Siamese cats have sleek, distinctive appearances and manners. These pretty coated cats share mysteriously good looks of varying colors, and equally mysterious psychology and history. You may be reading this to find out more about the Siamese, or to learn how to relate with one.
It is prudent for you to understand that these cats are great at many things that generally phase out other cats. They have uniquely strong interactions with humans and have made great companions for several centuries. The cats’ traits make them a favorite object of study. What do you know about Siamese cats? We have a couple of facts that will fascinate your curiosity jitters.
Siamese characteristics on a five-star basis
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
| Adaptability | ***** | Smart enough to adapt fast |
| Affection level | ***** | Gentle and affectionate |
| Health status | *** | Vulnerable to genetically disposed of illnesses |
| Intelligence | ***** | Extreme intelligence |
| Child friendliness | *** | Friendly but require a lot of attention |
| Shedding level | ** | High during spring and autumn |
They have unique physical attributes
Coats
Siamese cats are famous for their ballerina-like bodies. They are lithe, with piercing blue eyes, big ears and a coating that has four color variations:
- Lilac
- Blue
- Seal
- Chocolate
A big part of their fur coating has a light shade. They have dark marks around the ears, tail, feet, and face.
The color of the coats does not have anything to do with the genotype of the cat. The colors are a derivative of a combination of native and modified genes. The modifier genes prevent the formation of color in the coat’s fur. This condition is what results in albinism for most other animals.
Siamese cats have a different setup with these genes. The albinism will develop when the fur is above a certain temperature degree, of between one hundred and one hundred and two degrees. The color reverts when the cat is in a cooler environment. You can confirm the theory by noting that the cat’s cor will remain the same around the tail, ears, nose, and paws. This case is because these parts have the coldest temperatures.
A more significant percentage of Siamese cats are born with a white fur coating. They develop the markings in the subsequent weeks following birth. This lack of color at birth is the result of the extreme warmth of the womb. The first places to develop color are around the paws, tail, and face.
Peculiar eyes and tails
Siamese cats were known for their cross-eyes and kinky, crooked tails. Observers explain that these features were mostly the result of genetic factors. One myth tries to explain the phenomena with a narration.
The story states that a group of cats was tasked with the duty of guarding a royal, golden goblet. The cats stared at the goblet with an intensity that resulted in the formation of cross-eyes. It also explains that the cats twisted their tails around the goblet, resulting in it gaining a permanent bent.
Siamese cats have evolved not to have as many cases of cross-eyes and crooked tails as before. This evolution has worked in favor of cat lovers – most people do not appreciate the crossed cat eyes and twisted tails. Legend has it that people eliminated the cats by selective breeding methods.
Round faces and stocky bodies
The Siamese has had a face that is more round than triangular since the dawn of their existence. Cat lovers of the 20th century, however, had a more exaggerated silhouette. They interbred the cat with other variations to result in a leaner and fine-boned feline.
You will see the older version of cats among breeders who still prefer the traditional Siamese. International Cat Association accepts the cat breed Thai, which had a stocky body frame and soft cheekbones.
They have a mysterious origin
No one has certainty on when people began breeding and domesticating Siamese cats. The common belief is that the cats began their domestic life in the century.
The discovery of Siamese cats’ origins happened in the middle of the 19th century. The first historical records of Siamese cats are in Thailand and dates back to the 14th century. The original name of Thailand was Siam. One cat club in Chicago has a list of cats with origins from Siam. This data makes the cats the oldest breed among all other cats.
Some people believe that these cats were grown and raised by Buddhist monks. Others dispute the theory by revealing that an old Buddhist manuscript, Tamra Maew, depicted cats with a dark fur coloring around the mouth. The baseline of all these theories remains to be that the cats are ancient and will maintain a demeanor of mystery about their history for a long time.
Others attribute the spread of Siamese cats to the opera singer Blanche Arral. They state that he received them as gifts while on tour in Siam.
They have a lineage of royalty
Siamese cats continued with their royal status when they began to take significant residence in the White House. The first cat in America was a gift to the wife of Rutherford B., the First Lady Lucy Hayes in 1879.
Some people trace the connection between Siamese cats with the White House to a traveling naval officer. They explain that he picked two cats from Southeast Asia and dropped them at his first stop when he got back to America – the White House.
Another story goes further to explain that the United States Consul David Stickles stated that he acknowledges the honor of forwarding the cats to the White House. He told that his gifts were the first of their kind to be shipped across the water from Thailand.
The first cat fell ill and passed away one year after getting to the White House. The president’s steward requested to preserve the bodies. The tale of preservation is, however, a topic of controversy because no one is yet to find the remains of the stuffed cats.
They later populated the shores of the nation and quickly became one of the most rampant and most loved cats in the country. Studies by Cat Fanciers’ Association show that the cats are currently number twelve in the popularity ranks.
They are animal celebrities
Cat show appearances
Some sources state that Siamese cats made an appearance at the first cat show in the world. The event took place in July of 1871, in London’s Crystal Palace. This event was special because most people had not seen Siamese cats.
