Siamese Cat: Your Personal Talking Tom

The first time we consider adopting a pet, it’s often because we are lonely, and we feel the need to have a companion that will always be there for us without judging us. Most cats take on the role of silent companions well enough, but at times, the silence becomes overbearing. It is no longer enough.

We need a cat that will talk back when spoken to one that can keep the conversation going and never fails to offer advice. That’s the Siamese cat.

The Siamese is one of the most popular cat breeds in the world. The reason why they are widely sought after is not only because of their enchanting colorpoint coat, but also because they are social, affectionate, and talkative.

These busybodies will get into your space whether you invite them in or not. You will drown in those big blue eyes because they love genuinely and are open with their affection.

In this article, you will be enlightened about the history, personality, size details, and other breed characteristics of the Siamese cat.

We will also evaluate their compatibility with children and pets, analyze the best feeding schedule for them, and provide details on how to best care for them so that the cat will live a long, fulfilling life.

Breed Characteristics

• Adaptability: High
• Grooming: Low Maintenance
• Health: Average; vulnerable to some common illnesses
• All Around Friendliness: Very Good; can get excessively chatty and clingy
• Exercise Needs: Moderate; be wary of obesity

The Siamese originated in Thailand and was known as a royal cat according to ancient legends. After it was discovered and exported from Thailand, the cat breed exploded in popularity across the world.

The coat of the Siamese is short, glossy, and characterized by point patterns that include chocolate, seal, blue, lilac, cinnamon, and many more. The Siamese has served as a pioneer parent for many other cat breeds, such as the Colorpoint Shorthair and the Himalayan. There are two main types of Siamese: the traditional and the modern Siamese.

This is a medium-sized cat that can weigh up to 15 pounds. They live a long life on average, 11 to 16 years. They have large, almond-shaped blue eyes, as well as large ears with a wide base. The cat has a triangular-shaped head with a lean, muscular body.

The Siamese makes a playful, intelligent, and interactive pet. Known as one of the most talkative cat breeds to ever exist, they can be demanding and opinionated. If they are not kept occupied, they can get into mischief, and may need to be disciplined as a result.

They are easy to groom and are generally healthy. This unique breed should be fed quality food following a consistent feeding schedule. The Siamese is happy to be friends with children that will play and engage them without manhandling them.

Main Highlights

• The Siamese is a foundation stock for some other breeds like the Oriental Shorthair, the Snowshoe, the Burmese, and many others
• There are two main types of Siamese: the traditional Siamese and the modern Siamese
• The Siamese is an old cat breed famed to have existed as early as the 14^th century
• The Cat Fanciers’ Association accepts four main colors for the Siamese: the seal point, the blue point, the chocolate point, and the lilac point
• The Siamese is bred for their personality and unique coat markings
• Siamese cat personality is affectionate, loyal, talkative, and energetic
• Siamese kittens are always white or cream-colored at birth; they later develop visible points in the first few months of their lives
• The cat is smart enough to be taught tricks with a clicker
• They love to interact with humans and will play with children and other pets
• Their unique colorpoint pattern is the result of a genetic mutation
• The gene that is responsible for the colored points on the Siamese’s coat is also responsible for their striking blue eyes
• One of the world’s oldest cats was a Siamese who died at the age of 30
• The average litter size of the Siamese is between four to six kittens
• The Siamese has poor night vision
• Eumelanin a black pigment is highly concentrated around the cat’s extremities

Breed History

Siamese cats were described in a Thailand manuscript called Tamra Maew (Cat Poem) which is believed to have been written between the 14th and the 18th century. They originated in Siam, which is modern-day Thailand. This is where they got their name from.

These cats were relatively obscure until Consul-General Edward Blencowe Gould from Britain brought back a breeding Siamese pair called Pho and Mia from his trip to Bangkok. He gifted them to his sister. Pho and Mia produced three kittens in 1885 called; they were Khromata, Kalohom, and Duen Ngai.

The family of five was shown in London’s Crystal Palace Show that same year. Unfortunately, the kittens died after the show due to unknown causes. However, interest in the Siamese breed had successfully been generated.

