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Siamese

Siamese

At a Glance

One of the oldest and most recognizable cat breeds, the Siamese cat is the parent breed for the Siamese Breed Group, which includes the Balinese (truly a longhaired Siamese) and the Oriental Shorthair and the Oriental Longhair. They share the same body type, but come with a different “paint job”. Siamese are very social and people oriented and thrive in the company of other people. Find out more about this breed and if a Siamese is right for you and your family.

Attending a cat show

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All About Cats

Printable Breed Introduction
Breed Standard
Pet Buyer’s Guide
Siamese-Full-Body
Temperament

Playful

Breed Seminar
Height/Weight Range

Medium-sized cat

Adult females

Small, approximately 5-8 pounds

Adult males

Medium, approximately 8-12 pounds

Life Expectancy

10+ years. Siamese tend to live longer than other cat breeds, reaching an above average life expectancy and have been known to live 20+ years.

Colors

The sophisticated Siamese looks dressed for an elegant masquerade ball in pale evening wear with chic black accessories and tanzanite-blue eyes. The main coat of the cat is light, and the facial area mask and extremities are dark. This pattern is known as “seal point”. Other recognized colors include chocolate, blue, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, red and cream points. All of these colors come with and without white, silver/smoke, lynx point (tabby points) and tortie/tortie points.

Similar Breeds

Opposite Breeds

About The Breed

Nicknamed Meezer, the Siamese is just as famous for their voice as their looks. They will “talk” to you all day and night, expressing their opinion on everything and demanding attention.

The active and social Siamese loves people of all ages, including children, cat-friendly dogs and other cats. They thrive on attention and affection and are often found beside their humans. Siamese like to be “helpful” and follow family members around throughout the day. They love warm places and can be typically found sitting on their humans laps during the day and snuggling under the covers with family members at night.

Siamese are very social and do not like to be left alone for long periods. As a result, many families have a second Siamese or another pet to keep them company during the day. This breed is best for those who enjoy having someone to talk and interact with throughout the day.

The ideal Siamese is a svelte, graceful, refined cat of medium size with long tapering lines. It is in excellent physical condition, very strong, lithe and muscular giving the sensation of solid weight without excess bulk. While the breed is considered “medium” in size, balance and proportion are to be considered of greater consequence. The cat should “fit together”. If it is extreme in one part, all parts should be extreme to retain balance.

View Full Breed Standard

Siamese cats are a highly intelligent, agile, and athletic breed that require stimulation or a lot of toys to keep them occupied. They are loyal and loving and will pout and pine if given little or no attention and therefore are best suited for families who enjoy spending time and interacting with them on a regular basis.

They are great jumpers and love heights, so perches and cat trees should be provided. When left alone, Siamese cats have been known to entertain themselves for hours by turning on faucets, opening cabinets, seeking out new hideaways and watching television. They have been known to walk on a leash and play fetch as well as any Retriever. Keep your Siamese entertained and out of trouble by providing puzzle toys that require them to think and move to release treats or use a clicker to teach them tricks, such as tossing a small ball to fetch or running an agility course.

TICA Regions, Clubs & Rescues

Want to connect with fellow cat lovers and those who love the same breed as you?
TICA is a large resource made up of smaller regions and clubs around the world.
Click here to find a club near you and contact information for your regional director and website.

Wherever you are, you’re in TICA’s world!®

Find a Kitten: TICA Breeders

The TICA website is the only place where you can find TICA member breeders who have signed the TICA Code of Ethics.

Find Siamese

A Key Player in The Wizard of Oz. In the movie The Wizard of Oz, a Siamese Cat is the cause for Dorothy missing her balloon ride back to Kansas. As the balloon is just about to lift off with the Wizard, a girl in the crowd holding a Siamese cat distracts Toto, causing him to jump out of the basket and Dorothy to chase after him.

Bob Dylan mentioned a Siamese cat in his 1965 classic “Like a Rolling Stone”.

The Siamese has Appeared in Many Family-Friendly Movies. Siamese cats made a memorable appearance in the movies Lady and the Tramp and Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure, as two female identical antagonistic Siamese cats, Si and Am. In the movie, The Aristocats, a Siamese named Shun Gon appeared as a member in Scat Cat’s gang.

World’s Oldest Cat. A Siamese cat named Scooter holds the record as the world’s oldest male cat, dying at the age of 30

Once Lived in the White House. The breed was first seen in Europe in 1871 at a cat show in London and later appeared in the United States in 1879 as a gift to the wife of President Hayes.

Breed Information & Characteristics

“The Siamese cat combines the grace of the panther, the fleetness of the deer, the softness of down, the strength of the tiger, the affection of the dog and the courage of the lion…they are a continual study in symmetry, grace, and elegance.” Marge Naples, This is the Siamese Cat, 2nd edition 1978.

