Siamese Cats

The Siamese cat has a pointed pattern. Pointed cats have dark points in their face, tail and paws. These points become lighter throughout the rest of their bodies. However, not all pointed cats are Siamese. Other cat types and breeds produce pointed variations.

The Siamese pattern comes in different colors. However, the Cat Fanciers Association only recognizes four color variations, these being the Seal Point, the Chocolate Point, the Blue Point, and the Lilac Point:

• The Seal Point pattern consists of dark brown to almost black points in the face, tail and paws, and light fur (usually dark cream or ivory, or light brown) throughout the rest of the body. This was the first color variety of the Siamese cat and it’s also the best known.

• The Chocolate Point Siamese cat has a chocolate brown face, tail and paws, while the rest of the body is a light brown.

• The Blue Point pattern shows bluish-gray points (head, legs and tail) combined with beige or pale gray body.

• The Lilac Point has light pink-gray points with a white body.

Other Siamese-style patterns include the lynx point, which has tabby points and comes in different color variations as well, and the tortie point, which has tortoiseshell points. In my opinion, the lynx point Siamese and the snowshoe Siamese (which seems as if it's wearing white booties) are very striking cats.

In the United States, Oriental (Siamese-style) cats with these patterns are classified under the Colorpoint Shorthair breed. In the United Kingdom all pointed Siamese-style cats are recognized as Siamese.

Because Siamese have blue eyes, they might suffer from hearing problems, however, most Siamese are not deaf.

Types of Siamese Cats

Besides the different color varieties of the Siamese, there are also two main "types" of this beautiful breed: the Modern Siamese (which I discussed here) and the Traditional Siamese. The old-style or traditional Siamese has a rounder head than the better-known modern Siamese.

Why the two different types? Apparently, over the years, cat show judges and breeders became fond of the elongated modern Siamese with its wedge-shaped head and pointy ears. Eventually, this type became the norm at cat shows and exhibitions, and in many instances the only accepted Siamese breed. However, many breeders still keep reproducing the old style, also known as the traditional, Siamese breed.

Siamese Cat Personality

Siamese make excellent pets. They are easy-going, affectionate, loyal, and very social. Siamese are also very vocal (see the video below). These felines enjoy human companionship and many in fact believe that Siamese are very dependent of their human family. However, like most cats, they don’t like change or sudden alterations to their environment.

So if you are looking to adopt a cat, consider the Siamese.

Very talkative Siamese...

Well-known Siamese

Here are some fun facts about Siamese cats:

Cats in general have made their contribution to popular culture, and Siamese kitties are not the exception. Here are some famous Siamese:

Fictional Siamese

Siamese appear on several novels, plays and stories, including the following:

--Skippyjon Jones (from the book series of the same name by Judy Schachner)

--Sagwa (from the book Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat by Amy Tan. Sagwa also appears in the animated television series of the same name.)

--Koko & Yum-Yum - from Lillian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who..." series of mystery -books.

Siamese in the White House

--Shan Shein, the cat of former US president Gerald Ford’s daughter Susan.

--Misty Malarky Ying Yang, the pet cat of Amy Carter, the daughter of former US President Jimmy Carter

My ears are too beeg for my head. My head ees too beeg for my body. I am not a Siamese cat ... I AM A CHIHUAHUA! ~ Skippyjon Jones, doing his best Spanish accent.

— Judy Schachner, author of the Skippyjon Jones books

Gifts ideas

If you, or know anyone who loves the Siamese, consider the following Siamese-themed gift ideas: