Interesting facts about Siamese cats: "Storytellers" who can change the color of their fur.
The dark pigment is mostly "precipitated" around the nose, ears, paws and tail of these cats, and legends explain why they have crossed eyes and a crooked tail.
Siamese cats are members of one of the most elegant breeds in the world.
With a recognizable appearance and temperament, they are among the oldest domesticated breeds of cats, and the color of their fur is determined by genetics and - the temperature of the environment.
Although the coat of the Siamese is silver-gray and the eyes are blue, the fur of these ladies can be orange, brown, cream, and even blue or lilac, among other coat variations. There are many more interesting things about Siamese cats.
1. Hair color
The fur of Siamese cats comes in an incredible range of colors that are not just a product of genetics.
The color of the Siamese coat depends on several groups of genes. This cat has a special modifying gene that prevents the development of pigment in the fur, leading to albinism. Thanks to the magic of science, the albinism modifying gene affects coat color only above a certain temperature (between 37.7 and 39 degrees). When a Siamese's body temperature drops below 37.8 degrees, or the cat stays in a colder environment, its coat color genes turn on and transfer pigment to its fur. Since the cat's body is cooler around its nose, ears, paws and tail, the pigment is deposited there.
Most Siamese cats are born completely white, with the characteristic pigmented markings appearing in the weeks after birth. This is explained by the fact that the female's womb is very warm and prevents the coat color gene from reaching the fur of her babies. After birth and several weeks of exposure to colder temperatures, Siamese kittens will darken parts of their bodies around the face, tail and paws.
2. Old race
Although no one is sure when Siamese cats were first bred and domesticated, they are believed to have originated in Thailand in the 14th century, when the first mention of them appeared in a Thai manuscript. This would mean that they are one of the oldest cat breeds in the world.
3. Common features
The crossed gaze and crooked tail have long been considered typical features of Siamese cats. Although these traits were the result of certain genetic factors, legends offered their own explanations for the interesting appearance of Siamese cats.
According to one legend, a group of Siamese cats guarded the royal golden cup. Going about their duties, the cats stared at the goblet so intently that their eyes simply crossed. And since, for added security, they wrapped their tails around the cup, this part of their body remained permanently bent.
Even today, Siamese cats with crossed eyes and crooked tails are seen, but they are not common. Breeders have declared these traits undesirable.
4. Royal treatment
For hundreds of years, royal families in Thailand have prized Siamese cats for their distinctive and unusual appearance. Aristocrats actually believe that the Siamese cat will receive their souls when they die, and it will live for a long time in the temple, pampered and looked after by monks.
5. Presidential cats
Although Siamese cats have long been domesticated in Asia, they appeared in other parts of the world much later. In the US, one of the earliest known owners of a Siamese cat is Lucy, the wife of the 19th US President Rutherford B. Hayes, meaning that Siamese cats have a history in the White House as well. First Lady Lucy's Siamese cat, named Siam, was a gift from an American diplomat working in Thailand.
6. Movie stars and conspiracies
Siamese cats starred in many movie "treats", one of which is the world famous animated movie "The Lady and the Tramp".
In 1965's That Darn Cat, the story centers around DC's Siamese (Darn Cat) who helps stop a kidnapping. And while DC from That Darn Cat! helps prevent a fictional kidnapping, two real-life Siamese cats helped prevent espionage in the 1960s!
When two Siamese cats, who lived in the Dutch embassy in Moscow, started scratching on the wall, their owner suspected that they were reacting to a noise that the human ear could not detect. He was right — 30 small microphones were discovered behind the wall!
7. Talkative race
If you have a Siamese cat (or have ever spent time with one), you know that these kitties are big talkers. They will express their opinion about the food you offer them, about the observations they "pick up" looking out the window and basically about everything they see during the day and night.
Interesting facts about Siamese cats
* The average lifespan of a Siamese cat is 15 to 20 years.
* Siamese cats are small to medium-sized cats that weigh between 3.5 and 6 kilograms when mature.
* Siamese cats are social and want to "talk" to their owners and are louder than other breeds.
