Siamese cat breed

You should feed your Siamese cat based on their lifestyle, age and body condition. They have slim legs so don’t cope well with gaining extra weight so its important to monitor their food intake.

It’s best to keep up a routine as Siamese cats don’t like changes. Try to feed them the same food to avoid an upset tummy and follow the guidelines on cat food packaging.

If you want to change their food, do so gradually to avoid any upset tummies.

Siamese cats have a short and close-lying coat, making them very easy to care for. A weekly brush or comb will take care of their smooth and glossy coat. They tend to shed more in spring and autumn, so you’ll need to brush them more often. 

The Siamese also like to use their front paws like hands, and you may find them getting into cupboards and drawers. Clipping their claws can help to keep your furniture damage free.

Siamese cats are energetic and playful. They can be kept as indoor or outdoor cats, but if kept indoors, they will need lots of toys to keep them stimulated and out of mischief. Providing scratching posts will protect your furniture. They are athletic and agile and will enjoy having a perch so they can climb and look down from their vantage point. Siamese cats also love a cosy hiding place to curl up and have a nap.

Siamese cats are intelligent and will quickly pick up things like toilet training. Try to get your Siamese used to a litter box as soon as you bring them home. They’re naturally curious and playful, so they’ll enjoy games such as playing ‘fetch’ as well as puzzle games to stimulate the mind. With time, patience and positive reinforcement it’s also possible to train Siamese cats to walk on a lead.

This eye disease can lead to loss of vision and blindness. It is caused by a gene mutation and is an inherited condition in Siamese cats. Unfortunately, it can’t be treated or cured. But, it is considered rare in cats. A genetic test is available, and affected cats can adapt to adapt to their blindness to maintain a good quality of life.

Amyloidosis is an inherited condition and results in liver problems. It can affect Siamese cats between one and five years old. Symptoms can include lethargy, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhoea and more. The condition can lead to fatal liver failure, but there are a few treatment options available. It is important not to breed cats with this condition.

Siamese cats are prone to asthma or allergic bronchitis. The airways narrow and affected cats will have difficulty breathing. Most cats will respond to treatments including medication and bronchodilators to control any coughing and wheezing.

Storage diseases such as Niemann-Pick disease, mucopolysaccharidosis and gangliosidosis (GM1) have been seen in Siamese cats. A specific enzyme deficiency due to a genetic defect causes chronic, progressive neurological signs in affected cats. A genetic test is available, but there is no treatment and affected cats shouldn’t be allowed to breed.

Siamese cats are considered a long-living breed with a lifespan of 15 to 20 years. They’re a generally healthy breed, but are unfortunately predisposed to certain health conditions. 

In the past Siamese kittens were born cross-eyed. This was due to a mutation in the connections between the eye and the brain. To compensate for this, the cats became cross-eyed. This condition has now been bred out of the breed. The original breed also had a kinked tail which has also now been bred out.

Siamese kittens are born white, then change colour and develop their distinctive markings when they are a few weeks old. Their coat colour is determined not only by their genes, but by the temperature of their surroundings.