Frequently Asked Questions

How are they with children?
They are good family pets, and are very indulgent of small children - they will tolerate liberties (not to be confused with ill-treatment) >from them that they will not take from adults. When they've had enough, they simply make themselves unavailable. Most of them learn to sheathe their claws when playing with people, and it is rare to be scratched.

Are they good with seniors?
With their mellow temperament they are very good with seniors - they are marvelous companions and lap cats.

How are they with other pets?
When introduced at an early age, they will usually become friends with dogs or other animals. An adult cat who is already used to dogs is a wonderful "teacher" for puppies entering the home as a pet.

How many cats should I have?
Single cats in a household do fine, though they can get lonely if left alone during the day, and will therefore demand more of your attention in the evenings. Two cats, especially if they are close in age, become good friends and are often found sleeping or playing together and grooming each other. But they still crave human attention, too.

Are they intelligent?
They are very intelligent - which does not necessarily mean that they are easy to train. Each cat has a different personality - some, if you tell them "No" once, will desist from the activity forever, while those with the more mischievous natures, though they know it's forbidden, will merely wait until you're not around, and then do it anyway. :-) Many Traditional Siamese are quite adept at teaching humans the game of fetch or other tricks. Some cats will readily learn to walk on a harness and leash. These behaviors are far more successful if introduced at an early age.

Do they scratch furniture?
Not usually - it's very easy to train them to use a scratching post, and most breeders do this. In general, they prefer a nice carpet or sisal-covered scratching post to your favorite sofa.

Are they noisy?
One of the traits a Siamese cat is known for is its voice. They can be extremely loud, and sometimes it sounds like your cat is in absolute torment, when in fact he's just trying to make a point. It's not uncommon for people on the other end of the phone to ask if there is a baby crying.

Traditionals tend to be less vocal than the modern cats - though some have the harsh "you're killing me" voice, others have a rather quiet meow. Some are non-stop talkers, while others don't talk unless they have something important to say. The voice and conversational style is apparent from kittenhood, so you'll know what you're getting into.

Do they have any bad habits?
When there are no people around, they like to be up high, and can often be found on the top of bookcases, refrigerators, or curio cabinets. If you can't find your cat, look up. It's probably best to keep any breakables off of high shelves.

Some Siamese cats engage in a practice that denizens of rec.pets.cats have dubbed "smurgling", wherein the cat holds a piece of material, usually a blanket or sweater (but sometimes human skin), in its paws and kneads it, while happily sucking and/or drooling on it. The eyes are often glazed over, and the cat is usually purring loudly. This is not a serious disorder. ( :-) for the humor-impaired.)

What are points?
Points refer to the face, ears, tail, and paws - the term is generally used in combination with color. "Seal Point" means the cat has seal colored (dark brown) points, while a "Blue Point" has blue (gray) coloring.

Will a male or a female make a better pet?
Sex of the cat makes no difference as long as they are neutered/ spayed.

Are they outdoor cats?
No, no, no, no. Almost all breeders will sell kittens with a contract stating that they be indoor-only cats, permitted outdoors only on a leash. Too many outdoor cats end up as traffic fatalities, or are severely injured by other animals. Breeders are very concerned with the welfare of the kittens they produce, and usually take great pains to insure that the kittens are going to good homes where they will be well cared for. Since most of these kittens have never been outside, they never miss it.

What health problems are they prone to?
Crossed eyes still crop up occasionally within the breed. Though undesirable, this is not a problem for the cat, and does not affect its behavior or longevity.

Kinked tails also show up occasionally, but this is merely a cosmetic fault.

Other than that, there are no known defects that are specific to the Traditional Siamese. As in most purebred animals, there are some genetic problems that creep in from time to time, but responsible breeders work very hard at keeping their lines as healthy as possible. Things to watch for in any cat, purebred or not, include umbilical hernias, heart murmurs, and kidney disease.

How big do they get?
In size, they are about what you think of when you think of an average-sized generic cat. Males weigh from 11-15 pounds, and females 8-12.

What's the difference between Traditional Siamese and modern Siamese?
To be honest, the main difference is largely individual preference. Some people adore the new look, while others hate it.

As far as personalities go, in general, Traditional Siamese tend to be a bit more laid-back than their modern counterparts. But individuals will vary, and you will find very lively Traditionals and mellow moderns. Either type can be a delightful pet.

Why do Traditional and modern Siamese look so different?
See History.

Why don't you see Traditionals at cat shows?
The Traditional Siamese does not conform to the breed standards for Siamese cats in most of the cat associations (with the exception of the Traditional Cat Association (TCA) which wrote its standards specifically for the Traditional Siamese). As such, they are unable to compete with modern Siamese cats. Though theoretically there is nothing in the show rules that prohibits a registered cat from competing in its breed class, in practice, very few people attempt to show them as Siamese. They are sometimes shown in the "Household Pet" class, where breed is not a factor.

History

There are a great many legends regarding the origin of the breed - especially the crossed eyes and kinked tails. According to some of the legends, the Siamese cat guarded Buddhist temples and was considered sacred - and was only kept by priests and royalty.

The first Siamese cats appeared in the West in the mid-to-late 1800s. Though initially described as "an unnatural, nightmare kind of cat", they quickly became popular with fanciers, even though these early cats were delicate and subject to health problems. These first cats had crossed eyes and kinked tails, characteristics which are now considered faults, and have almost completely disappeared as a result of careful breeding. Photographs from the late 1880s of some of the first cats to be imported from Siam show the thick, round heads and solid, muscular bodies that distinguish the Traditional Siamese from today's show Siamese.

As the Siamese breed has developed over the years, some breeders have preferred the rounder look, while others have preferred a slender look with a wedge-shaped head. During the 1950s and 1960s, the differences became even more pronounced: show breeders developed an extremely slender cat with a very long, triangular head, almond-shaped eyes, and flaring ears. This look caught on with show-oriented Siamese breeders and with judges. Other breeders, who did not like the new look, continued to breed the larger, round-headed cats. These "Traditional" breeders found that their cats were no longer competitive in the show ring and stopped showing. A great many also stopped registering their cats, though they continued their breeding programs with their existing purebred Siamese stock.

Today, Traditional Siamese cats are somewhat rare, though they seem to be making a comeback, as the breed is popular with pet buyers.

It should be pointed out that Traditional Siamese are purebred cats, descended from the original cats imported from Siam. A pointed cat that you find in the shelter, though it may look Siamese, is probably not a Traditional Siamese cat. Enough purebred Siamese cats have interbred with domestic cats over the years that the gene which creates the pointing pattern is found in a large number of cats, and some may look Siamese when in fact they have very little Siamese blood in them.