So you’re thinking about getting… a Siamese cat

Reviewed by Dr Abbie Lam DVM

Learn more about the elegant, loving and surprisingly talkative Siamese cat.

Breed profile: Siamese cat

Siamese cats are an ancient cat breed and have lived side-by-side with humans for hundreds of years.

It’s no wonder they make great pets; not only are they beautiful, but Siamese cats are also loving companions who like nothing more than to have a chat with their human friends.

Physical traits and appearance of Siamese cats

Siamese cats are one of the most famous cat breeds due to their unique and unmistakable appearance. These cats have striking blue eyes and sleek, elegant bodies with long legs and a fine, glossy coat.

Siamese cats come in a variety of colours, including seal (dark brown to black-brown), chocolate (warm or medium brown), blue, and lilac. They are ‘pointed’, meaning that their coat is darker at the points (i.e. the paws, tail, ears and face).

Newborn Siamese cats are almost completely white, and it can take up to a year for their full colour to develop. However, they will start to show their points as early as three weeks of age.

Siamese cat temperament and personality traits

Siamese cats are almost as famous for their personality as they are for their looks. Most Siamese cats are:

Siamese cats are among the most vocal cats, enjoying long ‘conversations’ with their human friends. They are loving, loyal and crave human companionship, making them excellent family pets.

Their high intelligence allows them to learn things quickly which, coupled with a natural curiosity, means catching them opening and rummaging through your drawers and cupboards might happen more often than not.

Although they love a good snuggle on a warm lap, they also have high energy levels, which means it’s important to interact and play with them (they easily learn to play ‘fetch’). Give them plenty of fun toys, and make sure to fit in regular exercise sessions. Siamese cats have a good tolerance for children – as long as they’re taught how to interact with cats – and can also form firm friendships with the family dog.

Siamese kittens are high energy and can be quite boisterous, demanding attention and playtime. Kittenhood is the period when they develop their personalities, so it’s vital to ensure they get all the care and attention they need when they’re very young so that they will grow into fully socialised family cats.

Siamese cats make great companions – but they need companionship in return. They do not like to be alone for long periods and are best suited to households where someone is home most of the time (this could include a dog or another cat). Siamese cats are not well suited to the great outdoors and should not be allowed to roam outside unsupervised.

Health and care of Siamese cats

Like many breeds, Siamese cats can suffer from hereditary conditions, including intestinal tumours and other cancers such as mediastinal lymphoma.

Another hereditary condition they can suffer from is the eye condition, progressive retinal atrophy, which may lead to loss of vision and blindness.

Siamese cats are also known to have sensitive stomachs and are prone to vomiting, which can be prevented by avoiding rich cat foods.

Siamese cats are agile and athletic cats of medium size; males can weigh 3.8-4.8 kg, and females can weigh 2-4.2 kg.

If properly cared for and fed a good diet that meets their nutritional needs, Siamese cats can expect to live 15-20 years.

Grooming Siamese cats

Like many shorthaired breeds, Siamese cats take excellent care of themselves. Their grooming needs are therefore quite light – giving their glossy coats a good brush once a week should be sufficient to keep them looking their best.

Is a Siamese cat right for you?

Siamese cats are gorgeous and elegant, and they love and crave attention from their owners and fellow pet companions. However, this desire for companionship means that they suffer when left alone and may not be right for a home that is often empty of people or other pets. They also like a stable, predictable environment and will be disturbed by changes to their routine or habitat.

If you can provide them with consistency and regular attention, the Siamese will shower you with affection and love in return.

References

Fabrizio F, Calam AE, Dobson JM, Middleton SA, Murphy S, Taylor SS, Schwartz A, Stell AJ. Feline mediastinal lymphoma: a retrospective study of signalment, retroviral status, response to chemotherapy and prognostic indicators. Journal of feline medicine and surgery. 2014 Aug;16(8):637-44.