Siamese Breed
“We are Siamese if you please,” chant the twin cartoon cats in Disney’s classic 1955 “Lady and the Tramp.”
“We are Siamese, if you don’t please.”
Siamese cats: Should you own one?
The Siamese in that film capture one stereotype of the Siamese: a super smart, deceptive, malicious being.
People who believe that stereotype are not cat people.
Most Siamese owners praise the breed’s sleek physiques, their chattiness, their distinct vocalizations, and their intelligence.
Is a Siamese cat right for you? Read on before you decide.
Breed characteristics
The Cat Fancier’s Association guidelines say that a true, pedigreed Siamese should be sleek of body, short-haired, blue-eyed, predominantly off white in color with “points” of brown or gray on the face, tail, and legs.
These point colors are very important to connoisseurs of the Siamese. Dark brown points mean a Siamese is a “seal point,” dark gray points make her a “blue point.” Lighter brown points make a Siamese a “chocolate point,” while a cat with lighter gray points may be referred to as a “lavender point” or “lilac point.” Reddish points land a cat with the term “flame point.”
A percentage of purebred Siamese will have a condition called “esotropia,” meaning one or both eyes turn inward toward the nose. If you own a cat like this, you may notice that he sometimes moves his eyes rapidly back and forth. This is your cat compensating for his visual dysfunction.
Many purebred Siamese are casually referred to as “cross eyed.” Pet experts point out that cats have many tricks for adapting to this condition which has no cure or treatment. By no means is a cross-eyed cat unhappy about his disorder. He doesn’t know it’s abnormal, has nothing to compare it to, and no one is making him feel bad about it.
The most highly bred and expensive Siamese cats will also exhibit big ears, relative to the size of their small, triangular heads and almond-shaped eyes. Those who care about breeding will look for a perfectly straight line from the Siamese’s forehead to the tip of its nose. This straight line makes the pureblood Siamese distinctive from other breeds that have curvier profiles with more upturned noses.
The spin off breed
In recent years, however, there has been a rift in the church of Siamese lovers. Some fanciers now state a preference for “apple headed” Siamese. These cats have the same distinctive color patterns as traditional Siamese, but they have rounder, more normal looking heads with less severe profiles.
Apple heads may also have rounder, chubbier bodies and rounder, less almond-shaped eyes. Originally, apple heads were breeding accidents, i.e. mamma Siamese stole off in the night and married below her station. Or they were breeder disappointments, meaning the strategically bred kittens didn’t conform to the ideal shape.
However, these mistakes quickly became so popular that certain breeders now specialize in apple heads. Some people find the severe features of the traditional Siamese “ugly.” For these folks, the apple head combines some desirable traits of the Siamese with the softer features of regular cats.
What should you expect?
Fans of the Siamese insist that its voice is completely different from other cats. Some liken it to the cry of a human baby.
These Siamese owners will tell you that, when you bring home a Siamese, you should be prepared for a very intelligent, very vocal, very affectionate cat. However, it is important to note that Siamese do not have a monopoly on cat intelligence or affection.
Some Siamese can be taught to retrieve a stick or small ball. That’s a clear sign of cat intelligence. However, a small percentage of mixed breed cats rescued from the street can also be taught to retrieve.
And almost any cat that consistently receives love will become affectionate over time. Many mixed breeds, whose only heritage is the city pound, are miserable anywhere but in their owners’ laps.
Purebred Siamese generally go from one home where they are cherished, as kittens, to another home where they are also cherished for life. This gentle upbringing, more than genetics, likely explains Siamese affection.
Cats will moderate their conversation to suit their household. If you reward a cat for being chatty by petting and talking to him when he is talking to you, he may continue to talk. If your cat senses that you prefer peace and quiet, he will, over time, become a quieter cat.
It is important, in other words, not to overstate the uniqueness of the Siamese. Many loveable things about this breed will be equally true of other individual cats of different breeds. Even stray cats, who luck into a permanent home, can turn out to be wily and loving beyond belief.
How much should you pay for a Siamese?
A Siamese is by no means the most expensive cat breed. Breeders typically charge U.S. $200-800. If, however, you do not want to spend that kind of money, you can apply for a rescue Siamese from a nationwide coalition of breed rescuers.
The Siamese Cat Rescue Center and its affiliates place homeless Siamese in homes all over the United States. If you are considering Siamese adoption, it is worth starting at SiameseRescue.org because it provides a wealth of information about the breed.
The rescue center also features pictures and descriptions of hundreds of adoptable cats who all exhibit Siamese traits. Some are mixy, others are purebred. There are kittens, adult cats, and senior cats.
The application process for a rescue Siamese may seem arduous to some. You must provide character references and warrant that you have a good home. You will be asked to disclose children and other pets in the house.
The good news, though, is that the Siamese Rescue Center is able to make really good matches between cats and cat lovers. A team of volunteer drivers make it possible to adopt a cat being fostered in the next state over.
Is a Siamese right for you?
There are a few questions you should probably ask yourself before adopting a Siamese. Are you prepared for a vocal cat with a deep, throaty meow? Do you have time for a cat that needs a lot of attention?
But the most important question to ask is: Do you want a cat? At the end of the day, a Siamese is neither more nor less than that.
Cats have a unique intelligence that allows them to do things that humans cannot. For instance, when was the last time you crossed a room without touching the floor? Cats do that routinely.
Your Siamese will surprise you by doing things you never thought possible. She may open cabinets and closet doors. She may learn to make photocopies. You may wonder how she got up on the ledge of that skylight, sixteen feet off the floor.
Do consider whether you have the time and love to give a cat. The notion that cats are aloof is a myth, perpetuated by people who mistrust cats.
Cats are not aloof. Given the least bit of encouragement, your Siamese will want to spend hours a day on your lap or snuggling beside you or sleeping on your bed, nestled in the crook of your arm or leg, or playing with you.
Because she’s a cat. And that’s what cats do. They have been bred for centuries to bond with people and to love people even more than they love food.
In conclusion, you should get a Siamese cat, or any cat, only if you want a near constant companion who will give you unconditional love for the rest of his or her life.