The Siamese is a very beautiful cat with an elegant appearance. The cat has an elongated slim body with tight lines. Besides the beautiful appearance of the cat, the cat also has a special character. The ego of the cat is very big so the Siamese is also one of the most extroverted cats there is. This makes this cat not suitable for everyone. Are you curious if the Siamese is suitable for you? Then read on!
The origin: one of the oldest breed cats in the world
When the origin of the Siamese is mentioned, there are more myths and legends than really hard facts. It is believed that the cat is descended from the sacred temple cats in Siam (Thailand). The real story of the ”royal cat of Siam” has unfortunately been lost over time. However, there is already a cat with almost the same appearance in ”The cat Book poems”. This is a manuscript from Siam from the 14th century. Although the exact origin is not entirely certain, it is known that it is a very old breed of cat.
The first Siamese that can be said to have existed were at a number of cat shows in London in the 1970s. In addition, the first Siamese cat arrived in the United States in 1878. This cat, called Siam, was a gift from the American Consul in Vietnam to the wife of the President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes. In 1884 a couple of Siamese cats were brought to England for breeding by the British Consul General from Bangkok as a gift for his sister. After this the Siamese has spread further around the world and is now one of the most registered breed cats in the world.
In the beginning, only Seal Points were found on both sides of the ocean. From the 1930s onward more and more colours were added. In addition to changes in colours, the appearance of the Siamese also changed over time. In the beginning a kink in the tail and crossed eyes were still quite normal in the Siamese. At a certain point this was bred out and is now also seen as a fault in show standards.
The character: intelligent, self-willed and curious
The Siamese cat is a cat with a very big ego. It is one of the most extroverted cats there is and also has a very loud voice. The cat likes to tell how his or her day has been by meowing against you with a loud meow. The Siamese cat is therefore known as a real ”talker”. The cat is also very intelligent and full of energy. The cat loves to play with its owner. It is a real human cat and the cat also loves to sit on his owner’s lap and in his bed.
This is an important point to take into account when you are planning to buy a Siamese. It is a cat that requires a lot of attention and also demands this attention when the cat lacks attention. So it is not a suitable cat if you regularly stay away from home for days at a time. If you want a lot of interaction and activity from your pet the Siamese is a very good choice.
Because a Siamese is so intelligent, it is often also possible to teach the cat certain tricks. You can teach that cat to fetch but most cats manage to open certain boxes and doors themselves. So it is wise to store the food for your cat and other delicacies in a safe place. If you don’t do this there is a good chance that your Siamese cat will find this stock and make his move.
All in all, the Siamese is a very loyal cat that gives a lot of love. The cat is active and can entertain itself for hours. Here the cat often has a number of favorite toys where the cat doesn’t get out of play. However, it is important to keep in mind that it is a real human cat. The cat is very fond of human contact and can’t live without it. If you give your cat a lot of attention and love you will get a lot in return.
Appearance: an elegant appearance
The Siamese is a very beautiful cat with an elegant body and a royal head. The cat is quite long and the body consists of elongated tight lines. The body is rather muscular and certainly not thick. The cat has a very good condition, speaking deep blue eyes and a short silky coat. A Siamese usually weighs between 2.5 and 5 kilograms where males are often a bit bigger and heavier than females.
The body of the Siamese is medium in size and quite elongated. The body looks quite elegant and has quite strong muscles. Furthermore, the body consists of tight lines where the shoulders and hips are in the same line as the rest of the tubular body. The hips are never wider than the shoulders. In addition, the Siamese has a tight belly and a long slender neck. The cat stands on long slender legs. The hind legs are a bit longer than the front legs so the cat stands a bit forward. The legs are nicely in proportion with the rest of the body and the cat stands firm on the ground. The legs are rather small and in the shape of an oval. The cat has five toes in front and four toes behind. Furthermore the cat has a very long and thin tail with a fine tip at the end.
