The Siamese (Thai: วิเชียรมาศ, RTGS: Wichianmat) is one of the
first distinctly recognized breeds of Oriental cat. The breed originated in
Thailand (formerly known as Siam), where they are one of several native breeds
and are called Wichian Mat (วิเชียรมาศ, a name meaning "moon
diamond"). In the 20th century the Siamese cat became one of the most
popular breeds in Europe and North America.
The pointed cat known in the West as "Siamese", recognized
for its distinctive markings, is one of several breeds of cats from Siam
described and illustrated in manuscripts called "Tamra Maew" (Cat
Poems), estimated to have been written from the 14th to the 18th century.
In the 1950s–1960s, as the Siamese was increasing in popularity, many
breeders and cat show judges began to favor the more slender look. As a result
of generations of selective breeding, they created increasingly long,
fine-boned, narrow-headed cats; eventually the modern show Siamese was bred to
be extremely elongated, with a lean, tubular body, long, slender legs, a very long,
very thin tail that tapers gradually into a point and a long, wedge-shaped head
topped by extremely large, wide-set ears. The minority of breeders who stayed
with the original style found that their cats were no longer competitive in the
show ring.
The Thai or traditional Siamese shares some features with the Modern
Siamese (e.g., the color pattern and the short single coat, although not so
short and "painted on" as the modern) but differs from it in head and
body type. It has a "foreign" type (rather elongated, high on the
legs, lithe but substantial, with medium boning) not an "oriental"
type as in the modern Siamese and Oriental breeds and it has a modified wedge
head, with rounded cheeks from which project a wedge-shaped muzzle (or
"marten face" as it was called in 19th-century descriptions). The
ears are moderately large and higher than those of the modern Siamese. The eyes
are medium to slightly large, a full almond shape but not extremely
"oriental".
The breed standard of the Modern Siamese indicates an elegant, slim,
stylish, flexible, and well-muscled body. Its head is triangular, with fine
muzzle.
Siamese are usually very affectionate and intelligent cats, renowned
for their social nature. Many enjoy being with people and are sometimes
described as "extroverts". Often they bond strongly to a single
person. Some Siamese are extremely vocal, with a loud, low-pitched voice—known
as "Meezer", from which they get one of their nicknames—that has been
compared to the cries of a human baby, and persistent in demanding attention.
These cats are typically active and playful, even as adults, and are often
described as more dog-like in behavior than other cats.
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