Siamese: Thai Temple Cats

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Siamese cats may be one of the most recognizable breeds today, but for centuries they were one of Thailand’s best kept secrets. They stalked the halls of Thai palaces and temples at a time when the country was still known as Siam, hence their name. Siamese cats are believed to have occurred naturally in Thailand and later been selectively bred for certain traits. Though Siamese cats only began to spread outside Thailand during the late 1800s, they have quickly become one of the most popular breeds of cats in the world.

Siamese cats are easily recognized by their long, lithe, and angular bodies, as well as their color-point patterning which arose in the Thai cat population as a genetic mutation. It causes cats to have a light background color, ranging from white to tan, with darker coloration on the ears, face, paws, and tail. Kittens are born white and their points darken as they age. Many cat show organizations, including the Cat Fanciers Association, only recognize seal (dark brown-black), chocolate, blue, and lilac points, but almost any color of point is possible, including patterned points, i.e. tabby.

Siamese cats have long, slim bodies with wedge-shaped heads and large, triangular ears. Their hind legs are longer than their forelegs, and they have small, dainty, oval-shaped paws. Their almond-shaped eyes are a vibrant blue, one of their most alluring and unusual traits. They occasionally have crossed eyes or kinked tails. These are harmless deformities that were once very prominent in the breed but which breeders have tried to eliminate, with only partial success.

It is commonly believed that Siamese cats have been bred to have a more thin, angular, and generally extreme shape in more recent years, and that the original breed that arose in Thailand had a more moderate body plan and rounder face. There are still Siamese cats being bred to this form today. Sometimes they are recognized as a separate breed, called the Thai. Other times they are referred to as “traditional” or “applehead” Siamese cats.

Siamese cats have a rich history in their native Thailand. They are thought to be a very old breed, but exactly how old is uncertain. The Tamra Maew manuscript, called The Cat Poems in English, was discovered in a royal Buddhist temple and depicts lucky and unlucky cats (1). One of the lucky cats has a white body and dark or black tail, ears, paws, and mask (1). Manuscripts such as these were handwritten on palm-leaves or bark, which would become fragile with age and need to be painstakingly copied periodically.

The Cat Poems originated in Ayutthaya, a city which was later destroyed, but some of the manuscripts from its temple survived and were taken to Bangkok, including The Cat Poems (1). The copy of the Tamra Maew which was discovered has been dated to between 1840 and 1850 by The International Maew Boran Association (TIMBA) but research suggests that it may date to the Khmer Empire (802 to 1432), making Siamese cats a very old breed indeed (1).

Thai legends account for the crooked tails and crossed eyes that used to be so common to the breed (2). One tells of a princess who was bathing in a river. She feared that her rings would be lost in the swift current, but her favorite cat was close at hand, as usual, so she placed her rings on its tail for safekeeping (2). The loyal cat made sure to keep the rings on its tail, but it had a little kink in its tail forever after (2). In another tale, pun intended, a royal guard cat is tasked with watching over a gold goblet (2). The cat wraps its tail tightly around the stem of the goblet so it can’t let its charge out of its sight (2). The determined guard proceeds to watch the goblet so long and with such fierce focus that it goes cross-eyed (2).

These stories also allude to the personality of Siamese cats which are a very people-oriented and loyal breed. Highly social and intelligent, this is one breed that does not like to be left alone and does best if they have a similarly playful friend to keep them occupied while their human is at work. Siamese cats get along well with other cats as well as dogs and children. They just want to be friends. And they want someone to talk to. Siamese are well known for being “talkers,” with a loud, unique meow that they use all the time to tell you about everything.

These cats are very affectionate. They like to follow their people around to see what they’re doing or just cuddle and tell you about their day. Because they are so intelligent, Siamese cats can get bored, and therefore get into trouble. Giving them puzzle toys or taking them on walks to give their brains as well as their bodies something to do is a good idea.

Siamese cats have a short, fine-textured coat that requires very little grooming, only a weekly combing. As they are attention sponges, they usually enjoy being groomed. Dental care may need to be more intensive. The wedge shape of their heads makes Siamese cats prone to periodontal disease, so daily brushing is recommended. This is easiest when begun as a kitten. Weekly brushing or other dental care options are less effective but may still do the trick. Consult a vet to see what your cat needs. The shape of their heads also increases the risk of respiratory problems. The breed carries a risk of developing eye problems, such as retinal atrophy or glaucoma, heart problems, and bladder stones. These conditions are more likely later in life.

The enduring popularity of Siamese cats makes a lot of sense. They are a friendly and beautiful breed with a lot to say for themselves. They make excellent family pets because they get along so well with other pets and children. While a chatty cat isn’t for everyone, its clear that many people, including Thai royalty, love this special feline.

Fun Facts

• The Siamese was one of the original breeds recognized by the CFA when it was founded in 1906.
• Siamese cats first arrived in the United States in 1878 when one was gifted to President Rutherford B. Hayes’s wife, Lucy, by a diplomat. The cat was named, very creatively, “Siam.”
• The Siamese may have been displayed at the first major cat show in 1871 at London’s Crystal Palace. A journalist with Harper’s Weekly described the breed as “an unnatural, nightmare kind of cat.”
• A pair of Siamese cats alerted their owner to the presence of Russian espionage in the 1960s (3). Dutch ambassador Henri Heib was woken up by his yowling cats scratching at the wall in the middle of the night as he slept in the embassy in Moscow, possibly when the 30 hidden microphones turned on and made a noise only the cats could hear (3). The ambassador chose to leave the bugs in his apartment, and he and his wife used them to manipulate their eavesdroppers into doing favors for them such as getting packages unstuck from customs (3).
• The Thai name for the native Siamese breed is “wichienmaat,” which means “gold diamond.”

Works Cited

1. The International Maew Boran Association. (2020). http://www.timba.org/
2. Geyer, G.A. (2004). When cats reigned like kings: On the trail of the sacred cats. Andrews McMeel Publishing.
3. Reuter. (1964, May 26). Microphone revealed by cats: Ambassador made use of it. The Glasgow Herald, p. 9.

Published January 30, 2020

Updated June 4, 2021