5 fascinating facts about Siamese cats

Their fur comes in various colors

Siamese cats exhibit a range of fur colors, influenced not only by genetics but also by specific genes affecting their coat color. Siamese cats possess a unique gene that inhibits pigment in warmer environments, resulting in a lighter fur appearance on warmer body parts and a darker hue in cooler areas.

When a Siamese cat’s body temperature drops or it encounters a cooler environment, the gene responsible for color becomes active again, causing the fur to darken on the nose, ears, paws, and tail. Most Siamese kittens are born white, with their dark markings emerging over the weeks as they adjust to cooler surroundings.

One of the oldest cat breeds

Siamese cats are among the oldest cat breeds in existence. While the exact timeline of their domestication remains unclear, it is believed that they originated in Thailand around the 14th century.

References to these cats appear in ancient Thai manuscripts, making them one of the oldest cat breeds on the planet.

Distinctive physical traits

Siamese cats are known for several unusual physical features. Historically, many had crossed eyes and curved tails. Though these traits result from genetic factors, various legends explain their origins.

One legend recounts that a group of Siamese cats was assigned to guard a golden royal goblet. They watched over it so intently that their eyes crossed. To protect the goblet, they wrapped their tails around it, which supposedly led to the curvature of their tails.

Today, crossed eyes and curved tails are rarer in Siamese cats, as these traits are now considered undesirable and have gradually disappeared due to selective breeding.

They lived in the White House

Siamese cats have even resided in the White House. Although the breed was popular in Asia for centuries, it only arrived in the United States in the late 1800s.

One of the earliest known owners of a Siamese cat was Lucy, wife of US President Rutherford B. Hayes. Her cat, named Siam, was a gift from an American diplomat stationed in Thailand. Additionally, President Jimmy Carter's daughter, Amy, owned a Siamese cat named Misty Malarky Ying Yang.

Extremely vocal companions

Siamese cats are famously vocal. If you’ve had a Siamese cat or spent time with one, you know they enjoy expressing themselves.

Siamese cats talk about everything: food, their observations from the window, and any other daily or nightly events they encounter.

By the way, earlier we shared how your cat perceives the world.

Also, find out 8 signs that your cat hates you - details and explanations.

Sources: The Spruce Pets and Wikipedia.