Cat Tips

Siamese: This Cat Breed Is Immensely Popular, Chatty and Witty

They thrive on attention, and eagerly mingle with kids and dogs. But when bored, their high intelligence can lead to mischief - such as turning on faucets, opening cabinets and finding incredibly inventive hiding spots. Is this 'steal-your-heart' kitty for you?

Reviewed by Dr. Becker

Aug 21, 2024 • 5 min read

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STORY AT-A-GLANCE

The Siamese is one of the oldest and most recognizable cat breeds in existence. When he arrived in the Western Hemisphere in the late 1800s, he was known as the “Royal Cat of Siam”
Modern day Siamese have long tubular bodies and heads that form a perfect triangle from the nose to the tips of the ears. Beautiful point patterns and striking blue eyes add to their very distinctive appearance
Siamese cats are curious, highly intelligent, and demanding. They require lots of time and attention from their humans, and they also have a tendency to “talk” — sometimes for hours on end

Editor's Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published January 30, 2015.

The Siamese: Royal Cat of Siam

The beautiful Siamese breed appeared for the first time in the Western Hemisphere in London in 1871. He was known at the time as the Royal Cat of Siam (Siam = Thailand). He arrived on America's shores 8 years later as a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes and his wife, Lucy. By the 20th century, the Siamese cat was one of the most popular breeds in Europe and North America.

"Siamese" in the Thai language means "moon diamond". A common nickname for the breed is "Meezer."

The Siamese is a natural breed, meaning his coloring is the result of a genetic mutation. He has contributed to many other breeds, including the Balinese, the Oriental, the Himalayan, the Tonkinese, and the Havana Brown.
Siamese have a very distinctive physical appearance

The current breed standard for Siamese cats is a long, tube-shaped, muscular body, and a head shape that forms a triangle from the tip of the nose to the tip of each ear. Siamese have almond-shaped, light blue eyes, and their ears are large with wide bases. Their necks are long, their tails are slender, and their coat is short, with no undercoat.

Today's Siamese has the pointed color pattern of the Thai breed (the traditional Siamese), but a differently shaped head and body.
The Siamese pointed pattern is a form of albinism

The pointed pattern (which describes the combination of a pale body and relatively darker extremities) of the Siamese is actually a form of partial albinism (absence of pigmentation), resulting from a mutation in the enzyme tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is involved in melanin production, and the mutation causes the enzyme not to work at normal body temperatures, but only in cooler areas of the skin. This is why Siamese have darker colors on the coolest parts of their bodies — the face, legs, and tail.

The Siamese coat tends to darken as the cat ages. Adult Siamese living in warm climates typically have lighter coats than Siamese living in cool climates.
Siamese kittens are born pure cream or white in color

All Siamese kittens are born with a pure cream or white coat. They develop their pointed pattern in the first few months of life. By the time a kitten is about a month old, the color of the points should become obvious.

Originally, most Siamese had seal (very dark brown) points, with only the occasional appearance of blue (cool grey), chocolate (lighter brown), or lilac (pale warm gray) points. The less common point colors became more popular over time, and these days, crosses with other breeds have produced the Red and Cream point, the lynx (tabby) point, and the tortoise-shell (tortie) point.
Siamese are curious, smart, and demanding

The first thing most people notice about the Siamese is her beauty, but she's not just another pretty face. This kitty loves people of all ages, including kids, and needs to spend lots of quality time with her humans. This breed is typically active and playful, even as adults. She may allow herself to be walked on leash, and some Siamese have even been known to play fetch.

Siamese cats like to be the center of attention, but they get along with other cats and also dogs. In fact, if you and your family are gone a lot during the day, it's a good idea to have a second pet to keep your Siamese company.

When bored and left to her own devices, the Siamese's high intelligence can drive her to mischief, like turning on sink faucets, opening cabinets, and finding incredibly inventive hiding spots. To keep her entertained, go with puzzle toys, clicker training, and even agility training.
Siamese are extremely chatty

If there's one trait more outstanding in the Siamese than his gorgeous looks, it's his voice. Many Siamese are extroverted talkers — as in, all day and all night talkers. In other words, if you prefer that your pet be seen but not heard, this may not be the kitty for you.

Siamese voices are loud and low-pitched, and closely mimic the cries of a human baby. And like a baby, an extremely vocal Siamese can be quite persistent in demanding attention.
Siamese have their share of health problems

The modern Siamese head shape may lead to more respiratory and dental problems than kitties with wider or rounder heads. Some Siamese also have crossed eyes or a kinked tail.

Other health problems reported in the breed include bladder stones, amyloidosis, eye diseases like glaucoma or progressive retinal atrophy, heart problems, and certain types of cancer.

Adult female Siamese weigh 5 to 6 pounds; males, 6 to 7 pounds. The average lifespan of this breed is 11 to 15 years.
Siamese are light shedders

Your Siamese will tend to shed less than average. His short, fine coat can be easily cared for with weekly combing to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils.

Because Siamese tend to have more dental problems than other breeds (due to the shape of their head and jaw), you'll want to brush your kitty's teeth daily or at least several times a week.