Siam

Profile

OriginSouth-east Asia, Thailand
Looksmedium sized cat
Weight4 – 5 kg
Coatshort haired
Patterncontrasting coat and body colour (point colouration): Face mask, coloured ears, legs and tail
Colourice blue, cream, ivory, marbled
Eyesmiddle sized, almond-shaped, slightly slanting towards the nose, intensive deep blue.
Characterintelligent, social, affectionate
Special traitextremely social
Activity

What is the special trait of this breed?

Anybody can recognize a Siam cat, for obvious reasons:

Its long, slender body, the point colouration with the expressive face mask and the deep blue eyes give the Siam a characteristic appearance which distinguishes it clearly from other breeds. 

The exotic look mirrors the extraordinary character:
Siamese cats have a strong personality and need a lot of attention as well as being very affectionate once they have chosen “their” human. The “dog among cats” is therefore one of its nicknames. They adapt perfectly and at the same time are very lively and entertaining – thus often forming the amusing asset item of the family.

A Siam will always attract attention!

It is known for its communicative trait and long conversations in varying frequencies that are either conducted as a monologue or  directed at those around them. They love to be the centre of attention and like to be pampered profusely – “extreme couching” with their human is one of their favourite disciplines!

What are the traits unique to the Siam?

Like most oriental breeds, the Siam has an imposing and elegant appearance: Its long, slender and very flexible body is of a refined yet muscular nature. The tail is the most striking item, ending in a very fine tip. 

As opposed to many other breeds, the Siamese have a “Roman” profile: A long nose forming a non-arched, straight line all the way up to the brow.

Siam kittens are white at birth. The face mask and contrasting tail, ears and legs develop over time and the kittens reach their  final pattern only at the age of three. Cold temperatures of their surroundings will result in darker coat colours: Siam cats that spend little or no time outdoors, or live in very warm climates, have a lighter fur than those who are balancing strong contrasts in temperature. 

A special variation – the Foreign White: This Siam cat will remain white throughout life. 

Its coat is soft and silky, with a very thin undercoat. 

Other than that, Foreign Whites and Siamese share the same breed standard (FIFe category IV, SIA Siamese).

Interesting facts on keeping and care

The affectionate Siamese needs frequent interaction with its human as well as with members of their own species or other pets. If you decide to take a Siam cat home, you should make sure upfront that there is ample daily time available for socialising with your cat. You should also consider to provide it with at least one companion of its own breed, or a compatible one. 

A single cat left to itself with no chance for socialising will end up very unhappy. 

Even though Siam cats have a strongly developed play instinct, they are only suitable for older children who understand a cat’s need for space and peace, allowing them to retreat to species- appropriate resting places if they choose to do so. 

This breed is intelligent and willing to learn, they need constant challenge and inspiration.  

From humans, they can even learn tricks if given the appropriate patience and time!

The short coat of the Siamese is extremely low in maintenance. There is almost no undercoat and it doesn’t soil easily. Thus there is no urgent no need for daily grooming. However, during hair changing season, when there is a lot of hair flying around, it needs to be removed with a moist cloth, followed by a fine comb. 

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