Siamese cat breed: the slender beauty from the East whose fur is determined by temperature

Even those who are not very up to date with cat breeds will easily recognise this breed. The unique-looking Siamese cat has been attracting people's attention for a very long time.

The Siamese is best known for its elegant, distinctive appearance. But there is much more to this cat than its mysteriously beautiful appearance. For example, this is one of the oldest domesticated cat breeds in the world, and its coat colour is determined by genetics and ambient temperature genetics.

History

The Siamese is one of the oldest cat breeds and has a long and colourful history of origin. It most likely originated in Thailand, formerly known as Siam, hence the name of the breed. Around the 14th-16th century, Thai manuscripts already mentioned it. Hundreds of years ago, Siamese cats were highly prized by Thai royalty for their distinctive, unusual and beautiful appearance. In fact, members of these families believed that the soul of the dead king would be transferred to a Siamese cat – and that the cat would spend the rest of its long life in a temple, where it would be pampered by monks and priests.

According to a legend about the Siamese, the holy Siamese were church cats who were entrusted with the guardian of a precious vase. The cats would wrap their tails around the vase (hence the curved tail) and stare at it with such force that their eyes would cross. (In the past, Siamese cats often had crossed-eyes and curved tails.)

Another story is about Siamese cats appointed to guard the princesses’ rings. The kittens kept the rings on their tails, and it was the holding of the rings that gave them their curved tails.

The species was first recorded (drawn) by a German naturalist when he visited Central Asia in 1794. Siamese cats appeared in North America in the 19th century. One of the earliest known owners of a representative of the breed was Lucy, wife of US President Rutherford B. Hayes. The cat was a gift to the first lady from a US diplomat serving in Thailand. Not only in the USA, but also in Europe, Siamese has gained huge popularity, although its history had a somewhat bumpy start.

The first British cat show was held at the Crystal Palace in London in 1871. The exhibited cats were complemented by rare and exotic specimens. There was a cat from the Isle of Man, a Persian cat “straight from Persia,” and a huge, 9.5-pound British short-haired cat who was According to the 1871 issue of Harper’s Weekly “the biggest cat in the show”. Of particular note, the first two Siamese cats ever seen in the country were also on display.

This is how Harper’s describes them:

…soft, brown-coloured creatures with jet-black legs – an unnatural, nightmarish breed of cat, unique and elegant in their smooth skin, black ears, blue eyes with red pupils.”

So the initial reception of the kittens was not ideal, and what makes the story even more interesting is that the two cats have disappeared and it is not known what happened to them. Over the next 15 years, many Siamese were imported into Britain, but none of the cats were initially long-lived. The breed was considered a great speciality, as until then no cats with such colouring and blue eyes had been seen in Europe. For a long time, keeping Siamese was a status symbol. The breed standard was established in 1900 and since then the Siamese has remained the most popular short-haired cat breed in many countries.

Due to its popularity, the breed has been used to create many modern cat breeds, such as the Tonkinese, Himalayan and Burmese.

Breed standard

The Siamese a medium-sized, long, thin, flexible-bodied cat. The legs are thin and long, the paws are oval. The head is triangular, the profile is rectilinear. Feet are large, upright, broad-based and set apart. Its eyes are deep blue, oriental in shape, slanted towards the nose. The neck is long and graceful. The tail is thin, tapering and long. Coat is silky, short and shiny, gently close to the body. Kittens are born white and later (at the latest at 3 years of age) they develop a Siamese pattern. It is interesting that the lighter parts are also darken when exposed to moisture and cold. If the cat is injured, darker hair grows back where the wound was. Siamese can be the classic seal colour, but also tabby, blue, purple, chocolate, cream and tortoiseshell. It weighs about 3-5 kg. Expected lifetime 15-20 years.

Character

The Siamese is a very communicative, talkative breed, who has an opinion on everything. Whatever he wants, he is guaranteed to let his owner know. So, if you want a quiet companion, a Siamese is probably not the best choice. He is a very affectionate, active, extroverted and intelligent cat, who even likes to learn tricks. But only the ones you feel like doing. He loves to be near to his owner, following him around the house. He watches carefully who is doing what, and if someone happens to sit down, the kitten is already in his lap!

Ideal environment

If you prefer peace and quiet, Siamese may not be the best choice. Because he likes to “talk”, he is not the most quiet of cats. This breed does not like its owner to be away too much. He is very intelligent, so it is worth getting him some puzzle toys and maybe teaching him some tricks. If he is not mentally busy, he can easily find something to do, but the owner will not be happy. He typically gets on well with other pets and children.

Care

Caring for Siamese is not a difficult task. Once a week, it is sufficient to comb through the coat to get rid of dead hairs. You should also keep his eyes and ears clean on a regular basis.

Common health problems

The breed can develop amyloidosis, a disease that occurs when a protein called amyloid is deposited in the organs of the body, mainly the liver in Siamese. They may also be born with heart problems or asthma. Siamese cats may be more prone to respiratory and dental problems than cats with less extreme head types. Occasionally he may have cross-eyedness or a curved tail, but overall it is a fairly healthy breed.