Fun Facts About Siamese Cats

April 6th is National Siamese Cat Day! Known for being charismatic and quite talkative, these cute kitties have some very loyal fans. A Newburgh vet lists some fun facts about these remarkable felines below.

What’s In A Name?

The name Siamese cat translates to wichien-matt which means “moon diamond.” That’s a purrfect moniker for these pretty pals!

History

Siamese cats originated in Thailand, an area once known as Siam. Some stories suggest that they were first raised by Buddhist monks. Other tales say that the first Siamese cats were adopted by royalty. There is some actual documentation of this: records of them being adopted by royals go far back as 1350.

Tamra Maew

(The Cat Book Poems) which was produced sometime between the 14th and 18th centuries.

Crossed Eyes and Crooked Tails

Siamese cats traditionally had crossed eyes. According to legend, a Siamese cat was charged with the duty of guarding a king’s goblet. Fluffy held onto it so hard that her tail bent and her eyes crossed!

Tip of the Tail

Siamese cats have a very distinctive look, with dark tips on their paws, ears, and tails. Believe it or not, those tips are actually climate-controlled. The gene that causes this color results in cats having pale fur on the warmer parts of their bodies and darker fur on the cooler spots. This same gene is also responsible for Fluffy’s beautiful blue eyes.

Color Development

Siamese cats are born white. Their darker fur doesn’t appear until they are several weeks old. Although the classic Siamese tips were dark, today breeders also allow blue, chocolate, and lilac.

Spies Like Us

Back in the 1960s, two Siamese cats were credited with revealing an espionage plot. The cats lived at the Dutch Embassy in Russia. When they started arching their backs and clawing at a wall, the ambassador suspected that something was amiss. Further investigation revealed over two dozen hidden microphones behind the wall! We hope those clever kitties got lots of tuna and catnip as a reward!

Purrsonality

Siamese cats tend to get very attached to their human servants, and absolutely hate being left alone. For this reason, many breeders recommend having at least one other kitty in the house.

Intelligence

Siamese cats are extremely intelligent. They can learn simple tricks, enjoy playing fetch, and often like walking on leashes. They’re also notorious escape artists that hate being confined.

Please contact us, your Newburgh, NY vet clinic, anytime. We’re here to help!