A medium-sized, sleek, polished cat with long tapering lines, very slender but muscular, is the ideal Siamese. Males may be larger in proportion. The core of the breed is balance and refinement, where all elements come together in a harmonious whole, with neither too much nor too little emphasis given to any one characteristic.
Personality
Some cats appear to believe that a pleasant touch or a purr speaks louder than words. Meezers (as Siamese are lovingly known) are not of this school of thought and are famed for their ability to communicate their ideas and demands to their human slaves in a clear and concise manner. Other fanciers call this kind “Applehead,” which is more colloquial and informal. According to Siamese fans, they are not useless meows, but genuine attempts at communicating.
The Siamese rasp (some would say yowl) can be grating to certain cat enthusiasts. Meezer devotees, on the other hand, would not have it any other way. Meezers, according to enthusiasts, are the most delightful, caring, and entertaining cats in the known universe. Siamese are extremely intelligent, self-assured, lively, determined, curious, and active. They adore their human partners; living with a Siamese is similar to living with extremely busy children. Except that these “children” follow you about, demanding to be a part of whatever you’re doing.
Meezers seek active participation in your life because they are determinedly social and very dependant on their humans. They are quite intelligent, and if you don’t offer them something to do, they will find something else to do that you may not like as much. This breed requires daily times of play and interaction; it is vital to the emotional and mental health and well-being of the Siamese.
They should not be left alone for extended periods of time; this is not a breed that can be patted on the head and left for twelve hours. Siamese will pine and get melancholy if left alone too often, and may become destructive as a result of their unsatisfied desire for social interaction. While you’re away, the feline companionship of another Siamese or a similarly active breed will help keep a lonely Siamese happy, but there is no substitute for human engagement. Furthermore, keep in mind that two Siamese can concoct twice as much mischief while you’re off earning cat food.
This breed is not for individuals searching for a peaceful companion—Siamese demand patience and a lot of attention and affection in order to develop the intimate, caring relationship they require with their human partners. This is the breed for individuals looking for a soul mate cat partner. Siamese are often good family pets and tolerate children aged eight and up, as long as the youngsters are taught how to properly handle cats and do not play too rough.
History
The Siamese cat is one of the oldest domestic cat breeds, with a history as extensive and colorful as the cat itself. The Siamese is also the most well-known breed on the planet. These sleek cats with dazzling blue eyes and an outspoken disposition are said to have originated in Siam (now Thailand), where they lived in palaces and temples. For years, they were beloved companions of royalty and religious leaders, and they guarded priceless documents and valuables in Buddhist temples.
These sacred cats were considered to inherit souls that had transmigrated on their way to the afterlife. There are numerous early traditions regarding the Siamese, including fantastical stories explaining the cat’s characteristics. One such story goes that a Siamese temple cat was tasked with guarding a costly vase and coiled its tail around it so tightly that its eyes became permanently crossed. Another story tells about Siamese cats who were assigned to protect precious jewelry; the cats retained the rings on their tails and developed kinks to keep the rings from sliding off.
The Cat-Book Poems, a manuscript of verses and paintings written in Ayutthaya, Siam, between 1350 c.e. when the kingdom was founded and 1767 c.e. when the city was destroyed by invaders, clearly show cats with slim bodies and legs and pale-colored coats with dark coloring on the ears, faces, tails, and feet. Because these manuscripts were penned on palm-leaf or bark parchment, it is impossible to know when the book was written. A particular mix of delicate bones and firm muscles. This makes dating difficult. Nonetheless, it is most likely the oldest document on cats in existence.
Because the Siamese was so beloved in its homeland, the cats were rarely aimed at strangers. However, by the 1800s, it is obvious that the Siamese had been exported to Britain. There is no eyelid bulging. At the time, one journalist derisively labeled the breed as “an unnatural, nightmarish kind of cat.” Despite this negative press, the Siamese quickly gained popularity among British fanciers.
At the time, the Siamese were known for their crossed eyes and kinked tails, which did not become conformation flaws until much later. The Siamese was characterized as a “striking-looking cat of medium size, if hefty, not revealing bulk, as this would detract from the renowned slimline appearance… also distinguished by a kink in the tail” in the first British standard, written in 1892 and duplicated in 1902.
