Siamese (cat) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siamese Cat |
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Lilac-point Siamese (Oriental)
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| Common nicknames | Meezer |
| Origin | China, Thailand  |
| Breed standards | |
| TICA | standard |
| ACF | standard |
| ACFA/CAA | standard |
| CCA-AFC | standard |
| Domestic cat (Felis catus) | |
The Siamese is a special type of cat that comes from Thailand. These cats are famous for their bright blue eyes and dark brown markings on their face, ears, tail, and paws. Not all Siamese cats look exactly like this, but these are common features. In Thailand, where they first came from, they are called Wichian Mat. This name means moon diamond. There are two main kinds of Siamese cats: the Traditional or Thai Siamese, and the Modern Siamese.
Contents
What Siamese Cats Look Like
All Siamese cats have a unique fur pattern called point coloration. This means their body fur is light, but their face, ears, feet, and tail are much darker.
Traditional Siamese Cats
The Traditional Siamese cat shares some features with the Modern Siamese, like its color pattern and short fur. However, its head and body shape are different. This cat has long legs and a thin, graceful body. Its head and muzzle are wedge-shaped, and it has round cheeks. The ears are large and set high on its head. Its eyes are medium to large and shaped like an almond.
Modern Siamese Cats
The Modern Siamese cat has a flexible and strong body. Its head is shaped like a triangle, with a thin, snout-like muzzle. Their eyes are also almond-shaped. Their ears are tall and sit more on the side of the head than those of the Traditional Siamese. Both their neck and tail are long and thin.
How Siamese Cats Behave
Siamese cats, both Traditional and Modern, are usually very friendly and loving. They often enjoy spending time with people, though each cat is different. They are known to form a strong bond with one person. These cats are also very smart, often more so than some other cat breeds.
Some Siamese cats love to "talk." Their meows have been described as sounding like a human baby. They often want a lot of attention. Siamese cats also love to play and run around, staying playful like kittens throughout their lives.
Unlike most cats, Siamese cats are less active at night. They prefer to sleep through the night. This might be because their eyes do not have something called tapetum lucidum. This is a special layer that helps many cats see better in the dark. Also, unlike many other blue-eyed cats, Siamese cats can hear very well. Cats that are white with blue eyes are often deaf.
Images for kids
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Suphalak cat, Siamese cat, Korat cat and Ninlachak cat in Tamra Maew (The Cat-Book Poems) thought to originate from the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351 to 1767 AD). Over a dozen are now kept in the National Library of Thailand.
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Siamese gene chart
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Balinese are also known as Longhaired Siamese, being distinguished by coat length
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Orientals have the same head and body type but green eyes and a wide variety of coat patterns
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Himalayan cat, breed derived from crosses of Persians to Siamese
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Colorpoint Shorthair, cross between a Siamese and a Domestic Shorthair, with a lynx point pattern and cream colouring.
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King Prajadhipok following his coronation day, surrounded by the court ladies carrying his regalia and what is today regarded as a Thai cat, the cat symbolises 'domesticity'.
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Wankee, born 1895 in Hong Kong, became the first UK Siamese champion in 1898.
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While this show quality specimen from 1960 still exhibits relatively moderate characteristics, the breed standard was setting the stage for the modern Siamese, with its call for a "dainty, long and svelte" body, a long head that "taper[s] in straight lines from the ears to a narrow muzzle", "ears large and pricked, wide at the base" and tail "long and tapering".
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Seal point Siamese-Himalayan mixed breed cat
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A mixed breed chocolate-point Siamese cat-Bicolour cat
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Seal point Siamese kittens
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Seal tabby silver Siamese
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Lilac point Siamese cat
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Side view of the head of a chocolate point adult
See also
In Spanish: Gato siamés para niños
