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Breed of the
Month:
The Siamese Cat
This
enigmatic cat originates in Siam, the place we now know
as Thailand. Siamese cats were highly honored by
generations of Siam’s kings—so much so that they were
kept in the royal palace. Talk about the royalty of the
cat world! They were trusted to protect the palace and
monasteries from evil spirits and were thought to bring
good luck.
In
1884, the first Siamese cats made their way to Britain
when the current king of Siam decided to gift them to a
British general. Then, they inevitably made their way
to the United States. Now, the Siamese cat is one of the
most universally recognized domestic cat breed.
According to the Cat Fancy Association (CFA), they are
the most popular shorthair breed and the third most
popular breed overall.
Though this breed encompasses a myriad of colors, there
are a few disagreements surrounding what constitutes a
true Siamese cat and what doesn’t. However, these
wonderful felines are known and most easily recognized
for bodies that are generally light in color with darker
areas known as points. The darker points are usually
around the face, ears, legs, feet and the tail.
Weighing between eight and fifteen
pounds, this short-haired, blue eyed sensation of the
cat world has two body types.
The modern Siamese (also known as the
“show”) have long, elegant bodies with refined tapering
lines and a wedge-shaped head to match.
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The
traditional Siamese, also known as the “applehead,” is a
robust, round-headed cat with a muscular physique and
generous bone structure.
These
shoulder perching, toy catching cats are as famous for
their personalities as they are for their color points.
Incredibly vocal cats, they have an uncanny talent for
communicating with humans that other cats simply don’t
possess. If you’re the type who wants to come home to
peace and quiet, then you have the wrong cat. The
socialites of the cat world, the Siamese will talk you
into a corner with their loud raspy yowl. Since Siamese
cats believe the world revolves around them, they demand
attention. They are also very dependant on their human
companions. Far from aloof, they crave interaction,
lots of hugs and kisses and boy do they love their
games! These cats are not meant to be left alone.
Fortunately, where the Siamese are high maintenance
emotionally, they are low maintenance in every other
aspect. These short hairs need relatively little
grooming. Because their coats lie so close that they
look painted on, a gentle weekly brushing to remove dead
hair is sufficient. Like every other breed, they have
their small share of genetic faults. Aside from the
occasional crossed eyes and kinked tail, which are
mainly cosmetic issues, this breed has its share of
gingivitis.
These cats have
above-average life spans for cats. They can remain in
your life typically between 15-20 years though over 20
years is by no means an anomaly. The reward for such an
emotionally high maintenance cat is worth it: you can
have a staunch supporter and a loyal companion for a
really long time. Imagine having a cat that can help
tutor your children on the art of speech and years
later, live long enough to see them off to college!
Only the Siamese.
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