Siamese Cat History
From LoveToKnow Cats
There are few feline stories as intriguing as that of Siamese cat history. While no one is sure exactly where these cats originated, it is known that the royalty of Siam kept these beautiful animals. Today, the Siamese cat is appreciated for its unique appearance and unusual temperament.
Tamra Maew
The Tamra Maew is a book of cat poems that is believed to have been written in the 1700's. This is the first written and illustrated description of the Siamese cat.
Late 1700s in Russia
A Mr. Pallas, who journeyed through Russia in 1793 and 1794, also mentions the Siamese cat. He found old engravings, which depicted these now well-known animals.
1800s in Britain
The Siamese cat became much better known after it was introduced in Britain. In 1884, the departing British Consul, General Gould, was given a Siamese cat by the King of Siam as a farewell gift. This cat then had three kittens- Duen Ngai, Kalohom and Khromata. These kittens were shown at the 17th Crystal Palace Show in 1885. Not long after, in 1898, a Siamese cat named Wankee became the first British Siamese champion.
It is important to note that the cats that started the Siamese craze in Britain were not the thin and leggy cats of today. The traditional or Thai Siamese cat that existed then was stocky and had a round head. In addition, cats at that time were more often than not cross-eyed and had a kink in the end of their tail.
Early 1900s Siamese Cat History
In 1902 the Siamese Cat Fancier's Club was founded in England. Americans would soon discover this breed and become enamored of the unusual characteristics. The Siamese Cat Society of America was founded in 1909. During the next few decades the Siamese cat was adored and was a regular favorite at cat shows around the United States.
The peak of this breed's popularity occurred during the 1950s and 1960s. During this time, many movies were made that featured these cats. Of particular interest are Lady and the Tramp (remember the song, We are Siamese If You Please?), That Darn Cat, Bell, Book and Candle and the perennial favorite The Incredible Journey.
1970s
The traditional Siamese began to lose favor as a different-looking Siamese cat appeared on the cat show circuit. Breeders were selectively breeding the cats to exhibit unusual traits such as extreme tubular-looking bodies, long legs and a wedge-shaped head. In addition, the cross-eyed trait and the kink in the tail had been bred out of the animal. This "new" cat looked very little like its ancestors, with the exception of the distinctive dark markings on the tail, feet, ears and face.
1980s and Today
In the 1980s, many people seeing the Siamese in publications or at shows were unaware of its original body type. However, some breeders refused to selectively breed the cats, instead opting to retain the traditional look of long ago. Today, a return to the once familiar traditional looking Siamese cat is gaining in popularity. The larger "applehead" body type is considered healthier than its extremely long and thin counterpart, and it is generally longer lived. The traditional Siamese cat has a life expectancy of fifteen to twenty years with a few individuals living even longer than that.
Siamese cat lovers continue to enjoy this breed in all its glory, from the traditional-looking cat to the modern version. Cat fanciers choose this breed because of their intelligence and obvious adoration of humans. These cats are currently found with a variety of colors or "points" such as seal, blue, chocolate and lilac, all of which are recognized by the American Cat Fancier's Association. However, don't be surprised if you find other color points as well including the emerging flame point. This only goes to show that Siamese cat history is always in the making!
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