Breed Standard
Head: Medium-sized, can be inscribed in a triangle formed by the straight lines running from the nose to the top of the ears. Equilateral triangle in the British type Siamese, isosceles in the American type. Skull slightly convex in profile. Flat cheeks, but jowls allowed in adult males. Slender muzzle. Long, straight nose without break. No whisker pinch. Firm chin in line with the tip of the nose.
Eyes: Medium-sized, almond-shaped, Oriental type, set at a slant. Color: the most intense blue possible.
Neck: Long, thin, graceful, slightly arched.
Body: Long, svelte, tubular. Shoulders and hips of the same width. Fine-boned. Firm muscles.
Paw: Long, slender. Fine bone and muscle structure. Small, oval paws.
Tail: Long, thin, narrow at the base, tapering to a point.
Coat: Short, fine, dense, silky, shiny, lying flat against the body. Almost no undercoat.
Color: Pigmentation on the extremities of the body (points): face (mask), ears, legs, and tail. The color of these darker areas must be as even as possible. There must be a clear contrast between the color of the points and that of the body. All Siamese are colorpoints. The most traditional colors (recognized by the C.F.A.) are:
- seal point: dark brown markings (points); eggshell white, light buff background
- blue point: steel blue points; cold, bluish-white background - chocolate point: light brown points, ivory background
- lilac point: pinkish-buff points; off-white to ivory (magnolia) background
The Siamese, once called the Colorpoint Shorthair, can also be:
- red point: reddish-golden points, apricot-shaded white background
- cream point: cream points, cream-shaded white background
- tortie point (seal tortie, blue tortie, chocolate tortie, etc.): tortoiseshell markings on points
- seal tortie point: brown spots on the points, red blaze on the face, light brown background
- tabby point: stripes around the legs and tail, striped mask, etc.
- partiColor: pure white spots on part of the mask, legs, and body Siamese kittens are born white. By the fifth day, the points start to appear. The coldest areas of the body darken; this is why a Siamese cat living outside in winter is darker than one living inside. Coloration is final at 12-15 months. In addition, the body pigmentation darkens with age. Ghost markings should fade by adulthood.
Fault: Eyes too pale. Obvious flaw in the tail. Imperfect coat. Disqualify: eyes another color than blue. White markings in the points except in particolors. Clear spots on the belly.
History
This royal cat is born all white This very old breed is mentioned in a manuscript dated 1350 from Ayuthia, then the capital of Siam, now Thailand. Note also that in the early 19th century, German naturalist Pallas described white cats with dark extremities in central Asia. In Siam, the breed was reserved to the royal family and carefully guarded in the royal palace. However, two Siamese of unknown origin were successfully shown at London's Crystal Palace in 1871. In 1884, Sir Owen Gould, English Consul to Bangkok, obtained a pair named Pho and Mia. He brought them home and entrusted them to his sister, Ms. Veley. Pho and Mia produced the first champions awarded in 1885. That same year, August Pavie, a French diplomat, also brought home two specimens from Bangkok. They had been presented to the Jardin des Plantes by Mr. Paire, France's resident minister in Siam. In 1893, also in Paris, Mr. Oustalet, a professor at the Paris Museum of Natural History, drafted an article on the "Cats of Siam" brought back by the daughter-in-law of President Carnot. In 1889, Harrison Weir published Our Cats and All About Them, including a chapter on the Siamese. The first standard was established by the G.C.C.F. in 1892. The first breed club, the Siamese Cat Club, was created in England in 1901. The "royal" Siamese thus began its rich career. In 1890, the first Siamese cats were introduced to the United States. The Siamese has enjoyed considerable popularity since 1920. The breed's current morphology is quite different from its original type, which was rounder and more massive. Crossed eyes, a kinked tail, and even green eyes were allowed. Since then, selective breeding following a certain aesthetic has refined the breed's traits. The head is now triangular, the tail has no kinks and is therefore longer, and crossed eyes have been eliminated, in part.
Behavior
This "Prince of Cats" is perhaps the most extraverted of the domestic cats. With his volatile, or unpredictable, temperament, he has a very strong personality and tends toward excess in all areas. He is not peaceful or calm. If you want a cat with a true presence, the Siamese is for you. Hypersensitive and highly emotional, Siamese cats adore company. They hate solitude and cannot stand indifference. If neglected, they become depressed. These "big mouths" will harass their owner with their often loud, raucous voice and will follow their owner everywhere to get attention. Exclusive, very possessive, and brimming with affection, they can become jealous. The sociable Siamese likes to play with children but does not always appreciate the company of other cats. Siamese cats are sensitive to cold and like comfort and thus apartment life. They reach puberty early, as females can have their first heat by 5 months. Heats occur approximately every two weeks, with no period of sexual quiescence in fall and winter. The Siamese is more prolific than average for domestic cats. Siamese kittens, who are obviously hyperactive and fearless, must be raised attentively. In terms of grooming, they require brushing once or twice weekly. They should be bathed several days before a show.
Health
A well-bred Siamese cat usually has no significant health problems beyond those of all breeds. Unfortunately, over the course of many years of tight breeding for desirable characteristics, some inbreeding and genetic problems have occurred. When this happens, the resulting cat may have a weakened immune system that leaves it susceptible to a number of common diseases. Feline hip dysplasia is one, but can be corrected with proper screening and surgery. Upper respiratory infections, diabetes and feline asthma are also problems for the Siamese. They are also prone to gingivitis, cardiomyopathy (heart disease) and amyloidosis (a type of destructive liver disease).
