Most of us would recognize this breed if we saw it. These cats all have
brilliant blue eyes, a cream-colored coat, and points (the nose, ears,
paws and tail) in one of any number of darker colors.
These are the rather more obvious facts, but how much more do you really know?
Below you'll find fifteen lesser-known Siamese cat facts, and learn how to care for your cats at the same time.
Ready? Here goes ...
Advertisement
Facts about Siamese cats: history
In the Thai National Library in Bangkok there are manuscripts
dating from the 1700s called the Cat Book Poems (Smud Khoi), containing
illustrations of cats that look very similar to seal points.
When
Siamese cats were first shown in England in 1871 they were described as
'an unnatural nightmare kind of cat' because of their strange coloring.
They went on to become one of the most popular cat breeds in the world!
Their Thai name means 'moon diamond'.
President
Rutherford B. Hayes was given a seal point called Siam in 1879. Siam
was the first ever 'ambassador' of the breed to the USA.
Queen
Elizabeth II was given a seal point kitten as a wedding present to
celebrate her marriage to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Facts about Siamese cats: breed behavior and health
When females are in heat they will yell loudly and incessantly
and their voices have been compared to an opera singer singing scales.
They can sometimes be heard right down the street!
It
is quite possible to train a Siamese cat – due to their intelligent
nature they even enjoy it. They can be trained to fetch and retrieve,
walk on a harness, and even do tricks.
These cats
are prone to acne around their chins. This is because as they're eating,
oily food flakes enter the skin pores just under the mouth. The pores
get clogged, looking like blackheads, and if not kept clean can lead to
the cat developing a bald patch.
They are also
prone to gum disease and tartar build-up on their teeth. Ask your
veterinarian how to clean your cat's teeth. Dry food can also help.
It's not really possible to own a Siamese cat, they're much too independent for that. Consider yourself lucky if one of them owns you!
Facts about Siamese cats: physiology
It's been said that Siamese cats are hypoallergenic but this
isn't really true. They may however cause fewer allergy problems than
other cats because of their short, fine fur. Always test this before
adopting or buying a cat.
Pregnancy: on average a
'queen' will be pregnant for 65 days, and some have had their kittens as
late as 71 days. This is unusual, however - check with a vet at 68 days
if the kittens haven't shown by then.
Many
Siamese (and other Oriental) cats are unable to digest lactose, a sugar
found in milk and dairy products. Milk should not be given to them as it
can go straight through them and cause bad diarrhea – experiment with
caution!
A seal point is genetically a black cat.
The point pattern comes about from a mutation of the gene that gives
cats their color. This mutated gene, which is color sensitive, restricts
the amount of pigment showing in the coat except at the coldest areas
of the body – the 'points'.
A Siamese cat's eyes
are blue because the gene responsible for the coat pattern also
restricts the amount of pigment (which is responsible for green or brown
eyes) in the eyes.
Advertisement
Other interesting Siamese cat facts can be found in:
Information provided on this website is not intended to replace professional advice. If you have any concerns at all about your cat's health, please consult a vet.
Life with Siamese
Cats does not sell any personal information from this website. For
further information please see our Privacy Policy.