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Siamese - The Changing Breed

The Siamese cat is a natural breed, which means that the traits commonly associated with the Siamese were not artificially introduced into the cat. Their history goes back hundreds of years to Thailand, or as it was then known, Siam. In modern history, Siamese were first brought to Britain and then later to the United States.

Currently there are two main Siamese cat looks. There is the "wedge-headed" cat, which is the breed standard and the "appleheaded" Siamese. The appleheaded cat is often called a "traditional" Siamese. At this point in time, it is difficult to know which cat was the true breed. It is possible that the long lithe wedge shaped cat was as common as the heavier boned applehead.

What we do know is that in the early part of the century, breeders began breeding Siamese for their slender muscular bodies and long legs. Their faces became more triangular, or wedge shaped and their ears were prominent. Over the last thirty years, as the wedge-headed type of Siamese became more popular, people came to miss the Siamese cats they had as children. Other breeders set out to revive the heavier boned, rounded faced Siamese cat. Thus, they are called the "traditional" Siamese.

Although the cats look different enough to potentially be a completely different breed, both types of Siamese are outgoing and friendly cats. Both have wonderful temperaments and in many ways act as much like a dog as a cat. Both are very active and well muscled. The slender cat is lighter boned but remains surprisingly strong.

Potentially the slender Siamese has a greater risk of certain health problems, however the teeth problems that can be so common in these cats, can also show up in their traditional counterparts. It is possible that because of the in breeding that went on to create the wedge headed cats, that the traditional breeders have been unable to breed out the more negative characteristics. It is also possible that this is just a long ongoing genetic problem with these types of cats and is related to the genetics of their coloring.

Whichever type of Siamese you get, rest assured that this is a breed that has many fans of all ages. Their bright blue eyes continue to attract fans all over the world. If this isn't enough, their mischievous personalities and athletic prowess make them a favorite amongst cat fanciers.

Bonnie Koenig lives with her three cats. She and her Siamese maintain their website http://www.mysiamese.com

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