Siamese Cats Distinctive, Aristocratic and Playful

As one of the most popular breeds of cats, Siamese cats are easily recognized by their distinctive coloring. Their bodies are lighter in color, ranging from white to cream to fawn, while the cat's extremities including the feet, tail, nose and face are darker in color. In cats, this color pattern is known as having points. The points may be very dark brown, which is called seal point; light brown, which is called chocolate point; cool gray, which is called blue point; or a pale, warmer gray which is called lilac point. A few other colors, including red and cream, are available and these cats are called color pointed.

Siamese cats have this distinctive coloring because they have an inherited form of partial albinism. The enzyme which helps produce color doesnt work at the level of the cat's normal body temperature, but only in the cooler areas of the body, which are the extremities and the face, which is cooler because of the air that passes through the sinuses. Siamese cats tend to get darker as they age, and the cats that live in warmer climates tend to have lighter coloring.

Siamese kittens dont have their points at birth, but begin to develop them at about four weeks of age. When the cat is one year old, its coloring will be fully developed. In addition, the eyes of a Siamese cat are typically almond shaped and intensely blue. Because of their blue eye coloring, their night vision is not quite as good as that of other cats.

The cats themselves are graceful, with long, tube shaped bodies, thin legs and whip-like tails. Their heads may be either apple round, or very angular, while their ears are generally large and quite pointed. Generally, Siamese cats look aristocratic, which is fitting, since they are believed to be descended from the palace cats kept by the King of Siam. Their fur is short and sleek and generally requires little grooming from humans.

Another distinctive trait of the Siamese cat is its voice. These cats are extremely vocal, producing a sound that is reminiscent of a human baby's cries. They are very affectionate and can be quite persistent even demanding when they want attention. They are very sociable cats who enjoy playing and are both intelligent and affectionate. Some breeders speculate that the highly social nature of these cats and their affection for humans may be a way of compensating for the fact that their coloring doesnt provide them with any camouflage, and that they turn to humans to provide them with protection. Other breeders speculate that much like their highly-developed shape, this social nature is the outcome of the way these animals have been bred.

Generally the Siamese cat is a good cat for families, and enjoys interacting with both adults and children, and even on occasion the family dog. They are happy both playing and cuddling quietly. For more information on the breed, check out the Siamese Internet Cat Club the official national club for the breed.