The Siamese cat originates from Siam (present-day Thailand). It is also known as the Thai cat, but these are simply two different names for the same feline breed. Let's explore the history of the Thai Siamese cat, its characteristics and the temperament of Siamese cats.
Origins and history of the Siamese cat
The Thai Siamese cat arrived in Europe relatively recently. They were exhibited for the first time at the cat show held at Crystal Palace in London in 1871, where unfortunately they did not enjoy great success. In 1880, the King of Siam gifted 2 pairs of specimens to Mr. Owen Gould, the British Consul General in Bangkok, who brought them to London. The following year, the Siamese cats were entered into a new cat show, once again at London's Crystal Palace, and this time they were met with enormous success.
In 1890 they arrived in America and immediately proved to be quite delicate in terms of health. Before long, this feline breed became a "trend", which led many breeders, in order to meet buyers' demands, to carry out unfortunate inbreeding within their Siamese cat breeding programmes, resulting in kittens of increasingly poor health.
Around the 1940s, due to the Second World War, the Siamese cat breed came close to extinction. After the war, around the 1960s, a more careful selection process began, and the Siamese cat changed so significantly that a new standard emerged. The new Thai cat appeared with a slimmer body, larger ears and a finer muzzle. In the 1990s, some breeders decided to revive the old Siamese standard, and in 1998 the current Siamese breed that we all know today was officially recognised.
Siamese cat breed standard
The Siamese is a medium-sized cat with a lithe, slender build. It retained its most pronounced Oriental features from the early 1900s through to the 1950s. The body is long, well-proportioned and very muscular. The legs of the Siamese are long and slim. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front legs, and the paws are small and oval-shaped.
The cat's head is wedge-shaped. The tip of the nose is aligned with the large ears, which are wide at the base and set diagonally on either side of the head, forming an inverted triangle. The nose is long with no stop, while the cat's eyes are almond-shaped and a deep shade of blue, set obliquely in relation to the nose bridge.
The neck is slender and muscular, slightly arched, and the cat's tail must be very long and slim. The Siamese is a short-haired cat and its coat has no undercoat. Generally, the weight of a Siamese cat is around 5 kg for males and up to 4 kg for females.
Siamese cat care and nutrition
The coat, which is soft and silky, requires no special grooming. To keep the Siamese cat's coat shiny and remove dead hair, simply stroke it with a chamois cloth. When it comes to feeding a Siamese cat, a DIY approach is not recommended unless you are able to balance the cat's diet with a high protein content and, of course, consistently high-quality foods.
Siamese cat varieties and Thai cat colours
The four main Siamese cat varieties take their names from their dominant colour and are:
- Chocolate Point Siamese cat;
- Blue Point Siamese;
- Lilac Point Siamese cat;
- Seal Point Siamese.
They can also be Tortie and Tortie Tabby (generally in females). In addition to these, we also have Cream and Red Point colours. More recently, other Siamese cat varieties have been developed, such as Smoke, Cinnamon, Fawn, Silver Tabby and Bi- or Tricolour.
At birth, Siamese kittens are completely white, and the points (the colouring that covers the ears, mask, legs and tail) only appear in the following months. The ambient temperature plays a key role in their colouring — that is, if the Thai cat has grown up in a warm environment it will have lighter points, and vice versa.
Siamese cat temperament
The Thai cat is considered the most trainable of all felines; for example, getting your cat used to a lead for long walks together in the fresh air will certainly not be a problem. It is a very affectionate cat, but that does not mean it suits everyone, as it has a strong personality. In fact, it is among the most extroverted and lively cat breeds, and is therefore not suited to those who prefer a quieter lifestyle or to people who are easily stressed.
It forms a very exclusive bond with the humans it considers its trusted companions. It is highly communicative and has the ability to modulate its voice as though it were having a real conversation with its owner. Thanks to its slender build, it is a very agile domestic cat. The Siamese cat at home delights in showing off all its acrobatic skills, and when it is tired it loves to rest beside the people it holds dear.
Siamese cat breeding and price
The price of a Siamese cat generally exceeds €500. As always, we strongly recommend avoiding online advertisements and turning exclusively to qualified Siamese cat breeders. There is certainly no shortage of them in Italy — not only will they be able to provide you with all the information you need and update you on the health of the Siamese kittens, but given the range of colour varieties available, you can seek out the breeder that has the Siamese variety you love most.
