Cutest Pet Contest

Siamese

Weight: 5 - 8 pounds
Life span: 12 - 15 years
CFA rank: 5

  • Lap Cat
  • Intelligence
  • Ease of Training
  • Grooming Requirements
  • Shedding
  • Good with Children
  • Good with Dogs
  • Chattiness
Breed History | Background:

  • Reigns as one of the oldest domesticated cat breeds, dating back to 14th Century Siam (now Thailand).
  • Once cherished as members of the Siam royal family and high-ranking priests.
  • Bestowed as gifts to visiting dignitaries from Europe by Siam royalty in the 1800s.
  • First known Siamese in the United States belonged to First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes, wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes in the late 1800s.
  • The Siamese was used in cross-breeding to create newer breeds, including the Balinese, Burmese, Himalayan, Ocicat and Tonkinese.

Cat Look:

  • With exotic Asian looks, the Siamese sports a long, lean, lithe and tubular body with a triangle-shaped head, oversized ears and oval-shaped blue eyes.
  • Ears, face, tail and feet are darker than the body.
  • Four main types of Siamese are seal point, chocolate, blue and lilac.
  • Kinked tails and crossed eyes were more common in earlier generations of Siamese, but careful breeding has reduced the incidents of these physical traits.
  • One of the inaugural breeds accepted by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1906.

Behavioral concerns:

  • Extremely active yet affectionate.
  • Very loving, loyal and engaging with their favorite people and pets in the household.
  • Big talkers, Siamese are capable of producing a variety of sounds, including one that resembles a human baby’s cry.
  • Favor being paired with another cat, especially another Siamese in the family.
  • Determined climbers, they need suitable, sturdy cat trees and shelves to prevent them from climbing drapes or window blinds.
  • Can exhibit anxiety from being left home alone by over grooming, possibly leading to psychogenic alopecia.
  • Young Siamese are prone to wool sucking and PICA (eating non-food items).

Grooming:

  • The Siamese coat becomes progressively darker with age.
  • Its short, silky coat requires minimal maintenance and yields little shedding.
  • Running a quick comb once a week is ample to remove dead hair in the coat.
  • Fastidious cleaners, the Siamese rarely needs to be bathed.

Suggested Nutritional Needs:

Please consult with your veterinarian about the type of dieta nd amount to feed your cat during their different life stages.  Different breeds may have a greater risk of obesity based upon their diet, metabloism, activity and age.  Thus, your veterinarian is your best source for information on this topic.


Medical conditions seen:


Fun Facts:

  • Siamese have been part of the White House pet family during three presidencies: Rutherford B. Hayes, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.
  • Starred in the 1965 Disney classic, That Darn Cat with Dean Jones.
  • Regarded as a natural breed because no other cat is needed to create its specific Asian appearance.