How to Select a Siamese Cat

Of all the breeds of cats available in the world today, the Siamese is one of the most popular. They have unique and vibrant personalities, and are wonderful companions. For those interested in purchasing a Siamese kitten, there are some things to consider.

Selecting a breeder is the first step in purchasing your kitten. There are literally hundreds of Siamese breeders in the United States, and many more throughout the world. Don’t be too hasty in your selection. Do your research and ask for references. If at all possible, visit the breeder and take a good look at the facility.

When adopting any cat, Siamese or not, health is always a major concern. Ask to see the parents of the kittens, and enquire about the general health and well-being of the parents. Pay attention to any mention of heart or liver problems with either parent, since these can be passed down to the kittens, especially with a breed such as the Siamese.

Take a look at the area where the kittens are kept, ensuring that it is free of dirt, fleas, and mites. Check to make sure all kittens are clean and healthy in appearance, and ask about a health guarantee. You want to make sure that if you take your kitten to the veterinarian and are told that your new family member is seriously ill, you can return the kitten for a refund.

Siamese kittens are highly social and quite dependent. They shouldn’t be removed from their mother before twelve weeks of age, or they could develop severe anxiety disorders. A breeder who encourages you to take the kitten home before this is likely not interested in the health and well-being of the kittens.

Observe the kittens for a while. Do not pick a kitten simply because you like the way it looks. Watch them as they interact with each other. The happy and frisky kitten is the best pick for most people. The wallflower might not be feeling well, or might dash under the couch as soon as you get home. Look for the kitten that will be more compatible with your lifestyle.

You might notice that the kittens are either a creamy white, or that their markings are lighter than expected. This is normal. Siamese markings start to come in around four weeks of age, and don’t finish darkening until the kittens are approximately a year old.

Siamese kittens are very vocal and require a lot of attention. If you tend to stay home a lot, or can take the kitten with you, then your kitten will be happy and well socialized. If, however, you’re away from home for long stretches of time and it's not possible to have the kitten accompany you, a second kitten might be a viable option. No one likes to be alone, least of all a precocious Siamese kitten.

The choice to bring a Siamese into your home is not to be made lightly. They can live for fourteen or more years, and are full of energy and love. If you’re ready to love them and give them the attention they deserve, Siamese might be the breed for you.

Cat Breed Facts: Chartreux

References to blue, gray, or blue-gray cats can be found throughout French literature. Though the first recorded use of the name Chartreux to describe cats with blue fur was in 1723, entirely gray cats were common in France at least as early as 1558. Legend, which often passes for fact among cat fanciers, says that the Carthusian monks were responsible for the development of the Chartreux, but in truth, the ancient origins of this beautiful cat are probably lost to time.

The Development of the Chartreux

The first recognized Chartreux breeders were the Leger sisters, who lived on a small island in the northwest of France. Originally, the sisters bred Siamese and Persians, before becoming acquainted with blue-gray cats in the late 1920s. They discovered a large population of blue-gray cats on the island and were enchanted. Though no one knows how the cats came to be on the island, it is clear that one of the Leger sisters exhibited the first Chartreux in 1931 at a show in Paris.

Even today, the Chartreux remains one of the rarest of cat breeds. The breed was almost eliminated entirely during WWI and WWII. When breeders attempted to revive the breed in the 1950s, they found that there were not enough of the blue cats to create a suitably diverse gene pool. In an effort to save the breed, breeders began outcrossing with other blue cats, most notably Persians and British Shorthairs.

This outcrossing compromised the Standards of the Chartreux, making the breed resemble the British Shorthair. In 1970, the Feline International Federation judged that there was no difference between the breeds, and so they were to be judged in the same category. This situation lasted for seven years until breeders in Europe insisted that their cat was indeed different from the British Shorthair.

The Chartreux did not make an appearance in the United States until 1970, and after that outcrossing was rare. The Chartreux has developed a style all its own, one that distinguishes it from other breeds and varieties of blue cats.

Some Breed Standards for the Chartreux

The Standards for the Chartreux, as with many other breeds, are quite strict. It is quite easy to have a cat that is penalized or even disqualified, so those picking a show or breeding kitten should do so with care.

General: The ideal Chartreux is a sturdy French breed with dense, water repellent fur. Though husky, robust, and amply built, the Chartreux is a supple and agile cat, never coarse or clumsy. These cats are strong and intelligent, and have an amenable personality.

