Cat Information index - covering cat insurance for every breed and cat breeding and showing information

SHORT HAIRED CATS

SHORT-HAIRED SIAMESE. SEAL POINTED

Of all the pedigree cats in Britain today the Siamese is the most popular breed. Its numbers are steadily increasing, and more are exhibited each year. The origin of the breed cannot be traced, although the head and body lines are very like those of the cats worshipped in Egypt. Apparently the first known pair of these exotic cats was brought to England n 1884, by Mr. Gould, the Consul General in Bangkik, from the Royal palace there. Similar cats had been guarded and treasured in the Royal palaces and temples for many years, and were considered of such value that few were ever given away, and then only as presents to one or two very honoured people. With their lovely body lines, colouring, high intelligence and air of mysticism, it is easy to believe that the Siamese we know today are descendants of the Royal Cats of Siam. Mrs Vyvyan and Miss Forestier Walker were among the first to own Siamese in England, and it is from their famous Tiam-o-Shian that many of the present day cats are descended.
There are now a number of recognised varieties of Siamese. The most popular, and the original breed, is the Seal-pointed. It must be a well-balanced cat, the body being long and lithe, with a well-shaped back and haunches. The wedge-shaped head, set on an elegant neck, should be correspondingly long, and of good proportions. The rather large ears must be set well apart, standing at an angle conforming to the shape of the head, making a perfect wedge. The face is spoilt if the lines do not come down in a straight line to the muzzle. No denting in at the line should be seen or felt, as this gives a pinched look, and is a fault. The legs should be of fine bone and the feet delicate and oval in shape. The toes or any part of a toe must not be white,. This is a very bad fault in the breed and automatically disqualifies an exhibit. The hind legs are required to be slightly longer than the front, making the body slope up from the head and neck to the hind-quarters. The balance should be made up with the long slim tail, tapering to a fine point. A slight kink at the extremity which cannot be seen but merely felt, is permissible, and many people like this. The tail must not be too thick at the root, as this spoils the whole overall type of this elegant animal. A heavy Siamese is wrong. It is essentially a cat of long, flowing lines and grace of form.
The mask, ears, legs, feet and tail should be a seal brown, without brindling. The mask in adults is connected by tracings with the ears, but in kittens this does not come until they are almost grown up. The oriental-shaped eyes must be a clear brilliant blue. There must be no squint, as this is a definite fault. Occasionally a cat when being shown may develop a slight squint through nerves, which may settle down in its pen, but if it does persist, this must be considered against the exhibit. The lovely blue eye colouring with the pale cream body colour and dark points is one of the greatest attractions in the make-up of the Siamese. The cream should gradually shade into a warm pale fawn on the back. The underneath must also be a pale cream; often there is a brown spot, referred to as a ‘belly spot’, sometimes large, sometimes small. This does not disqualify an exhibit from being shown in Britain or in Europe, but is considered as a fault. The close-lying coat should be short and fine, but the coat of a Siamese kept in an outdoor run may thicken and coarsen in cold weather.
Brindling in the points is a fault, but is very often seasonal, appearing after a very hot summer, or when a cat is off-colour, and nearly always after an illness. A breeder is very disappointed when this brindling appears, as an excellent cat may often be placed out of the winning three. Light paws and chins are also faults. Siamese tend to darken in colour with age, although some may keep their lovely pale coats until they are quite old.
Siamese love companionship and fret if left alone, being very attached to their owners. If a cat has to be confined outside it is kinder to allow another one to live with it. They need the company of humans even more than other breeds, and seem to understand all that is said to them. They should not be over-fed. Many Siamese cannot take milk, but others may show no ill-effects if given milk sparingly. The kittens do not seem to be able to take it as well as those of other varieties, and if it causes diarrhoea it should be stopped. Fresh water should always be put down daily for drinking. Siamese love plenty of toys with which to play, and make lively, alert and highly intelligent pets. They take readily to leads, and may be sometimes seen accompanying their owners on walks in parks and open spaces. They are naturally prolific breeders, coming into season at an early age, and generally having five or six kittens at a time. They are quite persistent in making their wants known, having a loud and distinctive cry, quite different from that of Persians. The cries of some calling queens may be quite raucous. The kittens are nearly white when born. The points do not begin to show until after the first week or so and their real seal brown colouring may not be reached until a cat is about a year old.
The Siamese Cat Club was founded in 1901, and has done substantial work in improving the breed in every way, as may be seen by the excellent standard shown by some cats today.

Standard

Shape (body
and tail) Medium size, body long and svelte, legs proportionately slim,
hind legs slightly higher than the front ones, feet small and oval,
tail long and tapering (straight or slightly kinked at the extremity).
The body, legs, feet, head and tail all in proportion, giving the
whole a well balanced appearance.

Head and
ears Head long and well proportioned, with width between the eyes, narrowing in perfectly straight lines to a fine muzzle. Ears rather
large and pricked, wide at the base.

Eyes (colour
and shape) Clear, brilliant deep blue. Shape Oriental and slanting towards
the nose. No squint.

Body
colour Cream, shading gradually into pale warm fawn on the back.
Kittens paler in colour.

Points mask, ears, legs, feet and tail dense and clearly-defined seal
brown. Mask complete and (except in kittens) connected by
tracing with the ears.

Coat Very short and fine in texture, glossy and close-lying.

Scale of Points Points

Type and
shape Head 15
Ears 5
Eyes 5

Body 15
Legs and Paws 5
Tail 5

Colour Eyes 15
Points 10
Body colour 10

Texture
of coat 10

Condition 5