In the year 1886, other fanciers such as Eva Forestier Walker and her sister Ada started importing more Siamese into Britain; a total of eleven original imported Royal Cats of Siam were recorded. Pho and Mia’s owner, Lilian Jane Gould, created the Siamese Cat Club in 1901.

In America, President Rutherford B. Hayes received the first Siamese in America in 1878. The Siamese has, since then, become one of the most popular cats in the country. In the 1950s, breeders and cat show judges expressed a preference for selectively-bred Siamese cats that were slimmer, fine-boned, and more narrow-headed than the original Siamese.

In 1980, the original traditional Siamese were becoming extinct. To counteract this, Diana Fineran founded the Traditional Cat Association. The organization’s mission is to preserve, protect, and promote the traditional Siamese which was afterward renamed to the Thai cat, also referred to as the “Applehead.”

Size

Siamese cats are medium-sized. Female Siamese cats weigh between 8 and 12 pounds whereas the males weigh between 11 and 15 pounds.The traditional Siamese cats have a less rounded head with a wedge-shaped muzzle. They also have large ears, rounded bodies, and they come with a kink in their tail.

The modern Siamese, on the other hand, have dainty, long, and lithe bodies, with a triangular-shaped head where a straight line tapers from the head down to their narrow muzzle. They also have large ears and a long, tapering tail.

Personality and Character

Siamese cat personality is bold and unapologetic. They are talkative and demanding. They are not afraid to express their feelings. They have a variety of vocal ranges that can be low or high-pitched; this vocalization is known as “meezers.”

These pinpoint notes will let you know exactly what they need at that time. When you live with a Siamese cat, the two of you should have no problem understanding each other. Sometimes, it might even feel like the two of you could converse like old friends.

They do not need to gather an audience before they get into their chatty rush; they can go whenever. This trait makes them not very suitable for apartment-living because they could possible bother your neighbors with their incessant meowing.

Siamese cat temperament is social, intelligent, and interactive. They can be anything you want them to either a lap cat or all fun and games. They are loyal, good-natured, and interested in you the way a dog would. They can watch the television with curiosity and interest.

They love to play games, smart enough to learn tricks, and can entertain themselves while you are away although if you leave them alone for too long, they will voice their displeasure when you finally get home.

The Siamese loves heights where they can survey their territory and feed their curiosity. They love to jump and climb. They retain most of his kitten-like nature and innocence well into adulthood.

Health and Potential Problems

Siamese cats are generally healthy; it’s one of the reasons why they were chosen to serve as foundation stock for a lot of other cat breeds. Siamese cat lifespan has been studied many times, and data shows that they live for 14.2 years on average. This shows that the Siamese commonly have no life-threatening health issues. However, they are prone to the following:

• Obesity: The Siamese can easily become overweight due to overfeeding.
• Respiratory Problems: This affects the upper respiratory tracts and usually occur in young cats. The infection is caused by either the Calicivirus pathogen which manifests in nasal or eye discharge, ulcers around the mouth, and general body aches or the Rhinotracheitis pathogen, which manifests in mucus and drools. Keeping your cat indoors and well-vaccinated can help prevent the spread of this diseases.
• Psychogenic Alopecia: It is a disorder similar to the obsessive-compulsive disorder in humans. In this case, the Siamese cat either out of boredom, depression, or anxiety develops the compulsion to over-groom themselves. As a result, they become bald in some areas.
• Liver Amyloidosis: A disease that occurs when there is an abnormal protein buildup in an organ. The protein is called amyloid. In Siamese cats, the organ most commonly affected is the liver. A tissue biopsy will conclusively diagnose the amyloidosis. The condition can be managed with a controlled diet and medications.
• Eye Problems: Examples include Glaucoma and Progressive Retinal Atrophy which affect the retina and can become progressive eventually leading to blindness. This disease is caused by recessive genes. There could be partial blindness or different degrees of vision loss before irreversible blindness strikes. There is a genetic test that can be carried out to see if certain cats are carriers. If they are, breeding is usually discouraged.

Other reported health problems include bladder stones and certain types of cancer.

