Siamese Cat

• Size: Small-medium, 6 to 14 lbs
• Energy Level: 4/5
• Talkative: 5/5
• Coat: Short, fairly smooth and silky
• Hypoallergenic: No
• Seeking: Experienced humans with lots of patience and attention to give
• Child Friendly: Yes
• Personality Snapshot: Extroverted people cat, very vocal and playful, often noisy, can be demanding

My Looks

I am hands down one of the most recognized cat breeds in existence. Which is not surprising considering I have distinctly striking features, from my triangular face to the tip of my dark tail.

But my most noticeable feature? It’s got to be my beautifully pointed patterned coat. And not only are the dark points that accentuate my face, ears, legs, and tail aesthetically pleasing, they are magical.

Okay, maybe not magical, but did you know that my pointed pattern is a form of partial albinism, which results from the mutation of an enzyme involved in melanin production

In English, that simply means I have a mutated enzyme that is heat-sensitive and only becomes active in the cooler areas of my skin, mainly my face and extremities.

Thus the reason for the beautifully distinctive points that provide the striking contrast of coat colors I am famous for.

The thing about this unique coat, though, is that it’s not a foolproof way to identify me.

That’s ’cause I’ve generously donated my stunning coloration to the worthy cause of proliferating new cat breeds with my very special pointed pattern.

The Himalayan and Burmese are a few cat breeds that have benefited from my generosity.

So you’ll have to rely on other physical features of mine to determine if I’m a bona fide Siamese or just a cat that’s got my markings.

An easy way to do this is to take a glance at my face. A true Siamese possesses a triangular head with a pointed, angular jawline, slim cheeks, and a well-defined nose bridge.

We also lay claim to one of the most striking set of eyes in the world of cat fancy. Besides being shaped like large almonds, they’re a mesmerizing shade of blue that varies from a unique light baby blue color to a deep sapphire glow.

We’re very refined-looking, if I do say so myself, and despite our similar coats, a world apart from the chubby Himalayan.

Speaking of that plump cat, one easy way to distinguish me – a true Siamese – from a Himalayan is by our overall build and the length of our coats.

My sleek coat is short and silky and as for my build, I am nowhere near chunky. In fact, my willowy yet muscular body is shaped kind of like a tube – long and elegant – with an athletic yet strikingly graceful allure.

And if you’re still unsure – a final, dead giveaway is my ears.

My breed is endowed with very generously proportioned ears. I’ve even got some relatives with ears as big as their faces!

My Personality

I am a straight up extrovert. I just love to be out and about mingling with my humans, strange humans, little humans, and any other being willing to lend me attention and a ready ear.

That’s ’cause I’ve got a whole lot to say. You see, I’m very opinionated. And who wouldn’t be when they’ve got thoughts like mine

Yes, all sorts of interesting things happen in my head and I am not the least bit shy about voicing my opinions on any think I have.

Oh, and when I speak – you will listen. I do not care if you think you’re in the middle of an important phone call or deep in discussion with another human.

I’m not subtle, either. While other cats might try to express themselves in feebly soft meows and purrs, I prefer to communicate in a booming tone similar to the cries of a human baby.

This low-pitched, yet loud voice of mine is so distinctive that it even has a name – “Meezer,” which coincidentally is also one of my many nicknames ’cause I use it so often and so effectively.

So when I come a crying, don’t try to ignore me. You won’t be able to anyhow. Especially since I am damn persistent and won’t let up ’til I get the attention/acknowledgment/conversation/treats/rubs-and-scratches/anything-else-I-want.

In case you haven’t caught on by now – yes, I am demanding. I need lots and lots of attention from my humans and I will not hesitate to show my displeasure if and when you’re not spending enough time with me. My disapproval will manifest in various symptoms from raucous caterwauling to temper tantrums where I’ll protest using body language like flicking my tail angrily and repeatedly shaking my head. That means tsk tsk on you for ignoring me.

Okay, before I scare you off, I should mention that despite my high attention needs – I make up for it. You see, I’m really very fun to be around. For starters, I’m a super sociable cat who loves being around people – even little humans – and my active and playful nature carries on well into adulthood, which is why I’m considered more dog-like than other felines.

