All About Siamese Cats and Kittens

Siamese cats are a short-haired breed with darker ears, face, legs, and tail, blue eyes, and a reputation for talking. This page covers where the breed came from, how the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) describes its looks, what International Cat Care, the PDSA, and VCA Animal Hospitals say about its voice and personality, the health problems the PDSA lists, how long Siamese cats live, and ten facts about the breed.

A Very Talkative Cat Breed

International Cat Care says “Some breeds are notably noisier than others, for example, the Siamese is known for being talkative.” The PDSA says Siamese cats are “well known for being loudly vocal”. VCA Animal Hospitals says: “Big talkers, Siamese are capable of producing a variety of sounds, including one that resembles a human baby’s cry.”

Siamese cats are social butterflies. The PDSA says Siamese “like to follow you around” and are “often very affectionate with humans”. VCA says they are “Very loving, loyal and engaging with their favorite people and pets in the household.”

Brief History

Royal Beginnings

VCA says the Siamese “Reigns as one of the oldest domesticated cat breeds, dating back to 14th Century Siam (now Thailand).” It adds that Siamese cats were “Once cherished as members of the Siam royal family and high-ranking priests” and “Bestowed as gifts to visiting dignitaries from Europe by Siam royalty in the 1800s.”

The CFA says these cats were first documented in “a historic Thai collection of cat poems” from “the Ayutthaya period of Thai history (1350-1767).”

Crossing Over To The Western World

The CFA says the first Siamese to arrive in the United States was a cat named “Siam,” “given to President Rutherford B. Hayes by the American Consul in Bangkok in 1878.”

The White House Historical Association has a letter dated November 1, 1878, from David B. Sickels to Lucy Hayes, “regarding the gift of a Siamese cat,” on a page titled “Letter on the Gift of a Pet Cat to First Lady Lucy Hayes.” By that record, Sickels gifted it to Lucy Hayes, and “Siam” became “the beloved pet of daughter Fanny Hayes.”

The CFA adds: “At the same time, Siamese were appearing in catalogues of the Crystal Palace cat shows and capturing the hearts of British cat lovers.”

Siamese In The Spotlight

The CFA says Siamese cats were “one of the first breeds recognized by CFA at its founding in 1906” and that “The first Siamese Best-in-Show winner came just one year later.” It also says “the cat fancy as we know it today would likely not exist without the discovery and promotion of these exquisite cats by early English fanciers in the late 1880s.”

Characteristics And Intelligence

The CFA describes the look this way: “With its long, flat profile, long neck, body, tail and legs, everything about these cats is long except the fine, short coat. The head is wedge-shaped, forming a triangle that is completed by large, broad-based ears and accented by brilliant blue almond-shaped eyes.”

VCA says “Four main types of Siamese are seal point, chocolate, blue and lilac.” The CFA says “The blue point was recognized in 1934, the chocolate point in 1952 and the lilac point in 1955.”

Siamese cats are also incredibly smart. They can open doors, turn on faucets, and solve puzzles, as well as any dog. While they make amusing and energetic pets, they require daily interaction and play. They can become bored and restless and develop behavioral issues if left alone for long periods.

The CFA says “Unsurpassed by any other breed in its ability to communicate with humans, the Siamese is often considered the most intelligent of cats.” VCA’s trait scores for the Siamese are 5 out of 5 for intelligence and 4 out of 5 for ease of training.

The PDSA says “They can get lonely easily so it may be best to get two siblings to keep each other company.” VCA says Siamese “Favor being paired with another cat, especially another Siamese in the family” and “Can exhibit anxiety from being left home alone by over grooming, possibly leading to psychogenic alopecia.”

On other pets in the home, the PDSA says “although Siamese are normally friendly with people they may not tolerate other cats/pets as well”. The CFA says “many of these cats have formed close friendships with other pets.”

Siamese Kittens, Health, And Lifespan

The PDSA says “Where you get a cat from can have a big effect on how healthy and happy it is for the rest of its life.” It lists mediastinal lymphoma, asthma, progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia, and systemic amyloidosis as health problems that Siamese cats are prone to. It also says “We’d recommend discussing the medical history of your potential kitten’s parents and grandparents, and think very carefully before taking on a cat with any of the health conditions listed above evident in the family line.”

The PDSA describes progressive retinal atrophy as “a genetic eye problem which causes progressive blindness. Genetic tests are available to check for the disease.” On amyloidosis, the CFA says “Amyloidosis, which causes liver problems, is more problematic since research is still ongoing to determine the responsible genes.” It adds “it’s best to inquire if there is any history of it in your kitten’s lines.”

