|
|
Siamese have fascinated
folks around the world since they were first officially exported from
Thailand, or as it was known then Siam, in the late eighteen hundreds.
Their sleek lines, striking color contrast, finely chiseled aristocratic
heads, deep blue almond eyes, and short silky coats make them living
art. Combine this beauty with acute intelligence, inquisitive
personality and a loving nature and you have the essence of the Siamese
cat.
Other Names
Royal Cat of Siam
Native Country
Thailand
Breed
Description
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.
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
It is vocal, lively, and affectionate. The
breed can be very demanding and should not be left alone for long
periods of time. Daily play and interaction are critical to a Siamese's
emotional and mental well-being. Active feline companionship will help
keep a lonely Siamese happy, but there is no substitute for human
interaction as well. This breed is not for those looking for a quiet
companion -- Siamese are intelligent and if you don't give them
something to do, they will find something to do instead! |
|
