Siamese cats are not just adorable but they are also one of the most fascinating and oldest cat breeds in the world. With their striking blue eyes and loving nature, these cats have been appealing to people’s hearts for many years.
Whether you are a cat lover or just want to learn about this amazing breed, you’ll be surprised by these 15 fun and personality facts about Siamese cats. This blog will discuss everything from their royal history to quirky traits. At Siamese Cat World, we’re passionate about discussing these unique felines.
1) They Have a Wide Range of Coat Colors
When most people think about Siamese cats, they imagine the creamy-white body with dark brown points on their paws, faces and ears. But do you know Siamese cats come in a wide range of stunning coat colors. In addition to the traditional seal points, they also have chocolate points, blue points, lilac points and many other coat colors.
2) They Are One of the Oldest Cat Breeds
Siamese cats are one of the oldest cat breeds. They first originated in the 14th century in the reign of the Ayyuthia Kingdom of ancient Siam, now which is known as Thailand. Their thai name is Wichien Maat. This would make them one of the oldest cat breeds.
3) They were Honoured by Royalty
Siamese cats were known as sacred cats. Hundreds of years ago, they were honoured by the royalty of ancient Siam. They were considered sacred because it was believed that when a member of the royal family died, his soul went to the body of the Siamese cat and the cat would spend the rest of his long life living in a temple. They were not used as merely pampered ornamental pets, they were used as guard cats in ancient Buddhist temples and shrines.
4) They had Crossed Eyes and Crooked Tails
In the past, Siamese cats have crossed eyes and crooked tails. It was only because of genetic factors but many legends have given some alternative explanations.
According to a legend, a group of Siamese cats have been given the task of the security of a royal goblet. Their focus and staring at the goblet for a long time results in their crossed eyes. And they have covered the goblet with their tails which results in their bent and crooked tails.
There are a few Siamese cats today that have crossed eyes and crooked tails. These features have been eliminated in modern breeding, but they remain an iconic part of Siamese cats in the folklore.
5) They Had Once Lived in the White House
Siamese cats had come first in the United States in the late 1800s. The U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes’s wife, Lucy Webb Hayes was the first owner of a Siamese cat in the U.S. Her cat, named Siam, was a gift from a U.S. diplomat serving in Thailand. Decades later, President Jimmy Carter’s daughter, Amy, also owned a Siamese cat with the memorable name Misty Malarky Ying Yang. These elegant cats rapidly captured the hearts of Americans, securing their place in U.S. history.
6) They Have Also Appeared in the Movies
Siamese cats have been featured in many movies including The Incredible Journey, The Lady and the Tramp, and That Darn Cat! The plot of the third movie is based on a Siamese cat named DC or Darn Cat who assists in saving Siamese a cat’s kidnapping heroism victim.
7) They Are Very Vocal and Talkative
They are very vocal and communicate frequently very loudly to express their needs and desires. They do not hesitate to tell their owners if they do not like anything. When they want to seek the attention of their owner, they express their feeling through a louder voice, that’s called Meezers.
8) They Are Easy to Train
Siamese cats are easily trainable. They are very curious and love to explore. They love to play and spend their time in playful activities. They are a good candidate to train, and that also helps to make a strong bond with them.
9) They Were Used to Develop Popular Breeds
Siamese cats have played a great role in developing popular cat breeds. Many cats look like Siamese but they are different breeds including the Himalayan, Burmese, and Tonkinese cats.
10) The Long-Haired Siamese Are a Different Breed
All the Siamese cats are short-haired. Long-haired Siamese cats are not Siamese cats, they are a different breed. It is called a Balinese cat. They are not crossbred or hybrid cats, they came through a genetic mutation in Siamese cats.
11) Siamese Kittens Have Snow White Bodies When They Are Born
All Siamese kittens have snow-white bodies when they are born because they are temperature-sensitive. Their points are exposed below the 33℃ temperature. Their mother’s womb temperate is quite hot, that’s why they have white bodies when they’re born.
This reaction is thought to be caused by a recessive albino gene. For this reason, the breed is sometimes referred to as “temperature-sensitive albinos”.
12) They Have Weaker Eyesight
Most of the cats are known for their sharp vision, especially at night. But Siamese cats have genetic problems that make them difficult to identify color and details at night. Their striking blue eyes also result these vision troubles due to the same pigment.
13) They Took Part in the First Major Cat Show
Siamese were showcased in the World’s first major cat show, a national competition that was held in July 1871 at London’s Crystal Palace. It was the first time anyone in England had ever seen a Siamese cat. The Siamese cat was introduced as “soft, fawn-colored creatures, with jet-black legs—an unnatural, nightmare kind of cat, singular and elegant in their smooth skins, and ears tipped with black, and blue eyes with red pupils.”
14) They Have Once Foiled an Espionage
In the 1960s, Russia revealed an espionage plot. At that time, two Siamese cats have been living at the Dutch Embassy in Moscow. Ambassador Henri Helb was studying and snoozing kitties awoke from a nap and started clawing at one of the walls. It was discovered that 30 microphones were hidden behind the wall. Thanks to those clever Siamese cats, their owner, Helb, decided to use the hidden microphones to an advantage. He started having fake conversations near the wall, loudly complaining about problems like the embassy’s broken repairs and packages stuck in customs. Amazingly, within just a day, all those issues were magically fixed! Helb couldn’t help but laugh at how well his plan worked, all thanks to his sharp-eared feline friends.
15) They Have a Long Lifespan
Siamese cats can live up to 12 to 15 years, and that is more than other cats. Siamese cats also hold the record of the world’s most old cat which died at 30 years age.
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