The Siamese is the parent breed for the Siamese Breed Group which includes the Balinese (truly a long-haired Siamese), and the Oriental Shorthair and Longhair which share the same body type, but come with a different “paint job”. Siamese are graceful, lively, long, slender, strong, muscular, demanding, talkative, and very intelligent. They are very social and people oriented. They must have people around to thrive.

The actual origins of the Siamese have been lost, but it is fairly certain that it is Eastern in origin. Manuscripts from Ayudha, the ancient capital of Siam (now Thailand), record native cats. One of these manuscripts, Cat Book Poems dating from 1350, pictures a pale-coated cat with a black mask, tail, feet and ears. The Siamese made its debut in Europe in 1871 at the Crystal Palace Cat Show in London. In 1879 the first Siamese arrived in the United States as a gift to the wife of President Rutherford Hayes from the US Consul in Bangkok.

The original Siamese shown were seal points, but as blue, chocolate and lilac colors appeared, they were accepted for show. In the seventies tabby points and red and cream points made their appearance on the show bench. 1989 saw the acceptance of silver tabby points and smoke points. Around the same time particolor points were accepted for show. TICA currently accepts all colors and patterns of the pointed category for show.

The Siamese is the perfect pet for someone who wants lots of interaction and activity. They are wonderful with children and other pets. They are very loving, loyal, intuitive, demanding and social. It has been said by many who have owned Siamese that one should have two – so that they can entertain each other while their owners are away. Otherwise, one must be prepared to drop everything upon returning home in order to spend half an hour or more “hearing about the day”. Siamese are very intelligent and have a lot to say…they always have the last word.

They are very playful, entertaining themselves for hours. They have their favorite toys and never tire of playing throughout their lives. They are natural fetchers and will fetch as long as someone is there to toss! They are very amusing pets.

They love to pile up in a heap, whether it is in a lap or in front of the fridge to soak up the warmth or in a kitty kozy. They are as likely to crawl under the covers and snuggle as they are to curl up in a warm windowsill. They LOVE warm places.

The Siamese, like the other breeds in its group, is a long elegant cat that is defined by extremes – long tubular body, long well-angulated legs, long tapering tail, long triangular head, huge triangular ears. Nothing about the Siamese is round. It is angular in every way. In contrast with all of the long physical features, its coat is very short, glossy and sleek, and lies close to the body with a very fine texture.

One of the most striking features of the Siamese is its medium-large expressive almond eyes in a deep rich blue color. Eyes set in an oriental slant are like no other breed of cat (outside of the breed group). Eyes create the expression that says “Siamese”. The almond shape gives the “oriental” appearance to the face. Together with the ears, the eyes create the unique look or “essence” of the breed.

The contrast between the point color – the color of the ears, mask, legs and tail – and the paler body color makes for a very striking and attention-getting pattern. Together with the long tapering lines, svelte and lithe body, solid weight without bulk and refined boning, the Siamese is a work of art, distinct from all other breeds of cats.

Siamese cats are generally a healthy breed. They have a tendency to be sensitive to anesthesia. It is important to make the veterinarian aware of this before any type of surgery. This includes routine surgeries such as neutering, spaying and dental cleanings.  Siamese can be susceptible to Amyloidosis. There is much research being done to find a test for this disease but, to date there is no test available to detect Amyloids.

The short coat of the Siamese needs little care and is easy to groom. They tend to associate brushing with affection and enjoy being combed weekly with a stainless steel comb. You can also remove loose hair by dampening your hands with water and stroke down the cats body from head to tail.

Nails should be trimmed weekly. A human nail clipper can be used to tip the white area of the nail. Be careful not to go back too far into the red blood area inside the nail. Eyes and the inside of their ears should also be cleaned weekly. Clean their ears with a warm, damp washcloth or cotton square. Brush their teeth with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath and schedule regular veterinary dental cleanings.

Adult Siamese cats need to be fed at least twice a day. Kittens should be fed more often, at least three or four times per day, as they burn off calories more quickly. As with all cats, it is important to give your cat fresh, clean water daily. Fresh, clean water is best, so cats don’t hesitate to drink. If you worry about your cat drinking enough water each day, here’s a tip from some cat behaviorists – Place the water bowl at least three feet away from any food. Cats’ noses are sensitive and an overwhelming smell of food may cause them to drink less. Filtered drinking fountains can also be used in place of a water bowl.

Canned foods are often the preferred method for feedings. Not only are they more convenient, they are higher protein and lower carbohydrates than dry food. Their high-water content increases the cat’s overall fluid intake, which keeps the kidneys and bladder healthy. Due to their easily-digested ingredients, canned foods produce less solid waste in the litterbox as well.

Siamese/Balinese/Oriental (SH/LH) Breed Committee (7)

Name Email
Chair: Susan Adlernycsa@aol.com
Vicki Jo Harrison vjhtx@aol.com
Toni JonesHojpojorientals@gmail.com
Heather Lorimerdr.lorimer@gmail.com
Julie Keyerkattalyst.osh@gmail.com
Jenny Hamonsranchcats@yahoo.com
Lorna Friemothlorna.friemoth@gmail.com

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