Siamese Cats

Bright blue eyes, slightly crossed. Tail with an odd kink at the end. Small in build but big in voice! What does this description bring to mind? Of course, what else could it be but the Siamese Cat!

The Siamese cat is one of the oldest breeds around today but I have had a hard time trying to find out correct information about these regal looking cats. While it appears that the original cats were around somewhere between the 14th and 18th centuries, I think it is fair to conclude that the origins of the Siamese are somewhat shrouded in mystery, legend and myth.

There is a general agreement that the Siamese cat originated in the Far East , Siam (or Thailand as it is now known). The King of Siam was very proud of his cats at the palace and it was forbidden for anyone else outside of the palace to own one. It is said that the cats were used to guard the palace and the King's children hence the characteristic vocals of the Siamese cat.

The first pair were bought back from Siam to England in 1884. Their names were Pho and Mia, father and mother, and are listed as 1a and 2a in the British Siamese Cat Register although they have no 'pedigree' and their background is unknown.

Many myths and legends have sprouted around the Siamese cat. One such legend states that a Princess of the Royal House of Siam was bathing in a stream. She was afraid of losing her rings and looked for a place to put them. Her Siamese cat obligingly kinked its tail for her and she was able to place her rings safely on the tail without fear of them falling off.

Another such legend talks about a time when the men of the palace were away defending the kingdom. A pair of Siamese cats were left to guard the treasure until they returned. The pair mated in the interim. Eventually, they got tired of waiting for the master to return and the male of the pair went off to find someone else to guard the treasure, leaving the female to guard the treasure in the meantime. So anxious was she that she curled her tail tightly around the neck of a goblet and did not take her eyes off it. This led to her tail becoming permanently kinked and she developed a permanent squint. In the meantime, her kittens were born and each kitten had a kink in its tail and a squint...

Siamese cats are a popular breed today. Indeed, they are also a popular subject for many books about cats. My favourite are the books by Doreen Tovey (Cats in the Belfry, Cats in the May, as well as many others) in which Mrs. Tovey describes life with her various Siamese cats with never a dull moment! I highly recommend this series.

Famous Siamese cats include the troublesome duo from Walt Disney's Lady and the Tramp, Si and Am, and the Siamese Cat Song.

Also, Jason, a Seal-Point Siamese born on May 3rd 1964, star of the famous children's TV program, Blue Peter, in the late 60's and 70's.

Contributed by Sonia Bryant

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