I’m also ridiculously affectionate with my humans. Often, I’ll choose one special human to bond with and that lucky person can expect a lot of tender lovin’ care from me, including naps taken on your lap, frequent conversation, and constant attention in anything you do, be it cooking or walking down the hallway. Anything you do is fascinating for me.

Oh, I even come with special perks like high intelligence. Mm hmm. That means I can easily master tricks as long as you’re consistent in teaching them. Actually, you’ll have to be both consistent and patient since training me isn’t going to be a walk in the proverbial park. I tend to get distracted easily. But if you do succeed, we’ll have a lot of fun together since I can be taught to walk on a leash and even fetch things like slippers and keys.

My Ideal Human

I’m not one of those cats that’s compatible with everyone. I have needs, after all and my ideal human has to be one who is ready and willing to provide the attention I crave. Oh, and it helps if you have a thing for felines that are noisy, persistent and admittedly a little clingy.

As long as you have those qualities, I do not care what you look like or how old you are. Even kids are okay. In fact, I’m a very child-friendly feline and I’ll be up to play with them, like all the time, and I won’t even retaliate when I get played with a bit to roughly or picked up more often than I’d like.

Whoever you are or where you come from, if you’re up for the challenge of living with me – we’re going to have a great time. I hear I am worth all the effort – aside from being super loving and affectionate, my antics are sure to put a smile on your face each and every day you spend with me.

My Roots

My name gives away the place my breed comes from, doesn’t it? Hint: Thailand used to be called “Siam” back in the day. Back there, I was considered a royal cat cared for by monks and priests. Needless to say, I’d already gathered quite a following even in the 14th century, thanks to my elegant charm and unique beauty.

You can even see me featured in the ancient Cat Book of Poems, which was penned sometime between 1350 and 1767. Apart from highlighting the breeds of felines that were endemic in Thailand and its neighboring regions like the Korat, this primeval tome also shares a few stories about how my breed came to be.

One thing I found particularly interesting in the Cat Book of Poems is the numerous myths about my family tree.

My favorite is the one about the souls of Thai royal family members never really leaving the realm of the living because they simply transferred to the bodies of my ancestors when they passed on.

Now while avid fanciers the globe across all agree that my breed hails from Thailand, they can’t seem to make up their minds about how we arrived in Europe and North America. One version is that my breed first arrived in the Western world during the pioneering cat show held at the Crystal Palace in London in 1871.

However, my forebears weren’t received well by most of the attendees during the show and were even described as “an unnatural, nightmare kind of cat.” Unbelievable, huh

But some of the more sensible fanciers present liked our odd, pointed looks and began integrating us into their breeding programs.

Another version is that the very first Siamese feline arrived in the United States in 1878 as a gift to the First Lady Lucy Webb-Hayes, wife of the 19th U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes, by David Stickles, an American consul based in Bangkok, Thailand. There are no other details about this cat save for the fact that it made its home in the White House while Hayes took the seat of power.

However we got to the Western world – one thing’s undeniable. The popularity of my breed began skyrocketing after World War II and even inspired the creation of two very distinct types of Siamese cats, namely Traditional or Appleface and the Extreme, which both have garnered a loyal following over the years.

Now while both types of felines virtually sport the same physical attributes, most cat registries, particularly the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), favor the Extreme over its Traditional or Appleface counterpart. Just FYI. Oh, and aside from the CFA, the Siamese is also officially accepted by The International Cat Association (TICA).

How to Keep Me Healthy and Happy

As high-maintenance as I can be, taking care of me is a breeze. All I need is a careful weekly brushing and grooming and that’s pretty much it. I also don’t have any special diet requirements like other pedigreed felines.

One thing to keep in mind though if you’re looking to have me as a pet is regularly taking me to the veterinarian, at least every 5 months or so. Although I am a very hardy cat, I am still prone to Endocardio Fibroelastosis, a type of heart disease that can become quite serious if not given proper attention during its early stages.

Fun Facts

• I go by many names. According to some ancient texts, Siamese cats are traditionally called wichienmaat? in Thailand.

• Want to know my favorite book? Well, it’s got to be the Cat Who book series, where a fictional Siamese cat named Koko? made his mark as one of the most popular figures in the mystery genre of literature.