What Exactly is a Siamese Cat?

Siamese cats were originally from Siam and have gained popularity in the past one hundred years or so as house pets. They were typically bred only for the wealthy, but these days anyone who wishes to can own a Siamese cat can do so with ease.

For those who are not familiar with the Siamese cat breeds, there may be some confusion when choosing these types of cats as a pet. Most people do not even know that there are sub types in the category of Siamese cats. While most Siamese cats will be light tan in color with darker brown points on their ears, tail and legs, they will also have a darker mask around their eyes, which are always blue. There are some rarer types that will have a more blue tint to the darker brown coloring. All Siamese cats have hind legs that are longer than their front legs are.

They are different from typical house cats in that they can not sheathe their back claws. There are two main types of Siamese cats that you can own, the first is called an Apple Head Siamese cat and the other is called a Wedge Head Siamese cat.

How to Differentiate Between the Apple Head Siamese and Wedge Head Siamese Cats

There are two basic types of Siamese cats; the classic, which is also know as an apple head, and the extreme type which is known as a wedge head Siamese cat.

The Apple Head Siamese Cats

The Apple Head or classic Siamese cat will be a sturdy cat which is larger and has a fuller body than the Wedge Head. This type of Siamese cat will be larger than the Wedge Head as well and will have brilliant blue eyes. Many feel that the Apple Head is more like the Siamese cats of old in that these properties were bred out of the Wedge Head Siamese cats.

The Wedge Head Siamese Cats

The Wedge Head Siamese cat is much thinner than the Apple Head is and has a more tapered or pointed face. This type of Siamese cat is typically what you will see at cat shows and are bred mostly for this purpose. Their eyes have more of slant to them and are the shape of almonds. The ears are much bigger than the Apple Head Siamese cat have.

Pros and Cons to Owning a Siamese Cat

Pros

Siamese cats of any type are typically very playful cats. They are highly intelligent and make great pets. They can be taught many of the same “tricks” that you can teach a dog. I have a friend whose Siamese cat will fetch, rollover, sit and lay down to hand commands. They do not require much grooming as they have short coats, which makes them a good pet for those who are allergic to long haired breeds.

You will still need to brush them to keep them looking nice, and not mention that brushing your cat will help build a bond between you. When you get a Siamese cat, you want to play with it as much as possible as they are very social animals and will revel in your time with them. These cats have garnered a reputation for being stand offish, but the opposite is true; Siamese cats are actually quite affectionate and love attention.

Cons

While these are very playful cats, they can also be big climbers, if you have areas where you do not want your cat to climb, you may want to keep them out of that room as you may find that your Siamese cat has climbed there just because they can. You may want to get a nice scratching post that has towers on it for them to climb instead.

Siamese cats are very vocal and will chatter with you when they are feeling anything at all. If you are looking for a quiet cat, the Siamese may not fit your needs. You will need to be careful when you purchase a Siamese cat as there are many breeders who are not legitimate and you may end up with a cat that has been inbred to the point that they are no longer fit for pets.