Siamese cat breed portrait

The origins of the Siamese cat go back to the Kingdom of Siam, today's Thailand. In its country of origin, the Siamese cat was revered for its beauty and attributed spiritual abilities. She lived there in the royal palace and in houses of high society.

In 1884, the Siamese king gave the British Consul General a male and a female animal of the temple cat named Pho and Mia, who became the first breeding pair in England. Their first offspring were presented at a cat show at London's Crystal Palace in 1885, where the first ever exhibitions were held. Since there were only a few animals of the breed in England, it was also possible to breed with only a few cats, which led to inbreeding and, as a result, various hereditary diseases.

At the beginning of their breeding, there were two different types of Siamese cats, differing in their appearance and physique. Finally, in 1892, the first breed standards for Siamese cats were established. In other European countries such as France and Germany, the Siamese cat was bred towards the end of the 19th century. The Siamese cat did not spread worldwide until the middle of the 20th century, with the colour variants of the Thai cat Chocolate Point, Lilac Point or Red Point being deliberately bred. Over the years, other colour variants have been added, which are recognised by cat breeding associations such as the 1st DEKZV e.V.

The classic Siamese cat has an elegant, slender body, long legs and a wedge-shaped head with large ears. Siamese cats are partial albinos, which is why their eyes are deep blue and almond-shaped. This gives them a distinctive, exotic expression. The most striking features of the Siamese Shorthair cat are its points – the darker areas on the ears, face, paws and tail that stand out strongly from the rest of the body. The coat is typically off-white in color, with the dots coming in various shades such as seal, chocolate, blue, or lilac.

The Siamese cat is often called the "dog cat": it is affectionate and extremely intelligent – learning to fetch is no problem for it! Siamese cats also have a strong play and hunting instinct and demand a lot of attention due to their character and urge to move. So you should give yourself enough time each day to keep your cat busy and satisfying their needs. Siamese cats like to be around you and cuddle a lot, which makes them loyal companions. They can form a strong bond with their owners, so they shouldn't be left alone for too long. Since Siamese are very social, they are also compatible with other cats and usually with dogs. If you are often on the go, a second cat or dog is the ideal roommate for your Thai cat.

Your darling can also communicate intensively with you via a wide range of sounds: He likes to chat, but also tells you loudly if something doesn't suit him. Because the pedigree cat has a mind of its own and a strong character: it is characterized by self-confidence and willfulness.

Since Siamese cats have a dominant nature, consistent training is important. The water-shy velvet paws can be kept as indoor cats, but need as much space and movement opportunities as possible. So, as the owner of a Siamese pet, you should set aside time every day to play with them. It would be ideal to give him free access through a secured garden in which he can romp to his heart's content. You should also provide your cat with plenty of toys, scratching spots, and climbing opportunities, such as scratching posts. Due to their pronounced social behavior and because Siamese cats need so much attention and exercise, it is best to never leave them alone for long: your furniture will thank you. Your Siamese cat feels most comfortable living with other dogs.

The pedigree cat is also family-friendly. It is often used as a therapy cat, e.g. for autistic children. With her demanding, but good-natured nature, she manages to awaken the children's joy of playing.

The Siamese cats' coat doesn't need intensive grooming – occasional brushing of their short hair and fine top coat is enough to help your cat take care of their body. The Thai cat has little undercoat, which is why it hardly sheds.

Siamese cats can usually live very long and are hardy. However, there are some typical hereditary diseases that the cat can suffer from, such as:

• Strabismus: Strabismus is common in Siamese cats. It usually does not cause them any pain and does not necessarily need to be examined by a veterinarian, as most cats can live well with it and it does not restrict them in everyday life. Strabismus in Siamese cats is a consequence of their breeding. Cats diagnosed with strabismus will be excluded from breeding.

• Nystagmus: The eyes are often affected in diseases of Siamese cats. Because they are partial albinos, they are deficient in melanin, which is important for eye health, among other things. The disease nystagmus is characterized by uncontrolled eye tremors, which usually does not restrict the cat, which allows it to continue living normally.

