Traditional Siamese Cats: Are There Any Left?
Traditional Siamese cats are unfortunately becoming a thing of the past. With three different varieties of the Siamese cat breed, it can be a little difficult to determine the true differences between them. We are going to talk about the physical and temperamental differences between the three types of Siamese cats, as well as cover a little history about the breed.
History of the Siamese Cat
The Siamese cat is a breed that originated in Siam, a country we now know as Thailand. Although it is uncertain just how long these cats have been bred in Siam, there have been historical pictures and poems found that reference the description of this breed. These documents date back to around the 1700’s, so it is fairly safe to say that the Siamese breed dates back to at least this period of time.
The first historical recording of Siamese cats outside of Siam was in 1878 when United States president Rutherford Hayes received a Siamese cat as a gift. The next “sighting” of this breed was in the United Kingdom, when the first breeding pair was reported to have arrived in 1884. Eventually the popularity of the Siamese breed took off and many enthusiasts, largely consisting of the wealthy, began importing Siamese cats with the designs of breeding them. It is believed that most of the true Siamese now in Britain have descended from 11 original imports from the late 1800’s to early 1900’s.
Traditional Siamese Cat
There are now three variations of the Siamese breed, which are commonly known as modern, classic, and traditional Siamese cats. The traditional Siamese is the most “genuine” of the breed which came directly out of Siam. The Siamese cats imported into Britain in the late 1800’s would have been traditional Siamese cats. This variety is very healthy in appearance as well as sturdiness. They have large bones and a round head. They are quite muscular in build, yet their fur provides a soft and almost lazy deception. The naturally thin muzzle of this cat is what gives it such a unique physical appearance, as well as the smoky coloring on the face, ears, feet, and tail.
Although traditional Siamese cats may not seem very different from the typical domestic cat, they have a personality that truly sets them apart! Many compare the intelligence of this breed to that of a dog. This is largely due to the high level of inquisitiveness, loyalty, and expressive personality that isn’t seen very often in cats. They are also very people-orientated and are content in an environment where they receive a healthy dose of affection and mental stimulation. There are breeders out there trying to bring back the traditional Siamese cat, however with such little full-blooded stock available, the task is certainly a difficult one!
Classical Siamese Cat
The classical Siamese is very close to the traditional Siamese cat which came right out of Siam, except for a few minor differences. This variety manifested itself in the early to mid 1900’s due to breeders wishing to exaggerate the “narrowness” of the traditional Siamese’s muzzle by elongating the body. While this variety is still quite healthy in appearance, it typically does not carry as much fullness in its body style and has a slightly more narrow face than its predecessor. Other than these minor physical differences, there are virtually no differences in personality or temperament between the classic and traditional Siamese cats.
Modern Siamese Cat
The modern Siamese cat is a total reinvention using the classical Siamese cat as a foundation. Serious inbreeding was performed in order to obtain a very narrow and dainty appearance which flirts with the border of an emaciated facade. The shape of this variety’s head is often described as wedge-shaped because of the extreme tapering from the top of the head to the muzzle. The body is quite slender and appears much more graceful and fragile that the traditional and classic varieties. The ears are only slightly larger than other varieties in this breed, however the thinness of the modern Siamese’s face results in the ears appearing very large and pointed.
Because of the huge demand for Siamese cats in the 50’s and 60’s, the Siamese was already at risk for suffering alteration to their wonderful personality and temperament due to excessive breeding; however the extreme inbreeding used to get the modern variety of Siamese has resulted in many personality and health defects. The immune system of this variety of cat has been butchered through inbreeding and it is now predisposed to acquiring a number of illnesses. The temperament can vary from one extreme to another, which makes choosing a modern Siamese as a pet a difficult choice—one never knows what kind of temperament the cat will end up with!