Siamese cats are a popular cat breed known for their unique appearance, friendliness, and intelligence. Aside from that, do you know that siamese cats have different types? With that, in this article, we are going discuss the different types of siamese cats, their history, and other siamese cat varieties.
Different Types of Siamese Cats
Siamese cats can be classified depending on the size of their head, tails, and pointed patterns. In addition, each type also possesses its distinct personality, physical traits, health, and needs. Thus, knowing those types will help you find which Siamese cat is the most compatible for you.
Blue Point
From the name itself, blue point Siamese cats are known for their majestic blue eyes. Additionally, despite being originally native to Thailand, blue point Siamese cats were mostly bred in Europe and North America. However, this type of Siamese can also be very expensive, especially if purebred or competition-ready.
Personality
Blue point cats are also known for their talkativeness. Furthermore, the Blue Point Siamese cat is a sociable, devoted, and loving pet. All family members will get along with it, and these cats are always observed enjoying conversing with people. In addition, a well-mannered and trained Siamese will also get along with guests, strangers, and other animals.
Physical Traits
The distinctive bluish-white bases and light gray points (feet, ears, paws, and tails) of Blue Point Siamese cats have blue undertones. Plus, this breed is particularly unusual since it also frequently has eyes that are slanted and deep aquamarine.
To add to that, the shape of these cats’ faces might vary based on their age, gender, and feeding habits, from triangular to slightly rounded. They also have extended, thin bodies and feet, as well as long, slim tails, just like the conventional breeds.
Health
Blue point Siamese cats have a decent average lifetime of 15 to 20 years compared to other cat breeds. Despite being far more athletic than other breeds, these cats are nonetheless susceptible to illnesses that are prominent in the breed. These diseases include separation anxiety (since they are known for being social and conversational), asthma, progressive retinal atrophy, and small intestinal adenocarcinoma.
Basic Care and Needs
As mentioned, blue point Siamese cats are very social. With that, they are in constant need of attention and care from their pet owners. In addition, invest in some chewy cat toys or anything else that will keep it engaged to stop it from emptying your cabinets or shoving furniture pieces off of high shelves.
Chocolate Point
Chocolate point Siamese cats are often mistaken as a variant of the typical seal point Siamese cat. With that, chocolate point cats were only recognized as a new Siamese type by the end of the 19th century. The confusion is understandable since both types have close coat colors – with chocolate points having a lighter shade of brown and seal points having darker ones.
Personality
The demeanor of Chocolate Points Siamese cats is outgoing, lively, and fun-loving. They have a lot of energy and like interacting with people and other animals. They are pretty chatty, so every day you can anticipate hearing a few meows.
Physical Traits
This Siamese type has milk chocolate color points on its nose, ears, paws, and tail have ivory bodies overall. The nose and paws of a chocolate brown Siamese have pink overtones, and the tips are a warm chocolate milk hue. The eyes are bright blue and keen.
Health
Siamese cats often live to be between 15 and 20 years old. However, you should watch out for a few genetic diseases, including amyloidosis, congenital heart disease, progressive retinal atrophy, and congenital heart disease.
Basic Care and Needs
Siamese cats with chocolate points have short, dense coats. They should be brushed once a week to maintain them smooth and opulent. Bathing a Siamese cat is not usually necessary.
More importantly, if you do not spend enough time with your Siamese, they can get bored and start acting destructively. Take into account getting a second cat to keep your Siamese company if you are frequently gone from home.
Lilac Point
Lilac point Siamese cats were originally found in Thailand in the late 1800s or early 1900s, which is where they originated. Due to how closely the breed resembles the lilac point, a species of flower that grows in Thailand, the Thai people gave the breed that name.
Personality
This Siamese cat speaks a lot. In addition, lilac points are a highly loving breed. With that, they like being held and cared for. And lastly, although being intelligent, they can be challenging to train. The majority of Siamese cats are renowned for being independent and only acting in ways they want to.
Physical Traits
The body of this particular Siamese cat is white with pinkish-gray points, it has a cinnamon-pink nose, and its paw pads are the same color.
