Anyone who has ever owned Siamese cats agrees they can never have enough of them.
They are playfully active, love socializing, don’t shy away from sharing their opinions, and are just the perfect feline companions.
I receive many questions regarding siamese cats, their nature, behavior, temperament, caring and grooming tips, etc.
While I have been covering Siamese cats on this blog for a long time, most writeups are about their care, health, and behavior.
Let’s discuss some facts about Siamese cats you have yet to hear of in this article, starting with their origin story.
Are Siamese Cats Asian?
Yes, Siamese cats have their origin roots in Asia. The wonderful cat breeds with colored extremities are native to Thailand, formerly known as Siam. These distinctly recognizable cats with beautiful blue eyes are one of the most famous cats in the world today.
There is quite a bit of history associated with Siamese cats. For instance, it is said that Siamese cats were the temple cats of the King of Siam.
In the palace, these cats were valued for their unmistakable beauty and qualities of loyalty and protection.
Siamese cats would sit on tall columns around the King’s throne, and at the hint of the slightest threat, these cats would jump on the person with ill will.
Based on their size, muscular capability, and ability to jump from considerable heights, they can supposedly cause significant damage to the assailant.
Now people have yet to learn how much substance there is to rumors like these, but what is true is that as much popularity Siamese cats have garnered over time, there are still many facts amiss about them.
I will change that to the best of my ability in this article.
9 Unknown Facts about Siamese Cats
Before I share the 9 facts about Siamese cats you may not know, let me briefly explain what they are like and why they are so popular.
A brief context will make you appreciate the facts more.
If you have to pick a cat that will love you, play with you, do crazy cat stuff, cuddle with you, supervise your moves, and engage with children, other pets, and even strangers, a siamese cat is a perfect feline for you.
That is why Siamese cats are the most preferred breed as family cats.
They thrive in an environment of engagement and activity.
In addition to being sociable, these cats are also highly intelligent.
Because Siamese cats have a muscular and athletic body build, they need an ecosystem with climbing spaces like cat trees and perches where they can, in a way, express their energy.
Out of the cat things Siamese cats are capable of doing, showing an endearing amount of affection towards their favorite humans is without any doubt the best attribute about them.
Here are some other qualities, facts, and traits about Siamese cats that will make you appreciate them even more.
1. One of the Oldest Cat Breeds.
Even though their exact breeding year is unknown, their core origins can be traced back to the 14th century.
Siamese cats originated in Thailand in Asia, then known as Siam, thus the name Siamese cats.
Thai manuscripts dated around 1350 AD have descriptions that tell of these unique cats in their passages.
It was in 1879 that Siamese cats were first exported to the United States from Siam.
The first Siamese cat to step into America was gifted to First Lady Lucy Hayes (wife of Rutherford B. Hayes).
In 1902 the first Siamese exclusive cat fanciers club was established in the United Kingdom.
It was in 1906 the Cat Fanciers’ Association finally recognized the breed.
2. Siamese Cat Coat Color Changes with Temperature
Siamese cats come in a wide variety of beautiful colorations, but the fascinating fact is their genetics do not entirely dictate their colors.
While I have discussed this fact in one of my previous articles on whether siamese cats cat’s change color and whether siamese cats get darker with age, given the context, it is the perfect place to share it again with you.
You see, a combination of several sets of genes determines the color of a cat’s coat, and modifier genes determine the pattern of their coat.
Siamese cats have a special modifier gene that inhibits pigments from generating in the fur, causing albinism.
Here is where things get interesting. The modifier gene is activated only above a certain temperature, 100-102.5 degrees, to be specific.
So, for parts of a cat’s body below 100 degrees or if the cat moves onto a colder environment, the modifier gene gets deactivated, and the genes for coat color turn back on.
Because a cat’s body extremities, i.e., her face, ears, paws, and tail, are at a lower temperature, the pigment gets most deposited in these places.
That is how siamese cats get their coloration.
3. The Myth around Crooked Eyes
If you have seen enough siamese cats, many of them have cross eyes and crooked tails.
Although the reason behind these traits is genetics, many legends have popped up to explain these traits.
One legend says siamese cats were once tasked with protecting a royal golden goblet.
While performing the guard duties, their focus was so intense on the goblet that the concentration resulted in them having cross eyes.
The legend also says that the cats wrapped their tails around the cup for extra protection and that caused their tails to be permanently bent.
Today you will see fewer siamese cats with cross eyes and crooked tails.
