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Siamese are strong, elegant and intelligent cats, affectionately known as 'meezers' by their adoring owners, and are amongst the earliest-known breeds of pedigree cat. They make wonderful pets with their loving natures and extrovert personalities, and are a constant source of entertainment with their antics. The traditional Seal Point Siamese might look quite familiar, as they have been portrayed in many films including Bell, Book and Candle, The Aristocats, The Lady and the Tramp, and That Darn Cat - although this aristocratic image frequently belies the true nature of this iconic breed, who is as capable of snuggling up with you on the sofa to watch the TV, purring loudly, as of simply exuding true beauty.
The first Siamese cats were imported to the UK from Thailand (previously known as Siam) in the late 19th century, reputedly from the King of Siam's palace. There they were known as the Royal Cat of Siam, and it is said that after much diplomatic negotiation with the King, it was eventually agreed that a male and two or three females (records vary) might be brought to England. There has been much debate over the origins of this breed, much of which has been shrouded in the mists of time, but it is generally thought that the Siamese cat developed from the Sacred Cat of Ancient Egypt, a theory supported by the close resemblance to the statues of Bast, statues that are still widely seen by visitors to modern-day Egypt. Others claim that the Siamese descended from the Temple Cat of Burma, but however they reached Siam, these lovely cats had flourished there for over two hundred years before reaching England. The arrival of the Siamese in England coincided with the first cat shows, and they were introduced to the public at the first Crystal Palace cat show in 1871.
All purebred Siamese have vivid blue, almond-shaped oriental eyes with base coats of varying shades of off-white depending on the colour of their 'points', although the coat tends to darken slightly in older cats, from fawn to a paler shade of the points colour. 'Points' refer to the darker facial masks, ears, tails, legs and paws, and although the first imported Siamese were Seal Points (a dark seal-brown, almost black), a wide range of points colours have developed in the UK over the years - with blue, chocolate, lilac, caramel, tabby (known in the USA as lynx points), red, tortie, cream, apricot, cinnamon and fawn points now available. The coat of the Siamese is short, fine and close lying, and they have large ears and long tails, and are a very elegant but muscular breed. The original Siamese often had kinked tails, and eyes that squinted, and whereas these features of course do not detract from the wonderful nature of these extrovert cats, they are considered to be breeding faults nowadays and would not win any prizes at a cat show!
Despite their frequently haughty expressions, Siamese are a loveable and affectionate breed, thriving on human company. They have a reputation for being noisy, but tend to use their voices to communicate rather than simply for the sake of it. Of course, an entire breeding female will make a loud noise to attract any passing males, but neutered pets 'talk' to their owners for a variety of reasons - to say hello, to enquire when tea might be ready, or generally to attract attention to something. Siamese have a very inquisitive nature, and will enjoy trying to 'help' with jobs around the house as well as investigating the contents of cupboards. They love to be made a fuss of, and many enjoy sitting on their human companions and being picked up, often head-butting to attract attention. They are natural show-offs, especially when there are visitors around to appreciate the entertainment.
When Siamese were first introduced to the UK many years ago, they were not as strong as modern-day Siamese, probably because they had been used to a warmer climate. Today's Siamese from reputable breeders should be strong and healthy, but, in common with all breeds of cat, they nevertheless need annual vaccination boosters against the common feline ailments of flu and enteritis, as well as against Feline Leukaemia if they go out of doors. Older Siamese are sometimes prone to kidney problems, detectable by loss of weight and increased thirst, but a Vet can prescribe medication to help combat this, and many Siamese live to the age of 14-16. It is wise to have Siamese kittens neutered by the time they are 6 months old, as they tend to mature sexually at a very young age, and do not need to have a litter of kittens first. Un-neutered male cats will spray in the house and tend to wander, whilst un-neutered females will be very noisy.
Siamese are very sociable cats, usually preferring to share their life with other cats as well as with their humans, and will often live quite happily with a placid dog of a breed that tolerates cats. They need company and should not be left totally alone for long periods of time. Contrary to popular belief, Siamese are not fussy eaters (unless they're allowed to be) and will eat most good quality proprietary brands of cat food, but will enjoy treats of cooked chicken, ham and grated cheese. However, cows' milk will probably give them a stomach upset, and a bowl of water should always be available. They need to be kept stimulated, and will play for hours - and it's often wise to shut cupboard doors and put things out of sight in the same way that you would for a toddler, as they are so inquisitive. Siamese can live very happily indoors without going outside. They don't need much grooming, apart from an odd brushing to get rid of loose hairs, and their eyes and ears should be checked and kept clean if necessary. The paler pointed Siamese, such as red, cream and apricot points, often collect dark debris in the corners of their eyes, but this is perfectly normal and can easily be wiped away with a piece of damp cotton wool.
