The Siamese Cat

The Siamese cat is a very distinctive and ancient breed that originated in Siam, or what is now known as Thailand. Legend has it that these cats were a favorite among royalty and that they guarded Buddhist temples from evil spirits. Siamese cats were first introduced to the western world in 1884, when General Edward Gould brought back a breeding pair to Britain as a gift for his sister.

The Siamese cat has a cream or fawn-colored coat of short fur with contrasting dark “points.” The points are the ears, the snout, the tail, and the paws. They have intensely blue, almond-shaped eyes. The most common and desirable breed of the Siamese has a very elongated body and a long wedge-shaped face. Some Siamese are cross-eyed and have kinks in their tails, but thanks to selective breeding, these features are rare. When present, they do not affect the cat’s behavior.

Siamese cats are partial albinos: They have a mutated gene that is heat sensitive. The melanin-producing gene is dormant at normal body temperatures, but it activates at slightly cooler temperatures. Siamese kittens are born pure white, but as they age, their fur darkens at the extremes of their bodies where they get coldest.

Siamese cats are very friendly and vocal. They like to be around people and “talk” to their owners constantly. They have a very loud meow that sometimes sounds like a crying baby. Sometimes they sound like they’re in pain, but they’re really just trying to get their point across. If you want an extroverted cat who likes to be conversational, the Siamese cat just might be the breed for you.