A Pet's View / March 2007
Thai's and Tails
Exotic and intelligent, Siamese cats have been a welcome addition to Western households since they were first exported in the 1800’s. Siam eventually became Thailand but Siamese cats kept their ancient designation.
They may be the oldest of all cat breeds. They are certainly one of the most recognizable, with sleek lines, blue eyes, striking color contrasts and aristocratic posture.
They communicate like no other cat. The Siamese voice is legendary. They speak, sing and vocalize in many ways.
Like all cats, Siamese are naturally independent, but they are also ‘people’ cats, known for their loving nature. They enjoy, even insist upon, a great deal of attention.
The first Siamese appeared in England, a gift from Siam to an ambassador who brought them home. They began appearing in English cat shows almost immediately, and in American shows by the early twentieth century. The embrace of the English for Siamese a century ago was a catalyst for the world of cats. The striking Siamese color pattern, elegant frame, and dramatic blue eyes, captured the imagination of cat lovers.
The Siamese inspired other breeds including the Balinese, Javanese and Oriental. They were a primary genetic source in creating the Himalayan, Persian and Tonkinese, and contributed to the Burmese, Havana Brown, and Ocicat. Siamese are the foundation of pedigreed cats, for their own beauty, and as a superior genetic wellspring. Many breeds owe their existence and often, their continued well-being, to Siamese.
The Siamese color pattern is due to a temperature-controlling enzyme that restricts color to cooler parts of the body. All Siamese have a creamy base coat with colored ‘points’, muzzles, ears, paws and lower legs and tails. The pattern is a form of partial albinism, caused by a mutation in a heat sensitive enzyme involved in melanin production. Inactive at normal body temperatures, it becomes active in cooler areas of the skin. The result is dark coloration in cooler body parts, like extremities and the face. All Siamese kittens, although pure cream or white at birth, develop visible points in their first few months. By four weeks, points are distinguishable.
Seal Points, still the best known variety of Siamese, arrived in the West first. The elegant cats with seal brown, almost black, extremities and pale fawn bodies, were a sensation. The Seal Point is genetically a black cat, but the pointing gene causes the color to manifest almost exclusively on the points. The Blue Point, with a bluish-white body and slate blue points, gained official recognition in 1934. Chocolate Points with creamy white bodies and milk chocolate legs, tail, mask and ears were recognized next. In 1955, recognition of the Lilac Point, with pink-tinged gray points and a white body, completed the breed.
Early Siamese in Thailand often had a kink in their tails but breeders have largely eradicated the flaw, as well as the common occurrence of crossed eyes. The crossed eyes helped Siamese compensate for an abnormal optic wiring caused by the same gene responsible for their coloration.
Siamese have a specific structure as well. Long head, long body, long tail, long neck, long legs–everything about a Siamese is extended, except its silky short coat, which highlight the cat’s fine bones and lithe body lines.
Beauty opened doors for Siamese, but their personality has kept them welcome in homes everywhere. Affectionate and talkative, Siamese can be irresistible. Some are non-stop talkers, while others don’t talk unless they have something important to say. Siamese owners say their cats also like to have the last word.
Siamese bond strongly, often to one or two members of the household. Separation can be very hard for them, and they can be quite jealous if they don’t feel they are getting adequate attention. Congenial and companionable, Siamese are easily introduced to walking on a leash and often, will gladly play fetch.
In Lady and the Tramp, Siamese cats were trouble makers, but fanciers insist that was a cinematic disservice. Siamese are more commonly calm cats with a very social nature.
Their social orientation may reflect a lessened ability to live independently of humans. Such distinctive coloration is appealing to humans, but ineffective as camouflage. Siamese are also less active at night than most cats. Their blue eyes lack the structure in other cat’s eyes which amplifies dim light. Like blue-eyed white cats, they may also have reduced hearing ability. Bonding with people may have been a survival trait, and Siamese have perfected it as an art form. Indoor cats always, and lap cats most of the time, Siamese are best friends who listen as well as they talk. PL
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