Siamese
Siamese History
- Reigns as one of the oldest domesticated cat breeds, dating back to 14th Century Siam (now Thailand).
- Once cherished as members of the Siam royal family and high-ranking priests.
- Bestowed as gifts to visiting dignitaries from Europe by Siam royalty in the 1800s.
- First known Siamese in the United States belonged to First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes, wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes in the late 1800s.
- The Siamese was used in cross-breeding to create newer breeds, including the Balinese, Burmese, Himalayan, Ocicat and Tonkinese.
Siamese Behavior Concerns
- Extremely active yet affectionate.
- Very loving, loyal and engaging with their favorite people and pets in the household.
- Big talkers, Siamese are capable of producing a variety of sounds, including one that resembles a human baby's cry.
- Favor being paired with another cat, especially another Siamese in the family.
- Determined climbers, they need suitable, sturdy cat trees and shelves to prevent them from climbing drapes or window blinds.
- Can exhibit anxiety from being left home alone by over grooming, possibly leading to psychogenic alopecia.
- Young Siamese are prone to wool sucking and PICA (eating non-food items).
Look of Siameses
- With exotic Asian looks, the Siamese sports a long, lean, lithe and tubular body with a triangle-shaped head, oversized ears and oval-shaped blue eyes.
- Ears, face, tail and feet are darker than the body.
- Four main types of Siamese are seal point, chocolate, blue and lilac.
- Kinked tails and crossed eyes were more common in earlier generations of Siamese, but careful breeding has reduced the incidents of these physical traits.
- One of the inaugural breeds accepted by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1906.
Grooming Siamese Cats
- The Siamese coat becomes progressively darker with age.
- Its short, silky coat requires minimal maintenance and yields little shedding.
- Running a quick comb once a week is ample to remove dead hair in the coat.
- Fastidious cleaners, the Siamese rarely needs to be bathed.
Suggested Nutritional Needs for Siamese
Please consult with your veterinarian about the type of dieta nd amount to feed your cat during their different life stages. Different breeds may have a greater risk of obesity based upon their diet, metabloism, activity and age. Thus, your veterinarian is your best source for information on this topic.
Fun Facts of Siameses
- Siamese have been part of the White House pet family during three presidencies: Rutherford B. Hayes, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.
- Starred in the 1965 Disney classic, That Darn Cat with Dean Jones.
- Regarded as a natural breed because no other cat is needed to create its specific Asian appearance.
