9 Facts About The Siamese Cat
Cats are often those animals you love or don’t understand. Getting closer to them, knowing their habits and customs, can help us understand them a little more, don’t you think? For that reason, in this article we’ll share some fun facts about the Siamese cat.
Curiosities about the Siamese cat
1. Its origin
This cat comes from Siam, which is now known as Thailand; hence its name. However, it seems that many believed for years that they came from the UK, although it was not until the 19th century that the first specimens arrived to be exhibited at London Palace.
2. Your owners
Originally, this cat was adopted and used exclusively as a pet by the Thai royal family. They had several purebred specimens, in which their intense white color stood out.
3. The protector of the spirits
In ancient civilizations, and even today, people are very afraid of what evil spirits can do to the dead. In the origins of the Siamese cat, it was believed that it was a great defender of the spirits, as it could somehow absorb the spirit of the deceased and make it stay alive, avoiding the attacks of evil spirits.
In order to keep him alive as long as possible, the cat was taken to a temple where he was offered a life of luxury.
4. The two types of Siamese
As expected, such an ancient race evolved over time, giving rise to what we know as modern Siamese. However, they and the Thai have marked differences.
Its size is one of them, as the traditional Siamese is smaller, rounded and thin. Its face is more circular, with a shorter muzzle and straight ears, without being too big. There is also a marked difference in their eyes, as the traditional ones have narrower eyes while the modern ones are practically slanted.
That’s why finding a traditional Thai Siamese cat is highly valued among cat lovers, and that’s why they are willing to pay large sums of money for an animal.
5. They are very active
Despite their reputation as lazy cats, Siamese are very active felines that will need you to spend some of your time playing with them. It is not a cat that likes to be alone in the house, as it will easily get bored and will probably play pranks to calm its boredom.
6. Your meows
The Siamese cat loves to meow, and while we already know that all cats have different meows to communicate, this one stands out above all others. He is able to make different sounds, and we can hardly tell if they are really meowing or an attempt to say something different.
7. The temperature of the Siamese cat
There are certain areas on your body that are darker than others and, interestingly, they have a lower temperature than those that are lighter. Why?
This is due to a thermal gene that causes pigments to stay fixed in cooler areas. This is why, when they are born, they are completely white, as they are in the warmth of their mothers’ wombs.
8. The Siamese cat’s squint
Decades ago, there were many cases of strabismus in Siamese cats, so it was believed that this would be something intrinsic to the breed. However, over time, this defect has diminished and was practically eradicated.
9. What if it does?
Interestingly, when a Siamese cat breeds, kittens often have the same genetic defects: short tails and knots in the cartilage. Something that is apparently not serious, but that could bring complications in the future.
What did you think to know more about this special feline? Certainly many of these curiosities are unknown to many, but now you are one of the privileged ones who know them.
