Siamese

Pointed cats appear in Thailand's Tamra Maew (Cat Poems), written during the Ayutthaya period (1350–1767) ^[1][6]. In the late 19th century, British visitors brought these blue-eyed cats home as "Siamese", and they soon appeared at the Crystal Palace cat shows in London ^[1]. The first Siamese on record in the United States was "Siam", sent to President Rutherford B. Hayes by the American consul in Bangkok in 1878 ^[1]. The Siamese was one of the first breeds CFA recognised when it was founded in 1906 ^[1].

Seal point was originally the only colour. CFA later accepted blue point (1934), chocolate point (1952) and lilac point (1955) ^[1].

Genetically, a 2008 study found that Southeast Asian breeds, including the Siamese, cluster with random-bred cats from Vietnam and neighbouring countries ^[2]. That makes the Siamese a distant cousin of Vietnam's own mèo ta.

• Body: medium-sized, long and tubular, fine-boned but firmly muscled. Long legs (the hind legs higher than the front) and a long, tapering tail ^[1].
• Head: a long wedge with a straight profile from the top of the head to the tip of the nose. The ears are strikingly large, pointed and wide at the base ^[1].
• Eyes: almond-shaped and deep vivid blue ^[1].
• Coat: short, fine and glossy, lying close to the body ^[1].
• The points: a mutation in the TYR gene makes the pigment enzyme heat-sensitive, so colour develops only on the cooler extremities ^[8][9]. CFA's standard notes that Siamese generally darken with age ^[1].

CFA says that during the 1950s boom, rounder-headed, heavier-boned cats were bred to meet demand, while the show standard never changed ^[1]. Cats of that older, moderate type are now recognised by TICA as a separate breed, the Thai ^[6].

CFA describes the Siamese as unmatched in its ability to communicate with people, through body language and a huge vocal repertoire ^[1]. They head for the warmest spot in the house, which is usually your lap. They want to be involved in whatever you're doing and will complain loudly if you shut them out ^[1]. Another person or another Siamese makes the ideal companion, though many get on well with other pets ^[1].

• They do shed, but grooming is simple. Stroke the coat with damp hands until your hands are dry, or use a rubber brush. No bathing is needed unless the cat is being shown ^[1].
• Plan for daily play and conversation. Siamese don't do well left alone for long stretches ^[1].

• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) can cause blindness. It's recessive, and a genetic test lets breeders avoid producing affected kittens ^[1].
• Amyloidosis causes liver problems. Its genetics are still being researched, so ask breeders about any family history ^[1].
• Lifespan: an English study recorded a median age at death of 14.2 years (31 cats) ^[4]. VetCompass life tables put life expectancy at birth at about 11.7 years ^[5].

For any specific health concern, talk to your veterinarian.

Don't confuse with…

• Thai (Wichienmaat, "Old-Style Siamese"): moderate type with a rounder head, a separate breed in TICA ^[6].
• Oriental Shorthair: the same body type, but without the pointed pattern, in a huge range of colours and usually with green eyes ^[7].

• A Siamese coat is basically a heat map: the cooler the body part, the darker the fur ^[8][9].
• The same colourpoint mutation turns up in pointed Persians, the Himalayan ^[8].
• America's first recorded Siamese was a diplomatic gift to President Hayes in 1878 ^[1].