SIAMESE CATS: CLASSIC & ELEGANT GRACEFUL BEAUTY

According to breeder and writer, Elisa Jordon (Cat Fancy: April 2008), Siamese cats have developed an undeserved negative image.  Jordon attributes the negative image of Siamese cats to the Walt Disney movie,  Lady and the Tramp, in which two Siamese cats portrayed mean spirited characters, manipulative and cruel to the family dog.  Jordon writes that the cats are affectionate, and crave human attention, often following their people from room to room seeking greater closeness. 

The Siamese may actually be the most recognizable of cat breeds, and are definitely among the more controversial (Dr. Bruce Fogle, CATalog).  Fogle reports that the first cats of the breed frequently had crossed eyes and kinked tails, in fact, he writes that the earliest breed standards actually required these traits.  While selective breeding has changed many of these characteristics, the appropriate build of the cat still appears to be a matter of to whom you address the question.  GCCF Siamese have a swelte body; long , slim legs, slanted eyes in a rather long head, and a fine muzzle, while North American Siamese tend to take these traits to the extreme.  Siamese, everywhere, are gregarious, chatty, and active.

APPEARANCE

Siamese are pointed cats who come in chocolate torte point, cream tabby point, lilac torte tabby point, blue point and chocolate tabby point, among others.  The tail is long and tapering, the body medium sized, long and swelte.   The Siamese coat is very short and fine with no undercoat.  Its ears follow the lines of the face outward, and the head is long, and narrowing to the muzzle in straight lines.  The Siamese eyes are oriental in shape and deep blue, thus the expression, cat eyes.  Its legs are slim and in proportion to its body, but its hind legs are longer than its forelegs.  

The Siamese cat was actually the result of a genetic mutation, according to Fogle.  The mutation is estimated to have occurred about 500 years ago, but was probably widespread by the late 1700s.  A white bodied cat with dark ears was described by the naturalist, Pallas, around that time in Central Asia, while in Thailand, they were revered by monks and royalty.  In 1871, they appeared in a British Show, and were thus introduced to the west.  The breed originally included solid colors that are now known as oriental short-hairs, a separate breed.  The cats were very popular in the 1950s, but have declined in popularity since, partly due to the extreme look that has recently been developed.

PROS AND CONS

Siamese are loving and affectionate animals; however, they are noisy, and require much attention.  They are not the cat to adopt or purchase if you desire an inactive or quiet companion.  They have less of a problem with shedding than do the longhairs, since their coat is short.