A magazine by Harper’s Weekly described the cats as soft and fawn. The article went ahead to romanticize the looks by describing them as an enchanting combination that would make for a smooth and deceitful nightmare. The writer highlighted the cat’s soft fur, tipped ears and pupils that could be red, black, or blue.
Some historians dispute these claims by Harper’s Weekly, adding that the cats did not have black tips on paws and the tail. The collective agreement is that the kittens of the cats that were brought over to the White House were part of the cat show in 1895.
They are beloved on TV
The 1965 Siamese cat was a huge help to Potti, who was a star in the TV show That Darn Cat! The real cat was an orphan who began his stay at an animal shelter at age two. The dissociative personality earned him a name as a snob among prospective owners. An animal trainer recognizes his offbeat intellectual and applied for his adoption at a $5 fee.
The once former rejected cat grew to win the PASTY award, which is an honorable recognition for animals in Hollywood. The cat won the prize after evaluation of the performance in the TV Show by the American Humane Association.
Other famous Siamese cats graced the following shows:
- The Incredible Show of 1963
- Lady and the Tramp of 1955
- Book and Candle of 1958
Siamese cats live the same way they do as celebrity cats. Their elegance and beauty generally them a favorite picking for celebrities. Previous Siamese cats were ordinary in grand pagodas in Japan. Modern celebrities who own Siamese cats include:
- RnB singer Kesha
- English musician Syd Barret
- American artist Andy Warhol
- Italian actress Monica Vitti
- Film actor
- Vivian Leigh
- American icon Marilyn Monroe
- American actor James Dean
- American comedian Ellen DeGeneres
- English singer John Lennon
They have won the award of the world’s fattest cat
The Guinness World Book of Records keeps a tab of all the world’s most obese animals. The limelight in these animals is not well known because the recognition platform does not prefer to encourage society to breed unhealthiness.
The Siamese that earned this title was a five-year-old kitten from Asbest in Russia and weighed exceedingly more than the seven-year-old German cat that had social media in a frenzy. The cause of the excess weight was the hormones, which were a prescription to prevent mating. They instead increased the cat’s appetite and consequentially increased the weight by approximately fifty pounds.
This number was a significant variation from the typical eleven to fifteen pounds of a male Siamese, and eight to twelve pounds of a female one. The weight of the most massive cat was slightly more than the weight of a healthy six-year-old human.
They have a human-like intelligence
These cats have an unmistakable loyalty and grasp of affection. It may be the ingrained data in their genetics to provide dependability because they have had a long-standing relationship with dynasties across the world. A Siamese owner will notice that the cat develops emotions fast and creates a fast rapport with new members of the family. It is not uncommon for these cats to follow their favorite person around the house or the outdoors.
This cat has the regard as one of the most intelligent cats of all domestic cats. They have a wide range of vocals and can cry in many different tones. They also use this tone to call a potential mate with a penetrating scream.
Siamese cats are flexible in learning new tricks, such as:
- High fives
- Walking with a leash
- Fetching games
- Using and flushing the toilet
- Teasing games
- Puzzles
- Cat mazes
- Opening items such as doors and cupboards
They can live long
A healthy Siamese can live for fifteen to twenty years. Many Siamese cats have also lived passed this age. This setup means that these cats are the best companions for the long haul. One Siamese cat lived for three decades and earned a name as the oldest living cat known by Guinness Book of World Records.
The most common causes of these cat’s deaths are illnesses. Siamese cats are prone to have:
- Asthma
- Intestinal tumors
- Niemann-pick
- Gangliosidosis
Their head shape predisposes them to respiratory diseases and dental abnormities.
They have helped in an espionage discovery
Two Siamese cats began clawing at a wall in the house of the unsuspecting Dutch ambassador, Henri Helb. A follow up of their behavior revealed that they heard minute noises from microphones in the wall. The cats helped the Dutch solve the espionage case without causing friction with the Russian government.
One Siamese delivered 19 kittens
A 1970 Siamese cat in the UK gave birth to 19 kittens, inclusive of four as stillborn. This was an unusual occurrence because a typical Siamese will typically have five to four kittens.
They have poor eyesight at night
Siamese cats differ from other breeds of cats because they cannot distinguish small objects at night. The pigment that gives them blue eyes is the same one that causes terrible night vision. Additionally, they also lack tapetum lucidum, which reflects light through the eye.
How can you care for a Siamese cat?
These cats require the same or more amount of care and grooming than other cats. They require regular grooming and a standardized feeding program. How can you ensure that your cat receives ultimate care that is specific to the Siamese breed?
Jess Carter has an in-depth guide on the topic. The book contains generic content about all cats, but also has particular information on Siamese cats. It is excellent for a newbie owner who does not understand the distinctive patterns of Siamese cats.
Complete Guide to Siamese Cats is a 2018 release, which has more researched content than the older books. It is a wealth of knowledge that sells at an affordable price of $7.99. You deserve a little break in understanding how to care for your cat, with pre-established and tested systems. Take advantage of Kindle’s unlimited membership and educate yourself at a throw-away price.
