Siamese cats are amongst one of the popular breeds of cats here in the UK as well as across the globe. Originating from Siam (what we now know as Thailand) these animals have been taken into the hearts of many pet lovers with some even having Cat Lap trays from companies like https://personalisedlaptrays.co.uk/ with their beautiful faces on them as well as many other cat breeds.
There is evidence of this breed being described in a manuscript called ‘The Cat Book Poems’ back in the late 14th, early 15th Century, meaning it is one of the oldest breeds that we are aware of. Their origins in terms of who looked after them is unknown and there are differing views with some saying that they will have been the pets of royalty and other insisting that they were looked after by Buddhist monks. Regardless of where they came from, they are a breed that is still much-loved today. Here are a few interesting facts about Siamese cats.
- In the 1870s a Siamese cat was given to the wife of President Rutherford B Hayes by the US Consul David Stickles and it wasn’t long after this that American families started to look into the exotic breed.
- Also, in the 1870s there was a national cat show that took place at London’s Crystal Palace and it is thought that the Siamese breed was showcased at this event where they were described by Harper’s Weekly as “soft, fawn-coloured creatures, with jet-black legs – elegant in their smooth skins, and ears topped with black, and blue eyes.”
- The original breed would have been stockier with rounder faces than the breed we know today but breeders started to favour the leaner slick bodies, and this is the cast that you will see today. They have incredibly lean bodies and legs that seem to stretch on forever, they have a true exotic look which matches their temperament which is usually calm and loving with a mischievous side to them.
- Siamese cats have been popular with film producers and have appeared on been depicted in numerous films. The most well-known modern film being Lady and the Tramp. Although these Siamese cats are not portrayed in the best light. A Siamese cat appeared in the film ‘That Darn Cat’ in 1965 that starred a young Hayley Mills. The cat actually helps Hayley’s character to stop the kidnapping plot of two robbers.