Siamese
breed of cat
Siamese, popular short-haired breed of domestic cat originally from Thailand, a country whose official name was Siam until 1939. The Siamese is a lithe long-bodied cat with slim legs and a long slim tail. It has a long wedge-shaped head and blue eyes. Some Siamese have crossed eyes or kinked tails, but these features are discouraged by breeders of show animals. The Siamese was first exported from Siam to the United States in 1878 and the United Kingdom in 1884. By 1902 the first cat fanciers club devoted to the Siamese cat had been established in the United Kingdom, and by 1906 the Cat Fanciers’ Association had officially recognized the breed.
Siamese cat
Kittens are born white or cream coloured and later develop the dark points (ears, face, legs, and tail) characteristic of the breed. The points may be dark brown (seal point), blue gray (blue point), milk-chocolate brown (chocolate point), pinkish gray (lilac point), or reddish orange (red point). The colour and coat pattern are genetically recessive characteristics; that is, neither feature is apparent in the immediate offspring of a Siamese that is mated with some other breed. Such dark points are manifestations of temperature-sensitive albinism, in which the black pigment eumelanin, a type of melanin, is concentrated in the cat’s extremities.
Despite the cat’s graceful build and relatively small size, the Siamese is muscular and agile. Characterized as affectionate and loyal, though sometimes destructive, it is regarded by some of its admirers as the most intelligent of domestic cats. It is highly vocal and possesses a range of cries, including a penetrating mating call.
See the Table of Selected Shorthair Breeds of Cats for further information.
name
origin
characteristics
comments
Abyssinian
probably Egypt
regal appearance; lithe body with long slender legs
resembles the sacred cat of ancient Egypt
American Shorthair
U.S.
broad muscular body; thick dense fur
hardy; natural hunter
American Wirehair
U.S.
medium to large in size; curly coat
rare outside the U.S.
Bengal
U.S.
spotted coat; hind legs shorter than forelegs
cross between Asian leopard cat and American Shorthair tabby
Bombay
U.S.
elegant appearance; resembles Indian black leopard
cross between Burmese and black American Shorthair
British Shorthair
England
broad body with short legs; short thick tail
oldest natural English breed; many varieties
Burmese
Burma (Myanmar)
medium-sized; glossy, thick coat
related to the Siamese
Chartreux
France
robust; all shades of blue-gray
one of the oldest natural breeds
Cornish Rex
England
curly short coat; large ears
named after the Rex rabbit
Devon Rex
England
coat slightly coarser than Cornish Rex; pixie face
nicknamed “poodle cat”
Egyptian Mau
Egypt
graceful body; distinct spot pattern and banded tail
mau is Egyptian for “cat”
Japanese Bobtail
Japan
triangular head with large ears; rabbitlike tail
symbol of good luck
Korat
Thailand
silver-blue coat; heart-shaped face
native name Si-Sawat; considered to be good luck
Manx
Isle of Man
tailless or with stump; double coat (soft undercoat beneath longer, coarser hairs)
tailless gene can cause skeletal defects and stillbirths if not bred with a tailed cat
Ocicat
U.S.
typically cream coat with dark or light brown spots and markings
cross between Abyssinian, American Shorthair, and Siamese
Oriental Shorthair
U.S., U.K.
long lithe body; vivid green eyes
numerous colours unique to the breed
Russian Blue
Russia
blue with silver tipping; plush double coat; fine-boned but muscular
considered omens of good luck
Scottish Fold
Scotland
typically folded ears; short, round, well-padded body
folded ear gene can cause crippling when two such types are mated
Siamese
Asia
sapphire-blue eyes; long lean body
noted for its intelligence and unpredictable behaviour
Sphynx
Canada
hairless; large ears
rare outside North America
Tonkinese
U.S.
blue-green eyes; medium-sized
cross between Siamese and Burmese
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