The head of the Siamese in quite long and in the shape of a wedge. The head is medium in size and is nicely in proportion to the rest of the body. The wedge starts at the nose and continues to the tip of the ears, forming the shape of a triangle. The cat has very big pointed ears with a broad base. Next to that the cat has a long and straight nose which is a kind of extension of the forehead. The snout is quite fine and also in the shape of a wedge. The beautiful ears make this cat have a very special appearance. The eyes are deep lively blue and in the shape of an almond. Between the eyes there is at least an eye width and the eyes are nicely in line with the lines of the wedge and ears.
The coat: short with a fine texture
The coat of the Siamese is very short and has a fine texture. The coat is very shiny and is close to the body. The colour on the body is the same but a subtle shade is allowed. It should be noted that older cats often get darker colours. Siamese cats are known to get darker as they get older.
The coat of the Siamese comes in dots with a clear distinction between the colour of the body and the dots. The points are near the mask, ears, legs, feet and tail of the cat and all have the same shade. It should be noted that the mask sits all over the face at the front. Initially only seal points were allowed, but later other colours were added. At the moment the Siamese is allowed in the following colours.
- Seal point: Here the body is pale pale yellow to cream and warm in tone. There is a shadow present which gradually changes to a lighter colour at the belly and chest. The points are deep seal brown and present on the previously mentioned spots. The nose leather and the cushions near the paws are in the same colour as the tips.
- Chocolate point: Here the body is ivory coloured and there is no shadow present. The points are in the colour of milk chocolate and are present in the aforementioned areas. The nose leather cushions at the feet are cinnamon pink in colour.
- Blue point: Here the body is bluish-white in colour and cold in tone. Towards the belly and chest there is a shadow that slowly changes to white. The dots are deep blue in colour and present in the aforementioned areas. The nose leather and the cushion at the feet are in the same colour as slate.
- Lilac point: Here the body is icy white and there is no shadow present. The points are icy grey with a pink tone. The nose leather and the cushions at the feet are lavender pink.
For more information about the appearance and coat of the Siamese you can take a look at the breed standard of this cat.
Education: make sure that sufficient attention has been paid to socialisation.
As the owner, you don’t have much influence on a large part of your cat’s upbringing. In the first part of a kitten’s life there is a period of socialisation. In this period a kitten is prepared for the rest of his or her life. During this period a kitten learns to deal with strange noises, other animals and for example that it is not at all scary to be lifted by a human. Getting used to human touch is very important. By letting a kitten get used to it from an early age, you prevent a kitten from becoming shy of humans.
In addition, it is very important that a kitten grows up in the presence of the mother cat and his or her litter. This is a familiar environment for a kitten where he can get used to life in a quiet way. By separating a kitten directly from the mother cat and the rest of the litter you can create an anxiety disorder that the cat will carry with him or her for the rest of his or her life. When you get your kitten from a breeder, it is wise to take a good look at this and see if sufficient attention has been paid to the socialisation period. This is because breeders often give kittens when they are about 13 weeks old so almost the whole socialisation period takes place at the breeder.
When you get your cat in the house the upbringing doesn’t stop yet. It is important to teach your cat what the rules are in your house. You can do this by rewarding your cat for desired behaviour and by addressing your cat severely in case of unwanted behaviour. By doing this immediately after an action, your cat will recognise a positive or negative relationship and will behave well more often.
Grooming: give your cat space to move around
Taking care of the coat of a Siamese is quite easy. The coat of a Siamese is quite short and the Siamese has almost no undercoat. Brushing the coat once in a while to remove loose hair is more than enough. In the moulting period it may be wise to do this more often. It is not really necessary for the coat to bathe your Siamese regularly.
It is important to take good care of your Siamese nails. Cats naturally scratch quite a lot to remove the dirt under their nails. To prevent your Siamese from scratching your sofa or curtains, for example, it is wise to get a scratching post in your house. You can also prevent your cat’s nails from growing by cutting them a few times a year.
Siamese are generally very hygienic. If a Siamese gets dirty, the cat will generally clean it itself. However, it is important to keep the eyes and ears of the cat clean. Here sometimes some dirt will accumulate. If you don’t remove this in time it can eventually result in an infection.
