To know anything at all about pedigreed cats is to know the Siamese. It was largely the discovery of this one breed by the English well over 100 years ago that provided the impetus for the world of cats we know today. The Siamese has been the inspiration, if not the primary genetic source, for many other breeds and has served to maintain and stabilize breeds threatened with extinction.

Physical Description

The Siamese breeding tradition began generation ago, but the Siamese of today still have the graceful elegance suggested in the earliest breed standards. Long head, long body, long tail, long neck, long legs – everything about Siamese is long, with the exception of its short coat, which accentuates the body lines and lends a porcelain-like quality to the cat’s looks. A tubular body, large ears, and fine bones contribute to this exquisite refinement of type. The long, wedge-shaped head, graced by large ears that complete that triangle, straight profile, and lovely almond-shaped eyes contribute to a unique expression of feline beauty. When the color contrast is excellent and correct, the body color is even and clear, and the eyes are a gorgeous deep blue. There are four lovely Siamese colors in the CFA – seal point, chocolate point, blue point, and lilac point.

Personality

An indication of successful, lengthy domestication of any animal can be found in a high level of communication with and effective for human beings. No breed surpasses the Siamese in its ability to communicate and in its love for human being. Whether by vocalizing or by body language, the Siamese is determined to communicate. Siamese do not tolerate isolation well, or being ignored. They want to be part of their owners’ lives, as they hold firmly to the belief that they are humankind’s best friends. They are in your lap, on your newspaper, in your bed, and completely in your heart. There is no better companion cat than the “royal cat of Siam,” a feline thoroughly acquainted with the term togetherness. There is also the fact that Siamese are heat-seekers. They are elegant, sleek creatures with short, fine coats. A Siamese can find the warmest spot in your house.

Grooming Requirements

While rubber brushes, if used sparingly, are fine aids for removing excess hair, grooming by hand is by far the best way to maintain a Siamese coat. Wet hands are used to stroke the coat until they dry, gently removing dead hair in the process. A Siamese that lives in the house wit his owner will seldom need a bath, as daily hand grooming will suffice. If a bath is called for, however, it should be given using a gentle no-tears baby shampoo, followed by a conditioner. Nothing really conditions the Siamese coat better than an excellent diet, although there is much to be said for a bit of cottage cheese added to diet to produce an added gloss. The inside of the ears should be trimmed for show grooming, but this is the best done sparingly and with special ear/nose blunted scissors.

Origins and History

Imported into England in the late nineteenth century and appearing in catalogs of the Crystal Palace Show as early as 1881, the Siamese was recognized as seal point. This was an exotic creature in 1889 – and it still is today. Siamese are found in the Beresford Cat Club Stud Books in 1900, and the first Siamese to be awarded Best Cat in Show was in 1907. With characteristic charm, the breed vanquished North America as thoroughly and decisively as it had captured the hearts of merry old England. Classes became large; color classes expanded to four: seal point, blue point, chocolate point, and lilac point. In the year 2003, the four Siamese colors had been together on the CFA show bench for 48 years. Siamese and Persians dominated the show scene, with classes of well over 100 Siamese being commonplace. Overall quality suffered in the rush to supply this demand, resulting in a misconception of the breed that still lingers today.

The Siamese cat is so much more than a color pattern; one shared with the Himalayan rabbit, for instance. Not only is the Siamese a mainstay of the pedigreed cat world for its own distinct, instinct beauty but it is also an unsurpassed genetic wellspring to which many breeds owe their existence and, in some cases, continued well-being. ("Complete Cat Book")