With a big reputation and a dainty appearance, are Siamese all they’re cracked up to be as household pets? Our RVN blogger Robyn investigates this noisiest of breeds!

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The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF)state that Siamese cats are:

A hugely popular breed, the Siamese is a medium sized cat with a long, lithe body that is graceful and elegant but still has a muscular feel. They should feel much heavier than they appear. The body is well balanced and athletic. The hind legs are higher than the front. The legs are slender and the paws are small and oval. The tail is long and tapering and free from kinks.

Looks

The Siamese is a medium-sized cat with a long, lithe body and a short coat. The coloured points only extend to the mask area of the face, ears, legs and tail which are the cooler parts of the body. It comes in a wide range of colours. The eye colour in all coat colours and patterns will be a vivid intense blue. The breed is usually outgoing, often demanding and extrovert and can be extremely noisy.

Personality

Although all cats are individual and unique, Siamese cats are well known for their loud vocal personality. The GCCF state that they are outgoing, extrovert and can be extremely noisy. They believe that many Siamese demand attention. So they are not an ideal cat for someone out at work all day; as they do not like to be left on their own. 

As with many cats, Siamese are highly intelligent and need to be kept amused with physical and mental stimulation; toys and scratching posts should always be provided – you can even look to train them in certain commands. 

Health

In general, pedigree breeds use a much smaller gene pool for breeding than domestic cats and therefore have a higher risk of developing inherited disorders. In addition, a few ‘newer’ pedigree breeds are derived from mating between one or more ‘older’ breeds, and in these situations perpetuation of inherited problems that were seen in older breeds is likely within the newer breeds. The original Siamese had eye squints and tail kinks which are now considered serious faults and thankfully not often seen. Despite great efforts to reduce this, there are still several conditions that are linked to the breed.

Siamese also seem to suffer more from chronic coughing (asthma) and to vomit more than other breeds; the time course of the disease can be many months or years. The cause of chronic bronchial disease is unclear. Bronchial disease is common in cats and Siamese cats appear to be particularly predisposed, which could suggest a genetic basis, but this has not been fully investigated. Bronchial disease and its clinical signs can range from mild to very severe and the signs can include difficulty in breathing, reduced exercise tolerance and frequent episodes of coughing.

Some lines of Siamese seem to have a tendency to ingest strange non-edible items (this is known as pica) – the reason for this is not understood. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) has also been identified in the breed and the Siamese may be predisposed to hip dysplasia. Some lines may be predisposed to some cancers such as mediastinal lymphoma and some intestinal tumours.

Hereditary disorders

There are also examples of hereditary disorders characterised at the molecular genetic level in Siamese cats (genetic basis of several coat colours and textures are also defined) in some hematologic disorders and storage diseases. Lysosomal storage diseases such as Niemann-Pick disease, mucopolysaccharidosis and gangliosidosis (GM1) have been described in Siamese cats, as has systemic amyloidosis.

Conclusion

As with any pets, it is important to fully inform yourself before choosing a certain breed to ensure it is right for your family. All cats are individual, but certain breeds do have certain characteristics and needs. In terms of health conditions, ensuring you have a reputable breeder is important, and of course as with any pet you should always ensure you are financially prepared for the possibility of your pet becoming sick. Overall, Siamese are fun, beautiful and engaging cats which can make a great addition to your family in the right circumstances.

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