The Siamese cat is a popular short-haired breed of domestic cat.
It is originally from Thailand, a country whose official name was Siam until 1939.
The Siamese cat one of the first distinctly recognized breeds of Asian cat.
A description and depiction of the Siamese cat first appears in a collection of ancient manuscripts called the Tamra Maew (The Cat-Book Poems) thought to originate from the Ayutthaya Kingdom (14th to the 18th century).
The Siamese became one of the most popular breeds in Europe and North America in the 19th century.
In 1878, US President Rutherford B. Hayes received the first documented Siamese to reach the United States, a cat named “Siam” sent by the American Consul in Bangkok.
In 1884, the British Consul-General in Bangkok, Edward Blencowe Gould (1847–1916), brought a breeding pair of the cats, Pho and Mia, back to Britain as a gift for his sister, Lilian Jane Gould
By 1902 the first cat fanciers club devoted to the Siamese cat had been established in the United Kingdom, and by 1906 the Cat Fanciers’ Association had officially recognized the breed.
Siamese cats have a relatively long lifespan. They live up to 15 years on average, some can reach 20 years old! Siamese Scooter holds the record as the world’s oldest male cat, dying at the age of 30.
There are two different types of Siamese Cat: the Traditional or Thai Siamese, and the Modern Siamese.
The Traditional Siamese has a few features that are the same as the Modern Siamese, like the colour pattern and the short fur, but it is different because of its head and body shape. It has long legs, and is thin and is graceful. It has a wedge shaped head and muzzle, and round cheeks. The ears are large and high. The eyes are between medium and large, and have the shape of an almond.
The body of a Modern Siamese is flexible and well-muscled. Its head is in the shape of a triangle, with a thin snout-like muzzle. Their eyes are also almond shaped, and their ears are tall and sit more on the side of the head than the Traditional Siamese. It’s neck and tail are long and thin.
Characterized as affectionate and loyal, though sometimes destructive, it is regarded by some of its admirers as the most intelligent of domestic cats.
Siamese tend to seek human interaction and also like companionship from other cats.
It is highly vocal and possesses a range of cries, including a penetrating mating call.
Unlike most cats, they are less active at night, and prefer to sleep through it. This might be because their eyes lack something called tapetum lucidum, which allows cats to see better in the dark. Also, unlike many other blue-eyed cats, Siamese cats can still hear well. Cats that are white with blue eyes are often deaf.
A Siamese kitten can cost you anywhere from $250 to $1000, whereas an adult purebred Siamese cat will cost you more than $1000. A number of factors play a part in the cost of a Siamese cat.
In Thailand, it is a native breed, and they are called Wichian Mat, which means moon diamond.
In The Wizard of Oz a Siamese Cat is the cause for Dorothy missing the balloon ride back to Kansas. As the balloon is just about to lift off with the Wizard, Dorothy and Toto on board, a girl in the crowd is holding a Siamese Cat which distracts Toto, causing him to jump out of the basket which, of course, causes Dorothy to jump out in pursuit.
In Garfield: The Movie, Nermal, a friend/rival of Garfield, is a Siamese cat.