Celebrating Siamese Cats – Sandy and Voldo!
Depending on who you ask, there are four, eight or even nine different types of Siamese cats! THey have different colors, head shapes and body types. All the experts agree, though, that Siamese cats have mesmerizing blue eyes, super personalities and are very smart!
This very ancient and distinct breed originated in Thailand, which, in earlier days, was called Siam. They were favored cats of Siamese royalty and many believed that when a member of the royal family died, their Siamese cat would receive their soul. That particular cat then lived out his life in a temple being served by monks and priests!
When the first cat show was held in London in 1871, there were two Siamese cats featured. According the cat-world.com, a journalist described them as, “…soft, fawn-coloured creatures, with jet-black legs – an unnatural, nightmare kind of cat, singular and elegant in their smooth skins, and ears tipped with black, and blue eyes with red pupils.” Not the greatest review ever but that didn’t impact people’s fascination with the breed. Because they were considered royal and hard to get, only a few pairs were imported into the Britain, supposedly from the royal palace. However, by 1901, the England had a Siamese Cat Club.
It wasn’t many years later that Siamese cats first came to the US. In the late 1800s, First Lady Lucy Hayes was given a Siamese cat by US diplomat who was working in Thailand. Once they were here, they grew in popularity and were bred in the US.
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| A Siamese cat from the 1800s |
Siamese cats start out life totally white. They are known for very blue eyes, large pointy ears, sleek bodies and tails and color points, found on their faces, ears, paws and tails. This is where things diverge a little. Today there are four accepted types of Siamese cats:
Seal Point – cream colored body with dark brown points and dark brown paw pads.
Chocolate Point – ivory colored bodies with milk chocolate color points and pinkish paw pads.
Blue Point – bluish white bodies with deep blue points and slate colored noses and paw pads.
Lilac Point – white bodies with pinkish gray points, pinkish noses and paw pads.
Once Siamese cats started to breed with domestic shorthaired cats, the result was the Lynx Point, with cream colored bodies and tabby striped markings on their faces, legs and tails. This color scheme has been accepted as a breed by the Cat Fanciers’ Association as the Colored Point Shorthair. Depending on which cat association you check out, they may also accept Red, Cream, Fawn, Caramel, Apricot and Cinnamon Siamese markings. These color variations can also be found in the Lynx Point, too.
Within all these types of Siamese cats are several very different looks. The original, or “traditional,” Siamese cats were heavier with apple-shaped heads or with what’s called “classic” or more tapered head shape. As breeding has progressed, pure bred cats have become much thinner and have wedge-shaped heads. It’s good to know that some breeders are keeping the traditional Siamese look and profile going. CLICK HERE to see samples of all these types of cats.
Why are Siamese cats so popular? Some people think they are very dog-like because they form very deep bonds with their people, are very smart, love to play and even take walks with their owners. They are super affectionate and are very talkative with their owners, who will enjoy having conversations with a very memorable meow vocabulary. Siamese cats can be so attached to their people that they may not welcome other cats or dogs into the family mix.
Although generally healthy, but pure-bred Siamese cats can be prone to some specific health problems. Some are cosmetic like having a kinked tail. Others include crossed eyes, hemophilia, lupus, and mammary cancer. They may also inherit a condition with makes them compulsively eat things like plastic, wool, or even clothing. As with all pet cats, regular vet care and dental cleanings are important to keeping them healthy.
BCR’s two Siamese cats, Voldo and Sandy, are great representatives of their breed! Voldo is a beautiful Blue Point Siamese with a more modern head shape. Sandy, who has a more traditional look, also introduces another variation in Siamese cats – snow shoe, or white feet. This variation didn’t really start until the 1960s when more Siamese cats bred with two-color American Shorthairs. Snow Shoe Siamese cats may have a softer voice than their pure cousins and may get along better with other pets in the house, too. They also love to play and get very attached to their owners.
If you’re looking for a great companion who is stylish, friendly and will love you forever, you can’t go wrong with a Siamese cat! Just ask Sandy and Voldo!
CLICK HERE for some interesting Siamese cat facts.
CLICK HERE to see the Siamese breed profile and care.
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