• Kinked tail: Cats with a kinked tail have a slightly bent tail vertebra that usually runs straight. A bony thickening is also often noticeable. Affected cats have no health effects, but are no longer approved for breeding.

• Endocardial fibroelastosis: In this heart condition, the inner wall of the heart thickens. In severe cases, the thickening can spread to the heart valves. As a result, heart murmurs, stunted growth and even heart failure are possible.

• Persistent ductus arteriosus: This is also a heart disease that usually occurs in kittens. In healthy cats, the connection between the aorta and pulmonary vascular trunk closes, but in sick animals this occlusion does not occur, which can result in non-specific symptoms such as weakness or heart failure.

• Porphyria: This rare metabolic disease is based on a defect in heme synthesis. Heme is a component of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule in the blood that is not produced in sufficient quantities in the disease. Affected cats may develop severe skin sensitivities, neurological disorders, or digestive problems.

• Amyloidosis: In this disease, the protein amyloid, which is found in various organs and tissues such as the heart, liver or kidneys, is continuously deposited. As a result, the function of the organs is disrupted. Since different organs can be affected, the symptoms are also non-specific, which is why diagnosing this condition can be challenging. For example, chronic renal or hepatic insufficiency can occur.

• Pica syndrome: This disease is a behavioral disorder in cats. It is characterized by eating and gnawing on indigestible substances such as wool. The causes of the disease have not been proven, but stress, genetic factors and malnutrition are considered to be triggers. Eating non-edible objects and substances can lead to digestive problems such as intestinal obstruction.

Siamese cats also have a sensitive stomach. Therefore, it is best to make sure to feed your velvet paw high-quality food, e.g. especially stomach-friendly food. Depending on your four-legged friend's appetite, you can switch between wet and dry food in his diet.

"Kira is 'good at food' for a Siamese cat with her 4 kg. She is a traditional Siamese cat (Chocolate Point) with a slightly rounded head (not wedge-shaped like the 'modern' Siamese cats) – okaaaay and slightly roundish belly perhaps. Kira is now (2022) 13 years old and had Lemmy, her tabby 8-kilo friend of the European Shorthair breed, by her side all her life until he suddenly died in our arms at night in 2019. It's just sheer horror – but she's done it much better than us humans since then. As long as Kira manages this so well and is doing well, no new boyfriend will move in for the time being – although Siamese shouldn't be alone. Since then, of course, we have been keeping a close eye on her and since I am lucky enough to be able to work at home, I am always there to read her every wish (which of course is expressed loudly in a wide variety of tones depending on the urgency) from her cross-eyed blue eyes: something like 'Give me the food!', 'I want to play now!', 'My electric blanket has run out, Turn them right back on!' (yes, Kira has an electric blanket in winter when she can't walk the sun all day like in summer), 'Put the blanket a little further so I can lie in the sun again!' or 'Hey, I've been sitting on the washing machine for 2 seconds now and you're still not here to brush me!'.

Character of Kira

So yes, Siamese cats are very demanding and talkative and sometimes drive you crazy. On the other hand, this cat breed is also very cuddly and sensitive and seeks your closeness. Kira sleeps on my pillow every night (yes, I only have a corner of the pillow and I've been wondering for years where the back pain comes from... but what not to do...).

Employment Opportunities for Kira

And so that she will be as good as possible on her own for the next few years, I will now start the clicker training again (it didn't work out so well when both cats were still together) and let's see if she might still be up for the leash at her age and maybe want to experience a few little adventures. Of course, everything is super careful and exactly the way SHE wants it to be and always with an extra look at the sensitive little – that's a matter of course.

Here's to many more cat years with 'goosebumps on her tail when she enjoys her brushing session' and wild growling at 80 km/h when she has her '5 minutes'... Sometimes annoying screaming (especially when she's jealous because people are eating or they cheekily greet and kiss each other when they come home) and a lot of love and cat hair in bed!"

_In collaboration with Ina from @pollypixelt