History:
The Siamese is considered by many to be a "natural" breed - one that developed without the intervention of man. Pictures of seal-point Siamese cats appear in the manuscript "Cat-Book Poems", written in Siam (now Thailand) sometime between 1350 and 1700.

There are a great many legends regarding the origin of the breed - especially the crossed eyes and kinked tails. According to some of the legends, the Siamese cat guarded Buddhist temples and was considered sacred - and was only kept by priests and royalty.

The first Siamese cats appeared in the West in the mid-to-late 1800s. Though initially described as "an unnatural, nightmare kind of cat", they quickly became popular with fanciers, even though these early cats were delicate and subject to health problems.  These first cats had crossed eyes and kinked tails, characteristics which are now considered faults, and have almost completely
disappeared as a result of careful breeding. Photographs from the late 1880s of some of the first cats to be imported from Siam show the thick, round heads and solid, muscular bodies that distinguish the Traditional Siamese from today's show Siamese.

General Information:
The Traditional Siamese (aka Applehead Siamese) is one of the oldest breeds of domestic cats. It preserves the look of the breed much as it existed when originally imported from Siam - a muscular, athletic cat, with round head and brilliant blue eyes and the striking contrast between point and body color which characterizes the breed. They are very calm, affectionate cats, typically healthy and long-lived - 15-20 years is average, and over 20 is not uncommon.

Today, Traditional Siamese cats are somewhat rare, though they seem to be making a comeback, as the breed is popular with pet buyers.

It should be pointed out that Traditional Siamese are purebred cats, descended from the original cats imported from Siam. A pointed cat that you find in the shelter, though it may look Siamese, is probably not a Traditional Siamese cat. Enough purebred Siamese cats have interbred with domestic cats over the years that the gene which creates the pointing pattern is found in a large number of cats, and some may look Siamese when in fact they have very little Siamese blood in them.

Genetics:
The "pointing" gene creates the distinct color pattern that distinguishes the Siamese breed. This gene is recessive: two pointed parents will always produce pointed kittens.

The Siamese kitten is pure white at birth - the gene that produces the "points" on the face, paws, and tail is heat sensitive, and the point color gradually develops on the cooler parts of the body. In some breeding lines, and in warmer climates, the point color may not fully develop until the cat is over a year old.

Older cats have a darker body color than young cats and kittens, though there is still a marked contrast between the body color and the point color.

The Seal Point Siamese is genetically a black cat, but the pointing gene causes the color to manifest almost exclusively on the points. As the cat matures, the creamy body color will usually give way to a light shade of the point color, particularly with seal and blue points. (For this reason, seal and blue point Siamese have relatively short careers as show cats - it's rare to see one at a cat show over the age of 2. Chocolate and lilac points don't darken as quickly and can be shown longer.)

The recognized colors are: Seal Point, Blue Point, Chocolate Point, and Lilac Point. The Red Point is not an accepted Traditional Siamese color, though it is an accepted Siamese color in some cat organizations.

Appearance:
The ideal Traditional Balinese is a medium-to-large-sized, staunch cat of robust type, with substantial, rounded bone structure, good muscular development, possessing a solid look along with balance and proportion. They are not extreme in any way. The overall impression should be a Traditional Siamese with a flowing coat and plume tail.

The head is rounded, with brow, cheek, and profile all showing clean, strong countours. The nose has a slight, gentle dip at eye level. Medium ears, broad at the base and rounded at the tips, set as much on the sides of the head as on top; ear tufts preferred. The eyes are almond shaped, uncrossed, and deep blue.

The body is medium to large in size, solidly built, muscular in development, and presenting a well-proportioned, solid appearance. Legs well muscled, proportionate in length and bone to the body. Paws more round than oval. Tufts of hair preferred on the feet. Tail medium in length but in proportion to the body: tapering and straight (no kinks).

