by Dan Scott

Created on: February 02, 2010   Last Updated: February 03, 2010

“We are Siamese if your please… We are Siamese if you don’t please…”   Yes, the Siamese cat, famed in song, story and as the villains in Disney movies such as “Lady and the Tramp”.  

One of the oldest domestic breeds,  these cats were raised and kept in Thailand, formerly known as Siam.  They were not, however, common everyday cats there.  The Siamese was a cat reserved for the Buddhist Monks and for the royalty of Siam.  The Siamese were introduced to Europe after being given as gifts to visiting dignitaries by the royal families.

Because of their coloring, Siamese cats are one of the most recognized breeds around.  At birth, the Siamese kitten is all white, and the color points on ears, tail and legs, as well as the mask on the face, don’t start coming in until later.  It can actually take up to three years for the final color of the Siamese to develop.  The color points for the Siamese can be Seal Point, Chocolate Point, Blue Point and Lilac Point.  These are the four accepted colors for the cat to be called a Siamese.  There are other color point classifications.  These are Tabby Point, Tortie Point, Red Point, Cream Point and Cinnamon Point.  However, in the US, cats with these colors are classified under the Colorpoint Shorthair breed.  

The other distinguishing feature of the Siamese are the piercing blue almond shaped eyes.  The eyes can sometimes be crossed, which is considered a defect in the breed, and which breeders try to breed out of the line.

What are the personalities of these cats really like?  Are they the evil cat that they are sometimes made out to be?  Absolutely not!  That being said, there can be some drawbacks to the Siamese personality for a lot of people.  First and foremost for most people is how talkative and vocal the breed is.  They will let you know when they want something, whether attention, food or to have their litter box cleaned.  And it is not a quiet reminder.  They can be very loud as well as continuous with their meowing.  Also, while the Siamese can be a very affectionate cat, loving to be involved with their families, they also want a LOT of attention, so a home that is empty during the day is not good for them.

Other than that, they are an active, healthy cat with no real genetic health problems.  Their short coat is easy to maintain with just a weekly brushing or using rubber coated grooming gloves while petting your cat which they enjoy.  All in all, a good, if demanding family cat.

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