The PDSA lists an average lifespan of 11-15 years for the Siamese, and VCA lists 12 - 15 years. Read more about 15-20 years. VCA lists a weight of 5 - 8 pounds, and the PDSA lists an average weight of 5.2kg.

Whether a Siamese is prone to obesity is a question for a veterinarian. VCA says “Different breeds may have a greater risk of obesity based upon their diet” and that “your veterinarian is your best source for information on this topic.”

Ten Facts About Siamese Cats

• VCA says “The Siamese was used in cross-breeding to create newer breeds, including the Balinese, Burmese, Himalayan, Ocicat and Tonkinese.”
• VCA says “Siamese have been part of the White House pet family during three presidencies: Rutherford B. Hayes, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.”
• VCA says the Siamese “Starred in the 1965 Disney classic, That Darn Cat with Dean Jones.”
• VCA says the Siamese is “Regarded as a natural breed because no other cat is needed to create its specific Asian appearance.”
• A 2005 paper in the journal Animal Genetics by Lyons and colleagues says “The Siamese cat has a highly recognized coat colour phenotype that expresses pigment at the extremities of the body, such as the ears, tail and paws.” It adds “This temperature-sensitive colouration causes a ‘mask’ on the face”.
• VCA says “The Siamese coat becomes progressively darker with age.”
• VCA says “Kinked tails and crossed eyes were more common in earlier generations of Siamese, but careful breeding has reduced the incidents of these physical traits.”
• The CFA says “the earliest standards describe a cat that would excel in the show ring today” and “The look of the top show Siamese, however, has never changed.”
• VCA says “Young Siamese are prone to wool sucking and PICA (eating non-food items).” In its article on pica, VCA says “Pica is a condition where a cat persistently ingests non-food items” and “The most common problem that pica causes is gastrointestinal obstruction due to a non-digestible object getting stuck in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.”
• VCA says Siamese are “Determined climbers, they need suitable, sturdy cat trees and shelves to prevent them from climbing drapes or window blinds.” The PDSA says “providing them with a cat tree will enable them to jump high safely”.

More animal facts are in this article.

FAQ

Do Siamese cats like to cuddle?

The CFA says “Your Siamese will gravitate to the warmest spot in the house, which may be a spot of sunshine on the floor but is most likely to be your lap.” It also says “Siamese have a need for closeness and human attention that transcends their heat-seeking instincts.” VCA rates the Siamese 3 out of 5 as a lap cat.

Are Siamese kittens hypoallergenic?

No cat is hypoallergenic. The ACAAI says “All cats produce allergens; studies have not shown that cats can be hypoallergenic (meaning that they don’t cause allergy).” The AAAAI says “Contrary to popular opinion, there are no truly “hypoallergenic breeds” of dogs or cats. Allergic dander in cats and dogs is not affected by length of hair or fur, nor by the amount of shedding.” The AAFA says “People with dog or cat allergies may tolerate some breeds more than others.”

A 2018 review in the journal Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology says “Ten cat allergens have been identified.” It says the major allergen responsible for symptoms is Fel d 1. Read more about hypoallergenic cats.

Are Siamese cats high maintenance?

On grooming, VCA says “Its short, silky coat requires minimal maintenance and yields little shedding” and “Running a quick comb once a week is ample to remove dead hair in the coat.” The CFA says “Siamese do shed and regular grooming is needed to keep the amount of shedding under control.” On attention, the CFA says “Be prepared to provide the intense level of devotion they require”.

Show your love for cats with Animal Hearted cat merch.

Your Animal Hearted purchase saves lives! 25% of all proceeds are donated to no-kill animal shelters!

Sources

• Cat Fanciers’ Association: Siamese
• VCA Animal Hospitals: Siamese
• VCA Animal Hospitals: Pica in Cats
• PDSA: Siamese
• International Cat Care: Why do cats..?
• White House Historical Association: Letter on the Gift of a Pet Cat to First Lady Lucy Hayes
• Lyons LA et al. Tyrosinase mutations associated with Siamese and Burmese patterns in the domestic cat (Felis catus). Animal Genetics, 2005
• Bonnet B et al. An update on molecular cat allergens: Fel d 1 and what else? Chapter 1: Fel d 1, the major cat allergen. Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, 2018
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Pet Allergy
• American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Pet Allergies
• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Pet Allergy