Health
Despite being a healthy breed free of any hereditary illnesses, there are a few problems you should be aware of with Lilac Point Siamese. These conditions include hip dysplasia, systemic amyloidosis, asthma, and bronchial illness in addition to progressive retinal atrophy.
Basic Care and Needs
A couple of times per week of brushing is ideal for maintaining the short coat of a Siamese cat. Siamese cats are minimal shedders, perfect for allergy sufferers, and little maintenance. Your cat’s activity level will determine if they need occasional claw cutting. Claw trimming shouldn’t be necessary as regularly if you give them a scratching post or if they spend a lot of time outside.
Seal Point
Seal point Siamese cats get their name from the dark, a brownish-black hue of seals. The Siamese temple cats that were imported to Europe in the 1800s are regarded to be the breed’s ancestors. It is said that Seal Points are related to two Siamese cats that an Englishwoman by the name of Mrs. Annie Coats brought back from Siam in 1884.
Personality
Siamese cats from Seal Point have an air of aristocracy about them. They are excellent home cats with a regulated temperament because of their dignified and independent demeanor. They still enjoy the attention, cuddling, and fun just as much since they are Siamese.
Physical Traits
Seal Points are categorized as dark-colored Siamese cats and are typically darker than the conventional varieties. Dark brown spots are scattered all over the bodies of Seal Points. Additionally, as they become older, their cheeks, tails, and paws get darker (nearly black) patches.
Health
Similar to other types, this Siamese cat may be more susceptible to cardiac abnormalities, Amyloidosis, bronchial illness, and asthma. When proteins stop working properly, they are deposited in several organs, particularly the liver, where they cause this illness to develop.
Basic Care and Needs
Seal point cats are very easy to care for. The very thin coats of these cats only require periodic grooming. Starting while they are young is the key to making the procedure of grooming seal point Siamese cats uncomplicated. Another wise choice is to take them to a groomer as soon as possible. They can become accustomed to routine grooming in this way.
Other Varieties of Siamese Cats
Aside from the types mentioned, there are wide other varieties of Siamese cats. Let us look at them one by one below:
Applehead Siamese Cats
Their face, which is shaped like an apple and serves as their most distinctive characteristic, is known as the calmer variation of the typical Siamese cat varieties. Applehead Siamese cats are the usual dark brown-black points, much like the other conventional varieties. They may weigh up to 18 pounds and have a strong physique with larger bones.
Apricot Point
Light-colored Siamese cats known as apricot points have glossy white or hot cream-colored hair bases with pinkish points, especially on their tails, noses, and the undersides of their paws. On their lips and ears, as well as the areas around those extremities, you could notice some freckles.
Due to the breed’s dilute modifier gene, which turns the more typical Cream Points into apricot, its unusual fur coat emerges. Additionally, the blue eyes of this type are a little duller or paler.
Caramel Point
The newest Siamese cat breed is the Caramel Point Siamese. These cats have distinctive blue, lilac, and fawn color coats because of the dilute modifier gene. Due to the sluggish growth of their fur, caramel points’ extremities might first seem to be lilac or blue before becoming brown.
Moreover, all caramel points start with an off-white coat base that gradually darkens over time. These cats have gray-undertoned pink noses, eye rims, and paws. Their legs, however, have a dark hue with gray undertones.
Cinnamon Point
Cinnamon Point Siamese cats are a more recent variety. This breed has brown spots on its extremities, although they are not as intense as the Chocolate Points’. Warmer, rusty-brown, and reddish points are more common on the Cinnamon Point. True to their nature, Siamese cats of this sort like getting affection and undivided attention.
Cream Points
The Cream Points are nearly entirely devoid of black spots and belong to the Siamese breed that is light-colored. The breed has a foundation that is cream or light orange, exceptionally silky hair, and conventional blue eyes. The Cream Points are all-white at birth, with their extremities gradually becoming darker over time. They often have pale pink paws, noses, ears, and eye rims.
The Cream Point is a mix between Abyssinian cats, domestic shorthair cats, and Red Point Siamese cats. As a result, it’s normal to see Cream Points with some stripes on their cheeks, legs, and tails, similar to the hue of domestic shorthairs.