Care Features

The Siamese are social cats that thrive on human attention, so don’t leave them alone or they may slip into depression. You can get another cat to keep them company while you are away. The Siamese likes to be entertained, so it is advisable that you get puzzles, toys, and cat wands to keep them exercised.

Play with them when you have time; nothing makes your Siamese cat happier. Cat towers or trees are also needed to help them fulfill their daily physical exercise quota and give them their own space and territory.

Although they can remain an indoor cat, the Siamese loves to go for a stroll and play fetch outdoor, so it would be best if you could create a safe outdoor enclosure for them. The Siamese should not be allowed to go outside unsupervised because there are dangers of them being attacked by predators and larger animals. Also, this cat breed suffers from poor night vision and may become vulnerable to vehicular traffic and other urban dangers.

You can train them to walk on a leash. Get the right leash preferably a retractable leash. You will get an earful if they feel uncomfortable. Keep your cabinets properly closed and water faucets locked on tight because a curious Siamese can find their way around those.

Feeding Schedule

To maximize the genetic longevity that the Siamese cat breed is known to have, it is recommended to feed your cat with premium quality cat food. Premium cat food, although more expensive, has great benefits which include:

• Densely packed with more nutrients
• Smaller servings will be enough to satisfy your cat
• Cats eating this quality of food will pass less waste or poop
• Fewer fillers in the food constituent
• Overall better health benefits for your cat which translate to more savings on veterinarian visits

You can mix dry food and wet food together. In fact, it is ideal to combine both since they both have their unique benefits. Free feeding is not recommended for Siamese cats because they tend to overindulge, particularly if they really like the food brand. Instead, stick to the recommended daily portion according to your cat’s age and life stage, then split it into two or three meals per day.

Ensure that you stick to a schedule that is convenient for both you and your cat. The Siamese, like most cats, thrive on routine. Keep treats and sweets to a bare minimum only when you want to reward good behavior or during training.

Coat, Color, and Grooming

Siamese cat coat is short and has a fine texture; it lays close to the body. The coat is characterized by a point pattern which results from a genetically recessive gene. The dark points are a manifestation of temperature-sensitive albinism. Eumelanin is the black pigment responsible for the dark areas on a Siamese cat’s coat.

The breed standard for the coat differs for each cat association. The Cat Fanciers’ Association accepts four colors as standard:

• The Seal Point: It is the earliest, most recognized coat pattern. This one features a fawn or cream background with deep seal-brown points, deep-brown nose leather, and same-colored paw pads.
• The Chocolate Point: It has an ivory background with chocolate points, complemented with cinnamon-pink nose leather and paw pads.
• The Blue Point: A bluish-white body base with deep blue points complemented with slate-colored nose leather and paw pads.
• The Lilac Point: A glacial white body with pinky gray points complemented by lavender-pink nose leather and paw pads.

The International Cat Association (TICA) accepts the four colors and others which include the tabby point, red point, silver tabby point, smoke point, cream point, and particolor point.

Children and Other Pets Compatibility

The Siamese cat is friendly, social, and active. They are ideal for families with kids and other pets. They are smart and can learn tricks, play fetch with the kids, and interact with them. As is the rule when living with all cats, no matter the breed, teach the kids to treat them with respect and care.

The Siamese will be excited to have a fellow cat especially one of the same breed and will not mind chatting with a cat-friendly dog if available. Your responsibility is to do a proper introduction so that your pets can start their relationship off on the right foot.

Wrap Up

In conclusion, Siamese cats personality is special; they are elegant so much so that they have graced the homes of kings and presidents. A breed fit for the elite and royalty is definitely worth investing in. Why not join the bandwagon and enjoy this chatty breed?

You should be ready to interact with your cat and meet their vocal and non-vocal needs. Get your Siamese from a reputable breeder that will give you a written health guarantee. A good breeder will also ensure that the kittens or cats have been socialized and inoculated as required.

Are you interested in having a taste of what this ever-popular cat has to offer? In case you prefer unique, never-before-seen cats over mainstream ones, check out this new breed. Kindly let us know your feedback, suggestions, and comments. We look forward to hearing from you.