"Way down deep, we’re all motivated by the same urges. Cats have the courage to live by them."

- Jim Davis

Main features of Siamese Cats

The Siamese cat, also commonly known as Meezer, comes in two distinct sub-breeds, both descending from the same distant ancestors. The first one is the modern, standardized or "show-style" Siamese, and then there is the original, traditional or "old-style" Siamese.

The modern Siamese actually bears very little resemblance to the original Siamese. As opposed to a much rounder head and body of the original stock, the most remarkable characteristics of modern Siamese cats is extremely elongated and lean body, slim legs, long, thin tail and triangular-shaped head topped with wide-set large ears. The eyes are almond-shaped and come in the most magical, deep baby blue color. The fur is short, glossy and fine.

Both styles share the same, pointed color pattern. The pointed pattern is a form of partial albinism, due to a mutation in tyrosinase (enzyme involved in the production of melanin). The mutated version of this enzyme is heat-sensitive, and it fails to work at normal body temperatures. It activates only in cooler areas of the skin (lower than 33 °C).

Therefore, coolest parts of the body will be pigmented darker than the rest, such as extremities and face. These pigmented points were originally very dark in color, almost black, but today they can also be cool grey, light brown or lilac.

This mutation in tyrosinase also results in abnormal neurological connections between the cats’ eyes and the brain. As a result, many early Siamese had a crossed-eye trait. Due to selective breeding, the rate of crossed-eyed Siamese is significantly reduced today.