The history of the Siamese cat is as ancient as the kingdom of Siam; it is not just known as one of the old breeds of cats but also because of loyalty, attraction, and love. At Siamese Cat World, we’re passionate about sharing the interesting story of Siamese cats with you.
History
It is believed that the first Siamese cats originated in ancient Siam, which is known as Thailand. They were found in the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767 AD). Their native Thai name is Wichien Maat, which means “Moon Diamond” in English.
Siamese cats are one of the oldest domesticated cats in the world. It is also said that the Royal Siamese Cat is a product of mating an Egyptian cat and a wild cat.
Sacred Companions
In ancient times, Siamese cats were considered sacred. They were not used as merely pampered ornamental pets; they were used as guard cats in ancient Buddhist temples and shrines. Siamese cats were considered sacred because it was believed that when a member of the royal family died, their soul went to the body of the Siamese cat.
There was also a rule that nobody could own a Siamese cat; whoever did this would be sentenced to death. Only royal blood was allowed to own them.
Introduction to the West
Until the late 1800s, Siamese cats were found only in Siam. The ruler of that time gave the first Siamese cat in Europe as a gift and mark of esteem to the English Consulate General in Bangkok in the late 1800s. The first Siamese cats brought into Western cat fancy were Pho and Mia. They were the first breeding pair brought into England in 1884 by Owen Gould.
A few years later, the king of Siam gave some Siamese cats to his American friends. In 1903, the Siamese cats gained immediate acceptance and popularity at their first public showing in the United States.
However, after the Siamese cat earned a champion title in 1898, the breed expanded at a rapid rate. Within 8 years, The Cat Fanciers Association officially declared them as an independent breed.
Dignified Heritage
The Siamese Cat has exalted its heritage very well. The Siamese are also a parent breed to several famous Asian breeds: Himalayan, Burmese, Tonkinese, and Ocicat breeds all have Siamese heritage.
The first scientifically planned strains of Siamese were bred in 1924. These are long-haired animals called Malayan Persians (Himalayan), resulting from crossing Persians and inbreeding them.
Breed Identification
The Siamese cat breed is popular for its unique and mysterious personalities that enlighten the room and attract the attention of everyone. They have a pointed coat pattern, which means their body is light-colored with darker extremities (ears, tail, paws, and face). However, all Siamese cats are born with white fur; colored points appear after a few weeks.
The traditional Siamese cat is famed for its wide circular eyes that appear in only a few colors of blue. Their ears are around average in size, but when compared to their apple-shaped head, they appear smaller than others. Like the majority of the Siamese breed, they have a short coat.
And the modern Siamese cat is defined by blue almond-shaped eyes, a triangular head shape, huge ears, a long thin, and muscular physical appearance, and a variety of point colors.
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