Siamese must have grown accustomed to opulent surroundings during their time with royalty; the first Siamese imported to North America resided at the White House. This well-documented story takes place in November 1878, when David B. Sickels, a United States ambassador stationed at the consulate in Bangkok, delivered a Siamese cat to first lady Lucy Hayes. Sickels wrote in a letter that may be seen in the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center’s Paper Trail archives, “I have taken the pleasure of mailing you one of the finest specimens of Siamese cats that I have been able to buy in this country… According to my sources, this is the first time a Siamese cat has been sent to America.”
Siamese cats first appeared in North American cat shows in the early 1900s. The breed quickly clawed its way to the top of the cat fancy’s scratching post and is now one of North America’s most popular shorthaired breeds. Because of its popularity, the species has been employed in the breeding of many modern cat breeds, including the Ocicat, Himalayan, Burmese, Tonkinese, and Oriental breeds including the Oriental Shorthair, Oriental Longhair, and Balinese.
Although the Extreme Siamese is the most popular in the show ring, the Old-Style Siamese (known as the Thai in TICA and several European organisations; see profile on page 270) has a devoted following of breeders and fanciers who prefer this more moderate Siamese. Thai is synonymous with “Old-Style Siamese” in various associations; CFF recognizes the Old-Style Siamese for championship, and UFO accepts the Old-Style Siamese, Balinese, and Colorpoint for championship.
If you can’t be enticed into conversation, they’ll keep a running monologue going for your benefit. These fanciers believe that the Old-rounder, Style’s heavier body type will be more similar to the original kind that existed before humans began selecting breeding for a slimline body type and an elongated head type. Extreme breeders, on the other hand, claim that the Extreme body style represents the original look, which has been tainted by questionable crosses in the past. They are committed to keeping the Extreme Siamese’s inherent, elegant grace.
Extreme and traditional Fans of Siamese continue to hiss at one another over differences in style, and it’s tough to determine who is accurate. The images of the Siamese in the Cat-Book Poems portray cats with long, slender legs and tails; nevertheless, depending on one’s point of view, the body type could be viewed as either Extreme or Old-Design. However, both sides agree on one point: Siamese make excellent friends.
If you want a cat with personality, an impish temperament, and a knack for talking, both the Extreme and the Old-Style will do. Many associations favor the Extreme if you want to succeed in the show ring.
Physical Attributes
BODY
Size medium. Elegant, long, and slim. When a manuscript got too ancient to be used, it was painstakingly reproduced by hand when the original and subsequent copies became too old and fragile. Shoulders and hips follow the same elegant contours as the tubular body. Hips should never be wider than shoulders. Tightness in the abdomen.
HEAD
Wedge with a long taper. Medium in size and relation to the body. The entire wedge begins at the nose and extends in straight lines to the points of the ears, producing a triangular with no break at the whiskers. No less than an eye’s width between the eyes. The underlying bone structure is frequently seen when the whiskers are smoothed back. Flat skull.
A long straight line can be observed in profile from the top of the head to the tip of the nose. Siamese cats were first displayed in 1871 at The Crystal Palace in Sydenham, London, in the first modern-style cat show. There is no nasal droop. Long and straight nose. The continuation of the brow without a crack. Fine, wedge-shaped muzzle.
EARS
Large, pointed, and wide at the base; continues the lines of the wedge.
EYES
Shaped like an almond. Size medium. It is neither projecting nor receding. Slanted towards the nose to match the wedge and ear lines. Uncrossed. Deep, vibrant blue.
LEGS & PAWS
Legs that are long and slender. The back legs are higher than the front legs. In proportion to the body. Dainty, tiny, and round paws Five in front and four in behind.
TAIL
Long, thin, tapering to a fine point.
COAT
Short, fine textured, glossy. Lying close to body
COLOR
Seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac point pattern.
Disclaimer
While the qualities listed below are common for this breed, cats are individuals with unique personalities and appearances. For more information about a specific pet, please contact the adoption group.
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