Pet Breed Focus: The Siamese cat

This month we're taking a look at the well known and popular breed the Siamese cat.

This is an old breed originating from Thailand (previously Siam) that has been illustrated in historic manuscripts such as the Tamra Maew written between the 14th and 18th centuries, demonstrating the age of the breed.

The cats were first brought over the West to the USA in 1878 and later to the UK in 1885 and 1886 and were the first demonstrations of point-colouration (dark ears, feet, nose, etc in relation to a pale body) seen in cats. The breed became popular and by the 1950s and 60s shows began favouring a more slender look, and wide-set ears along with a perfect triangle shape made with the nose and ears. As such the original more muscular style cats disappeared from shows but have still continued to be bred and are often called Thai cats.

The breed is distinguished by point-colouration, having almond-shaped blue eyes, wide-set large ears, triangular head, and a slender body with short fur. Temperment-wise it is known for being vocal and 'conversing' as well as intelligent, affectionate, and playful where even as adults cat may play fetch and can act dog-like.

The point-colouration seen is actually a form of partial albinism due to a mutated enzyme involved in pigment production. This enzyme is heat-sensitive where it fails to work at normal body temperatures but is able to function at the cooler extremities. All Siamese kittens are born cream or white and the points only develop later. Owing to the heat-sensitive nature of the colouration generally cats will be paler in warmer climes as well as darken more with age. The same recessive trait leading to the point-colouration also effects their eyesight and unlike most cats Siamese cats lack the mirror-like tapetum lucidum at the back of their eyes. This means that the night vision of Siamese cats is rather poor, making them more vulnerable to road accidents in more urban areas. The optic nerves can also be affected at the optic chiasm at the base of the brain where the nerves cross and many early cats were cross-eyed to compensate. This has largely been bred out now.

Many breeds owe their origin to the Siamese cat including the Balinese, Ocicat, Burmese, Himalayan, and Havana brown. The breed has been featured in the media such as in Disney's Aristocats, and the cat Tao from the book The Incredible Journey.