The coat should be shorter on the head, gradually lengthening to two inches in length. Silky in texture, dense and close-lying, flowing in appearance. Ear tufts preferred. A ruff is preferred, but should not appear thick and fluffy, as the Balinese do NOT have a downy undercoat. Pantalettes at the rear are preferred. Tail hair to spread and drape like a plume, to be carried proudly and erect.

Temperment:
The Traditional Balinese is extremely intelligent, curious and loving. Their behavior and loyalty often resembles what most people expect of a dog more than a cat, as they follow their owners about, sleeping outside of the door of any room you occupy, that they cannot enter, and amusing themselves with a toy until they can once again be on your lap. Agile, swift, muscular and extremely intelligent, they love to play fetch or to make up other games. They get along easily with other cats and with dogs and yet are independent enough to adjust to periods of being alone.

While they still 'talk' like their Siamese cousins, their voices are far softer and they speak only when they have something they feel is important to say. As such, they grow up to make delightful 'watch-cats' often alerting their family when strangers approach or when something seems 'wrong'. They are very alert to their owners and surroundings, but not a hyper-active cat.  Rather, they maintain an easy balance of playing and napping depending on the circumstances.

Care and Training:
Traditional Siamese are not delicate cats, and typically are very healthy with very good appetites. Most breeders recommend a high-quality dry food, and most cats can eat when they like without becoming overweight. Middle-aged cats (5-10) are the most likely to have weight problems, which can usually be controlled by switching to a low-calorie food.

Traditional Siamese require very little grooming on the owner's part - the cat is able to keep itself clean and well-groomed. Still, most cats enjoy the sensation of being brushed or combed, and this is a good way to remove excess fur and keep it from ending up on your clothes or your furniture. Traditional Siamese do not shed excessively.

Most Siamese cats reach sexual maturity at an early age - it is not uncommon for a female to experience her first heat at the age of 5 months. Spaying is recommended by the age of 6 months, and neutering at the age of 6 months or even earlier. If neutered at an early age, males generally do not spray.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are Traditional Siamese friendly with other people?
Yes. They love people, and most will go right up to strangers and demand to be petted. They have the somewhat perverse nature of most cats, so are sometimes most attracted to people who either don't like cats or are allergic to them.

Are they good with seniors?
With their mellow temperament they are very good with seniors - they are marvelous companions and lap cats.

How are they with other pets?
When introduced at an early age, they will usually become friends with dogs or other animals. An adult cat who is already used to dogs is a wonderful "teacher" for puppies entering the home as a pet.

How are they with children?
They are good family pets, and are very indulgent of small children - they will tolerate liberties (not to be confused with ill-treatment) from them that they will not take from adults. When they've had enough, they simply make themselves unavailable. Most of them learn to sheathe their claws when playing with people, and it is rare to be scratched.

Are they intelligent?
They are very intelligent - which does not necessarily mean that they are easy to train. Each cat has a different personality - some, if you tell them "No" once, will desist from the activity forever, while those with the more mischievous natures, though they know it's forbidden, will merely wait until you're not around, and then do it anyway. :-) Many Traditional Siamese are quite adept at teaching humans the game of fetch or other tricks. Some cats will readily learn to walk on a harness and leash. These behaviors are far more successful if introduced at an early age.

What health problems are they prone to?
Crossed eyes still crop up occasionally within the breed. Though undesirable, this is not a problem for the cat, and does not affect its behavior or longevity.

Kinked tails also show up occasionally, but this is merely a cosmetic fault.

Other than that, there are no known defects that are specific to the Traditional Siamese. As in most purebred animals, there are some genetic problems that creep in from time to time, but responsible breeders work very hard at keeping their lines as healthy as possible. Things to watch for in any cat, purebred or not, include umbilical hernias, heart murmurs, and kidney disease.

How big do they get?
In size, they are about what you think of when you think of an average-sized generic cat. Males weigh from 11-15 pounds, and females 8-12.

HOME BACK
This page was designed
by Kisser

Site Design and Content © 2001 by
Christina L. Remien/Kisser
All rights reserved.