Siamese Cats 101

One of the most well-known cat breeds, the Siamese is a naturally occurring breed that originated in Thailand, which was Siam when the cats were first discovered. Siamese cats have triangular skulls with almond shaped eyes, and very large, thin ears and they come in two varieties: modern and traditional. The modern Siamese is lanky and long in every part of its body, with well-developed musculature beneath its very short fur. The Thai, or traditional, Siamese are much less lanky, with an apple shaped head, and rounded limbs and torso.

Both types of Siamese are distinguished by their distinctive color-point pattern -- the coloration on their face and ears, hands and feet, and tail. Otherwise, they are a very light cream color. This is actually a form of albinism that is only activated by the warmest areas of the body. Thus, the coldest areas get the most color. Kittens are born virtually all white, then slowly develop the coloration as they get older. In the United States, a cat like this is only Siamese if it is one of four colors: seal (brown), blue (greyish), chocolate (light brown), or lilac (light grey). If they are any other color, they are known as colorpoint shorthairs. In Britain, there is no distinction; all cats of this type, no matter the color of the points, are Siamese.

Personality-wise, Siamese cats are known for two things: thinking and talking. They are considered by many to be the most intelligent breed of cat. They are also one of the loudest breeds. With their low, raspy voices, they demand attention. They also tend to bond to a single person, and do not do well as outside cats.

Kris Young, of Buttercup Cattery, talks about what it's like to own and care for a Siamese cat.

"Siamese cats are, in my opinion, one of the most striking of cat breeds. The contrast of the points and body make them simply beautiful. They are very talkative and can be demanding of attention. They do well when left on their own for long periods of time. They are very tolerant of children and other family pets. They usually extract themselves from a situation when they have reached their limit. They are extremely long living cats, usually living into their late teens, if given the proper care. Siamese cats, as with any breed, do tend to suffer from the similar maladies in their geriatric years, such as renal failure, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism. These are not congenital conditions, merely signs of aging and can most times be treated with medication."

If you are interested in adopting a Siamese, it is best to do plenty of research (as always). Talk to owners, and go to a reputable adoption organization, such as Kris's cattery, or Purebred Cat Breed Rescue.

Tags: balinese, burmese, cat, Cat Breed 101, CatBreed101, cats, Cats 101, Cats101, Choosing a Cat Breed, ChoosingACatBreed, javanese, Pet Adoption, PetAdoption, seal point, seal-point, SealPoint, siam, siamese cat, siamese cats, siamese kitty, SiameseCat, SiameseCats, SiameseKitty, skinny cat, SkinnyCat