Cat fanciers regarded these biological traits as undesirable and chose to breed them out selectively.
4. Divas of the cat world
Siamese cats are known as the Divas of the cat world.
Partly because of their royal, queen-like demeanor and somewhat because they have been a part of creative production over the years.
Owing to their looks, loving, social, and trainable attributes, they have been part of movies like The Incredible Journey, The Lady and the Tramp, and That Darn Cat!
Siamese cats have made their mark in the entertainment industry and have also been part of bureaucratic and diplomatic setups.
One of the earliest known owners of the Siamese cat in the US was the first lady at the time. The wife of then President Rutherford B. Haye, Madam Lucy Haye. Lucy named the siamese cat Siam, and she was a gift from a U.S. diplomat serving in Thailand.
5. Siamese Cats Like Talking
Do you want a cat that talks? And I mean just not your usual cat meows but someone who wants to tell you all about your day and wants to listen about yours?
If yes, then Siamese cats will be perfect for you.
And the converse is also true. If you want a lucid, quiet cat that minds her own business most of the time, don’t get a Siamese cat.
A ragdoll or a Persian cat would be more fitting.
Siamese cats want to supervise and get involved in all activities in ‘their’ home.
And if you forget to do that, you will have to listen to their opinions about you.
Most people find their chatty quality endearing, but for some people, their raspy voice can get a bit annoying after a while.
6. Siamese Cats Love Socializing
There is a reason why Siamese cats are preferred as family cats.
They love engaging with humans and get along well with other cats, dogs, and children.
They want to be in the middle of all the traffic.
Siamese cats want to be the center of attraction and will go to any lengths to achieve that.
They want to be involved when you have a party and will not resist being dressed and dolled up to fit well in the said party.
They also tend to choose a favorite human and show extra affection toward them.
But don’t worry; they have enough love to sprinkle around the family.
For the same reason, these cats do not respond well to being alone and can develop behavioral issues like anxiety and depression if left alone for too long.
7. They Develop Best with Companions
Because these cats love engagement and interaction, they develop best when paired with a companion.
Their engaging nature allows you to not be limited to choosing other cats as companions.
Here is a list of the best companions that you can get for Siamese cats.
Siamese cats are not high-maintenance cats; they have an inherent tendency to be more friendly, active, and engaging.
They will develop as well-adjusted pets if you match their enthusiasm for activity.
However, if you want to take care of the responsibility of engagement more organically, getting siamese cats in pairs, preferably from the same litter, is the way to go.
The two feline siblings will always have someone to play with, engage with, and run around. It frees you from a lot of responsibility, and then you can even leave them alone without the fear of them getting bored and lonely.
8. Siamese Cats Have Difficulty Seeing When Its Dark
The striking blue eyes are one of the most recognizable features of these beautiful kitties.
However, the pigment that gives their eyes this beautiful coloration is also responsible for relatively weaker night vision.
They do see enough to navigate well in the dark but their vision may see some blurring of the edges compared with other breeds.
A weaker night vision may seem like a disadvantage but it’s really not.
As most siamese cats are indoor cats, the relatively weaker night vision won’t matter.
9. Siamese Cats are Very Intelligent
In addition to being playful, active, and affectionate, Siamese cats are also known for being very intelligent.
With some reward techniques, you can teach them to play fetch just like a dog.
Because of their affectionate nature and also how easy it is to teach them tricks, Siamese cats are often compared with dogs.
Siamese cats are also very inquisitive. Whatever you bring into the house will need an inspection. There is just no way around that.
If you think you can hide something from them, you are wrong.
She will find it, come back to chat about your actions, and judge you for days to come.
They aren’t called Divas of the cat kingdom for nothing.
Conclusion,
Siamese cats are wonderful felines that form excellent companions.
They are loving, playful, goofy and fall in love deeply with the family that adopts them.
I hope you enjoyed reading this factual article on siamese cats as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I started by relaying some origin stories about these beautiful felines, followed by some unknown facts about Siamese cats.
I have wanted to write an article like this for a while now where I could share some unknown facts about Siamese cats.
I took this opportunity also to sprinkle in some siamese cat care tips so that if you already have one or are looking to get one, you will get some tips and insights.
If you know any other facts apart from what we have discussed regarding Siamese cats, do let me know in the comments.
If it is something that will benefit the masses, I will include it in this article.
Take care of yourselves, and your Siamese cat, and I will see you at the next one!
