must all have the same color. Normally, the color of the cat darkens with age.

Siamese is an exclusively blue-eyed cat with short hair. They are an extremely graceful breed and have long, muscular bodies. The Extreme Siamese have a medium-sized head with big, pointed ears and medium-sized eyes slanting towards the nose. They have a long tail that tapers to a point. Normally the Extreme Siamese males weigh around 9 lbs while the females are lighter with being up to around 7 lbs. The traditional Siamese are heavier with the males being up to 15 lbs and the females 12 lbs.

The Traditional Siamese (also called Old Style or Applehead) not only heavier but also rounder. They differ from the Extreme in the way that they have fuller bodies but have the same grace. Their ears are medium-sized and have rounded tops placed as much to the side of the head as the top.

Outcrosses are allowed neither in Traditional nor in Extreme Siamese. The Traditional are recognised by only UFO, CFF and TCA.

Personality/Behavior of Siamese Cat

Siamese is a highly intelligent breed of cats. It is very lively and active. It makes a deep bond with its owner and feels almost human-like. It is very possessive of its owner and demands attention. It has a very playful and social nature. They can also perform acrobats and usually teach their owners how to play fetch. They are adorable little being who love being pampered. They also love to talk to their owners and expect them to talk in return. However, the Traditional Siamese are known to talk less comparatively.

Siamese cats always want a companion otherwise they will get bored and depressed. Only people who can fully devote to the cat must buy it because this breed does not like being sidelined even for a little while. Normally, a Siamese can live for up to 14 years but it is also known to live for as long as 20 years.

The Siamese have the probability to get some diseases because of genetic problems. Liver disease is one of the common causes of death in older cats. The enlargement of heart is also one of the diseases that may afflict a Siamese but they have a lesser probability of getting it than most breeds. They also may be at a higher risk of acquiring malignant mammary tumors. However, getting your cat spayed before the age of 2 years reduces the risk to a great extent. They may also get dental diseases like tartar formation and gingivitis.

Picture Gallery of Siamese Cat and Kittens