Fawn Point
Fawn Points are often known as the “diluted” variant of the cinnamon point. Similar to the Lilac Point, they frequently have lighter and bluer fur coastings. Their coat has an off-white, almost magnolia-colored base with warm rose-pink and mushroom tips all over it. They typically have a pink tinge around their eye rims, nose pads, and paws, with their legs being either the same color or significantly lighter.
Lynx Point
The Seal Point and Tabby Point were crossed to create the Lynx Point Siamese cat. They may be identified by their bare extremities and their fur, which can be a blue, red, seal, and occasionally even chocolate or cream.
Furthermore, Lynx Points are tall and have a thin, medium-sized physique, much like the traditional Siamese. Around their eyes, cheeks, and ears, you can see stripes and whisker pads. Additionally, this breed has striped legs and tails that are marked with circles.
Old-style Siamese Cats
Medium-sized in size, old-style Siamese cats rose to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s. They have a blend of the Applehead and the contemporary Wedge Siamese cat’s face form.
They have almond-shaped noses, big ears, and wide heads. This particular Siamese cat exhibits the cross-eyed feature. You’ll note that Old-style Siamese cats have longer faces as compared to more conventional varieties.
Red Point
Red Points do not typically have the black and white dalmatian coat color, unlike the majority of their Siamese counterparts. Instead, this type is distinguished by glittering blue eyes and white or cream fur with crimson, orange, or amber extremities.
Additionally, red point Siamese, sometimes known as Flame Point Siamese in countries like the United Kingdom, is extremely uncommon and not usually approved by all cat associations. These rare examples sometimes feature pink or freckled paws, noses, ears, and eye rims.
Tabby Point
The tabby (brownish-gray dots and stripes) patches on Tabby Points set them apart from other Siamese breeds. The areas surrounding these cats’ faces, eyes, and noses have distinct stripings. There are rings under their tails, and their leg stripings are often paler.
Tabby Points also have a distinct M-marking on their foreheads and a fingerprint pattern on their ears. The coloration of this breed is extremely peculiar since it resembles that of every other Siamese cat on this list—aside from the traditional Thai cats.
Tortoiseshell or Tortie Point
A variation of the Red Point Siamese is the Tortoiseshell or Tortie Point. It also has brilliantly blue eyes and a creamy white body with reddish-orange tips. The points on the Tortie are flecked rather than solid, which is similar to the shell of a tortoise (which where their name came from). These flecked points are the outcome of a gene abnormality that female Tortie Points frequently carry.
Siamese cats with tortie points are unquestionably unique; you can tell them apart by the combination of seal, white, and red points on their mask (face). The cat’s ears, paws, legs, and tail likewise have this odd color combination.
Wedge Siamese Cats
These Siamese cats are the most severe variety you will encounter, earning their moniker from the wedge-like form of their heads. They don’t look anything like the conventional Siamese cat kinds at all. They feature a long and pointed face with slightly slanted eyes, long, strong legs, a narrow tail, and broad ears on top of their slim, muscular torso.
In addition, this Siamese cat has also considered the loudest variety of Siamese. Many pet owners attest to that observation. It is therefore common to hear them meow often during the day.
History of Siamese Cats
According to Britannica (2023), Siamese cats’ origin can be traced to Thailand. The name of the breed was originally taken from “Siam,” which was Thailand’s previous name. Siamese cats were a favorite of royal households in the past because of how they looked – majestic and luxurious.
With this fascination, there was a tradition among royal families that when a royal member passed away, it was thought that their Siamese cat would get their soul. The cat would then live out the remainder of its days in luxury at a temple, serving as monks’ and priests’ servants.
On another hand, Siamese cats are not known in the United States until the late eighteenth century. The first known Siamese cat owner was First Lady Lucy Hayes, the wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes, who was in office from 1877 to 1881. The Siamese cat was given to the First Lady by David B. Sickels, a U.S. diplomat stationed in Thailand as a present.
In conclusion, there are many types of Siamese cats. Each kind also has a unique personality, set of physical characteristics, health, and set of needs. Therefore, being aware of these types will enable you to identify the Siamese cat that is most suitable for you.