In addition to external care, it is also very important that you get Siamese enough exercise. Cats – especially the Siamese – are naturally quite active so it is also important that they get enough space to get enough exercise. By playing sufficiently with your cat and bringing active toys into the house, you can be sure that your cat gets enough exercise. Sufficient exercise ensures a better condition which often leads to a better health of the cat.
Nutrition: ensure sufficient natural proteins and fats
In addition to good grooming, it’s also important that your cat is properly nourished. With the Siamese it is also very important to pay attention to the amount of food. Cats generally get overweight quite quickly, but with the Siamese this is even worse than the average cat. If you give a Siamese a little too much food it will soon get a belly. It is therefore very important, especially with the Siamese, to adjust the energy supply to the energy consumption of the cat. You can also give a cat that is very active more food than a cat that is less active.
As far as food itself is concerned, it is important that your cat receives sufficient natural proteins and fats. The natural foods of cats are mice and other small animals. Cats are therefore also real meat eaters. So there is no point in feeding your cat a diet of cereals and vegetables as the cat will hardly get any useful nutrients from them.
When choosing food, you can opt for wet food and dry food. By wet food we mean raw meat. This is good food for a cat as a cat gets almost all the nutrients it needs from meat. You can also choose dry food such as kibble. It is important to look carefully at the ingredients on the label. Make sure there is enough protein in the kibble and not too much carbohydrates. Cats have difficulty processing carbohydrates.
Common diseases
Just like people, cats can also be affected by diseases. There are a number of diseases and disorders that are generally common in cats but also a number of diseases and disorders that are specific to a certain breed. Siamese cats, for example, relatively often have to deal with a number of hereditary diseases. Some diseases that can occur in Siamese cats are:
- Amyloidosis (protein deposition) is quite common in the Siamese. In protein deposition, protein cannot be broken down and accumulates. This can lead to heart failure and liver failure.
- In addition to protein deposition, the Siamese also suffer from a number of eye diseases. These conditions can cause quite some discomfort and the cat can even go blind.
- Joint problems are relatively common in Siamese. Often the cause is hip dysplasia. Patellaluxation is another well-known example where the kneecaps come out of the bowl.
- The Siamese has a very narrow head. Because of this narrow head the Siamese has a predisposition for breathing problems.
- Mast cell tumor and lymphoma are also quite common in Siamese.
Most breeders check their parents for certain hereditary diseases and disorders. This way the chance that these diseases and disorders are passed on to the litter is as small as possible. Often a document that guarantees the absence of certain diseases is given with a kitten.
How old can the cat get?
A Siamese is usually between 15 and 20 years old. Exactly how old a Siamese becomes depends on how it is cared for and whether it has to deal with diseases in its life. Good care can increase life expectancy while getting sick can reduce life expectancy.
What you need to know before you take in a Siamese
The Siamese is by no means suitable for everyone. If you are looking for a quiet cat it is better to look further. A Siamese is far from calm and needs a lot of attention. Besides that you have to take into account that a Siamese doesn’t tolerate loneliness very well. For example, if you are away from home for work, the Siamese might not be the best cat for you.
When the Siamese is a cat that suits you well it is important to find a good breeder. By getting your cat from a good breeder you know that the cat is in good condition and that the cat is well taken care of. A good breeder is often easy to find through a breed club.
When you get your Siamese from a breeder, it is wise to check that there are no strange spots on the body, that the cat is clean and that it doesn’t sneeze or cough. It is also wise to check if your kitten is not shy and if sufficient attention has been paid to socialisation.
Cats must also be dewormed, have the basic inoculations and, if necessary, be chipped. Check if this is the case with your kitten or if you still have to do this yourself.
What price do you have to think of?
The price of a Siamese is between $700 and $1000. Besides the purchase of the cat itself you also have to take other costs into account. There are recurring costs such as feeding for example vet costs. These costs easily amount to a few hundred euros per year. You will also have to buy a litter box, climbing pole and basket, which also involves costs. So think carefully beforehand whether you are financially stable enough to be able to have a Siamese in the house.
Share your experiences with the Siamese
Do you also have a Siamese in the house and a nice story to tell about your cat? Or do you have any tips for grooming? We are very curious. Let us know by leaving a comment on this article!
