The Siamese cat is among the first distinctly recognizable breeds of Oriental cat. Derived from the Wichianmat jungle landrace, one of many types of Asian feline native to Thailand, early breeders made the Siamese the preferred option for cats used for showing. At that time, Siamese had the distinction of being the only cat amongst all breeds to win the “Master Certificate” from the American Kennel Club. It also held the distinction of being the only non-sporting breed to win the “FurReal Best Friend” title at one point in time. Since then, Siamese cats have won several prestigious awards, including “Best of Show”, “Best of Class”, and “Grand Champion”.
It is said that the development of the Siamese began when the first attempts at breeding the cat were less than satisfactory. Many of the early attempts resulted in back injuries and premature deaths. One of these was the case with Mr. Y.S. Yip. who was a breeder in Thailand before he moved to Bangkok, where he successfully raised and bred the first Siamese cats. Mr. Y.S.Yip’s primary concern was working on the cat’s health, since his objective was to produce an offspring with a good physique and disposition.
Another early breeder was Mr. Hayashi, a Japanese expatriate who owned four Siamese cats. All of them were mated with members. The result was a litter of four cats that were vigorous, happy, and affectionate. Meezer, or Watermelon Mazer, as he was known, was awarded the ultimate affectionate award in 1970.
In spite of their achievements, the American Kennel Club still lists the standard siuamese cats as being very much the weak and reclusive types. They are indicated as needing more human contact and encouragement than any other breed. On the other hand, a closer look at the various Siamese breeds will show that they have a surprisingly high confidence level in their human companions. The cats are very active and vocal when they wish to be, but they are also quite reserved and remain so even when away from their owners.
Like most breeds, the strength and robustness of a particular breed are dependent upon the way it was raised. While the American Kennel Club lists the American Siamese cat as being firm and powerful, some other organizations consider it to be a delicate cat. Some claim that this delicate nature of the breed was inherited from its blue-blooded ancestors who, in turn, were clipped and tamed for their studious habits by monks during the seventh and eight century. As such, it is not surprising that when properly cared for a siuamese cat will become very affectionate and readily allow you into its loving life.
Some people who adopt Thai or Siamese cats do so because they feel that they resemble their own native breed. The truth is that, though all breeds share certain characteristics, there are subtle genetic differences among them, and every breed is different in what it expects or even demands of its human companions. In fact, Thai and Siamese cats have been bred in captivity for many years, with the result that they are now used to human companionship. So, if you consider yourself someone who finds emotional commitment in your relationship with another human, maybe it’s time to consider a Thailand or Siamese cat for a pet. These gorgeous cats have an affectionate nature that is rarely found in other breeds.