Siamese Cats

The Siamese cat, originating from the word Wichianmat, "moon diamond", is one of the first distinctly recognized breeds of domestic cat. It was one of the most popular breeds in Europe and North America in the 20th century. It is characterized by blue almond-shaped eyes, a triangular, narrow head, prominent ears, and a long, slender body. But what many people look for is the pale, cream-colored fur, and smokey face and ears. This is actually due to a mutation in tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in melanin production. The mutated enzyme is heat-sensitive; it does not work at normal body temperatures, but becomes active in cooler areas of the skin. This is why their face and extremities obtain dark coloration. They are completely cream-colored at birth, and their fur usually darkens at around four weeks.

This breed of cat is very intelligent, and also extroverted. Oftentimes they bond strongly to a single person. They are also extremely vocal, with a loud, low-pitched voice. It has been compared to that of the cries of a human baby, sometimes mistaken as such. But that doesn't mean that it means the same thing. Siamese cats are very even-tempered, active, and playful - even as adults. They are often desribed as more dog-like in character and behavior than other cats.