Breed Information: Siamese

Breed Description: The Siamese is a medium-sized cat with a long, elegant and muscular body with a long, thin tail that tapers to a fine point. Their legs are long and slender (longer in the rear than in front) and end with small, oval paws. The Siamese head is wedge-shaped and forms an almost equilateral triangle with its large, diagonally set ears. Their eyes are almond shaped, and they have a long nose and a very fine coat that feels silky to the touch. They have an overall appearance that is extremely elegant sculpted and refined. Even people who know nothing about cats can usually recognize the Siamese breed.

History & Origin: No one knows their exact origin, but its known that the Siamese came from somewhere in the Far East. These cats were known of in Thailand, formerly Siam, as early as the 14 century and became introduced to the rest of the world through Siam's royal family.

Character & Temperament: The Siamese has the strongest-willed personality in the cat world and are often called the dogs of the cat world. If they are displeased about something, they will not only tell you, they are likely to follow you into the next room just to argue their point. Then they will continue to argue with you even after you have left the room.

This breed gets along well with other animals and loves to be stroked and petted. They are extremely vocal, and queens in heat are likely to be heard for several houses down the block. Siamese are always lively and amusing and can be arrogant and moody. They are highly intelligent and love to take their people for walks on a lead.

Color: Colors are restricted to points: mask, ear, tail and feet. Point colors include seal, chocolate, blue or lilac. Eyes are always a vivid blue. Siamese cats with other colored points are not recognized as Siamese by the Cat Fancier's Association (CFA), but are called by other names, e.g. Colorpoint Shorthair. Europe and Great Britain recognize other colors.

Coat Type: This breed's coat is very short, fine-textured and silky to the touch.

Color: The Siamese coat has little or no undercoat and tends to stay very clean. The coat is easy to maintain with occasional grooming and stroking. When the cat is shedding, a rubber mitt or brush can be used to help gently remove excess hair. Claws should be trimmed and ears cleaned only when necessary.

Health Considerations: Susceptible to upper respiratory diseases as kittens; more sensitive to anesthesia and vaccines; some lines prone to cardiomyopathy.

Trivia: The male Siamese tends to spray less than other breeds, but females often spray when in season.