The Siamese cat is the most popular shorthair breed in the world today. It has come a long way from the ancient city of Siam (now Thailand) to Britain and finally to America (this happened in the 18th century). These elegant cats were recognized for their blue blood right from their first days, when they were kept as companions for the Siamese royalty.
The Siamese is notable for its large, beautifully shaped, baby blue eyes, which are the main reason that the cat enjoys adulation and admiration. The hauntingly endearing eyes have been an inspiration for many-a writer and poet.
The Siamese is also renowned for its point-restricted coat pattern. Its body is of a light shade, while its face, tail, paws and ears (the points) have dark hues. This occurs due to a pigmentation problem that the Siamese has been facing for centuries, whereby the amount of pigment in the body is less than that contained in the points.
A Siamese can be entered into The Cat Fanciers Association only if it is in the colors of seal point, blue point, chocolate point and lilac point. Any other color, for instance red point, cream point, cinnamon point, fawn point, tortie point, lynx point and tortie lynx point are not recognized by the CFA. However, they are accepted by most other organizations.
Based on the length of its fur, the Siamese is classified into separate variations. The shorthair cat is the 'original' Siamese. Longhaired breeds are called as Balinese. There is a third name given to the Balinese cats who come in colors other than the CFA approved ones; those cats are then called Javanese. However, the Javanese is recognized as an extended version of the Balinese by all other organizations.
The classic Siamese is an elegant creature with a long, slender body, sharp pointed ears and a finely tapered tail. The traditional Siamese, sometimes called as 'Applehead' due to its rounded face, is more full-bodied and muscular, with rounded ears. It is the svelte variety of Siamese that usually draws all the attention and all the first-location ribbons!
The Siamese is an extremely social cat, with enhanced attention seeking needs and an unnaturally loud and rasping voice. It is a highly intelligent creature that craves affection and activity. It cannot be left alone for too long. When treated well, the Siamese make great faithful companions.