Siamese

Temperament

The Siamese is not a cat to be admired from afar. It wants to take part in family life, argues its case in a loud, raspy voice and will keep demanding attention until it gets it. It learns fast: it fetches, walks on a harness and opens doors and drawers. It bonds very strongly with its chosen person, sleeps under the covers and seeks out a warm lap. That intensity has a flip side: it copes badly with being alone, and a bored cat may lick its fur down to bald patches or chew through fabric. It gets along well with children who respect its boundaries, and usually with dogs too, although it likes to be in charge. A second cat, ideally with a similar temperament, is often the best solution. It approaches strangers with interest, but on its own terms.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Talkativeness

quietchatterbox

Indoor-only life

needs outdoor accessgreat

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Siamese for?

The Siamese is for someone who wants a cat as a partner: chatty, engaged and always around. It does well with someone who works from home, or in a home where it will live with a second cat. We do not recommend it for people who value quiet, for anyone in a thin-walled apartment with sensitive neighbors, or for someone who is out 10 hours a day and wants just one cat.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Siamese's short, close-lying coat needs very little fuss: a once-a-week going-over with a rubber grooming mitt or a damp hand is enough. Baths are unnecessary. The real work is keeping it busy. A Siamese needs floor-to-ceiling cat trees, shelves, interactive toys, snuffle mats and daily play sessions that mimic hunting. It quickly masters clicker tricks and harness walks, which are a good way to burn off energy. It is slim and active, but neutered cats can put on weight, so keep an eye on portions. Brush its teeth or use dental chews as a routine, because periodontal disease is not unusual in Oriental cats. If everyone in the household works away from home, a second cat makes a Siamese much happier.

Health and breed-related conditions

Siamese cats are usually long-lived: VCA gives 12–15 years, and a VetCompass analysis from the UK put average life expectancy at about 11.7 years, slightly above the average for purebred cats. The breed does have a few known predispositions. Progressive retinal atrophy leads to blindness, and carriers can be identified with a DNA test. The CFA and TICA mention amyloidosis, and International Cat Care lists asthma, mediastinal lymphoma, small intestinal adenocarcinoma, pyloric stenosis and crossed eyes in Siamese and related cats. Crossed eyes and kinked tails were once common, but breeders have largely eliminated them. TICA notes that Siamese are sensitive to anesthesia. Separation anxiety can show up as excessive grooming.

• progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)Inherited recessively and leads to blindness; a genetic test identifies carriers.
• amyloidosisDeposits of amyloid, mainly in the liver; the genes involved are unknown, so ask the breeder about the history of the line.
• asthma and respiratory diseaseSiamese-type breeds are listed among those predisposed to feline asthma.
• mediastinal lymphoma and small intestinal adenocarcinomaCancers reported more often in Siamese and related breeds.
• behavior problems: overgrooming, wool sucking (pica)Anxiety when left alone can lead to psychogenic hair loss; young cats may eat fabric.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

Cats with pale bodies and dark points appear in Thai manuscripts of cat poetry dating from the Ayutthaya kingdom (1350–1767). They reached Europe and America in the 19th century: the first known Siamese in the US, named Siam, was a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878, and in the 1880s English fanciers were showing them at the Crystal Palace. The CFA recognized the breed at its founding in 1906. At first the only color was seal point; blue point was recognized in 1934, chocolate in 1952 and lilac in 1955. Over time, the show type became much more slender than the rounder Siamese of the past.

Fun facts

• Siamese cats appear in Thai manuscripts of poetry from the Ayutthaya period.
• The first known Siamese in the US was a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878.
• Siamese kittens are born almost white; the dark points develop with age on the cooler parts of the body.
• In the CFA, the Siamese comes in only four colors, and the other point colors form a separate breed.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. 1CFA – Siamesecfa.org
2. 2TICA – Siamese breedtica.org
3. 3VCA Animal Hospitals – Siamesevcahospitals.com
4. 4International Cat Care – Inherited disorders in catsicatcare.org
5. 5RVC VetCompass – life expectancy for companion cats (Teng et al. 2024)rvc.ac.uk
6. 6FIFe – Breedsfifeweb.org
7. 7WCF – Breed standards Siamese/Orientalwcf.de

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.