Head: The head should be rounded and broad, but not a sphere. This cat should have a powerful jaw with full cheeks. The nose should be straight, and neck short and heavyset. The Chartreux has a sweet, smiling expression.

Ears: Ears should be medium in both height and width, set high on the head, with a very erect posture. The set of the ears makes the Chartreux appear to be ever on alert.

Eyes: The eyes should be rounded and open, conveying an alert expression. The color should be anywhere from copper to gold, with a deep, brilliant orange as the preferred color.

Body: A Chartreux should have a robust physique. The chest should be deep, and all cats of this breed should be solid and dense. Females are medium in size; males are much larger and take longer to mature.

Tail: The ideal Chartreux has a tail of moderate length, heavy at the base, and tapering to an oval tip. The tail should be lively and flexible.

Coat: The coat of a Chartreux should be medium short and slightly wooly in texture. The undercoat should be resilient, with a longer and protective topcoat. The coat may range in color from blue gray to ash or slate, though blue is the preferred tone.

Penalties: Any cat with a severe nose break, snubbed or upturned nose, tail defects, or eyes too close together will be assessed a penalty.

Disqualifications: There are several reasons a Chartreux might be disqualified. These include: visibly kinked tail, green eyes, or a white locket.

The Chartreux is a sweet and loving cat, unique in color and gentle in nature. This breed would make a wonderful addition to any home, including homes with children.

Hybrid Cats: Alaskan Snow Cat

The Alaskan Snow Cat is an experimental breed that is often confused with the Snowshoe. The Snowshoe is a recognized breed by most associations throughout the world. The Alaskan Snow Cat is a hybrid. This means that its parents are of two different breeds. The Alaskan Snow Cat is the result of crossing the Somali with the silver Persian. This results in a beautiful and unique hybrid breed.

The Alaskan Snow Cat was created in the 1900s by several breeders throughout the United States, especially in Minnesota and Florida. These breeders are currently attempting to reach some sort of breed standard in an attempt to gain recognition of the breed. The goal is to create a breed that has the natural grace and beauty of the Somali, but with the heavier body and head of the Persian. Attaining this on a consistent basis had proven challenging.

Color has proven to be equally difficult to predict. Though most Alaskan Snow Cats have a white underbelly, the actual color of the rest of the cat varies. Many are brown, rust, or even black, and most have dark banding on the legs and tail. However, the most desirable color of the Alaskan Snow cat is a silver-gray with darker gray banding and a white underbelly and throat ruff.

The Alaskan Snow Cat, due to its Persian parent, is stronger and more stable than the Somali. This means that the cat is hardier and can roughhouse with dogs and small children easier than its Somali parent. They can’t jump quite as high, however, due to their increased weight, but they can still climb very well and have a tendency to sit on top of cupboards, fridges, and even climb curtains. Owners of Alaskan Snow Cats should be aware of this, as more delicate curtains can often be shredded by this heavier cat.

These cats tend to be fairly laid back and enjoy playing with other cats, dogs, or even young children. However, they do not like loud noises, so children who do play with these cats should be taught to keep their voices down. Alaskan Snow Cats are very friendly and prefer to stay with their people. They tend not to do well alone, so the conscientious owner will ensure a companion is provided. This doesn’t have to be another Alaskan Snow Cat. These sweet felines are just as happy with another breed of cat or even a dog as a best friend.

Because these cats are so rare and the breed is still in its infancy, it is difficult to provide a detailed look at the Alaskan Snow Cat. It will be some time before breeders can stabilize the breed and produce a standard that is acceptable throughout the world of cat fancy. Until that happens, the Alaskan Snow Cat will remain a fun and beautiful experiment.

Cat Breed Facts: Burmese

The first Burmese to arrive in the United States, a small brown cat named Wong Mau, accompanied a sailor on a journey from Rangoon to San Francisco in 1930. Wong Mau had a dark brown body with even darker points on her face, ears, legs, and tail. When she was purchased by a Navy psychiatrist, Dr. Joseph Thompson, who bred her to a seal point Siamese. The results of this mating were Siamese kittens, and some kittens with a darker body very much like her own. When these darker kittens were bred together, they produced dark kittens, but these kittens were even-colored, lacking Wong Mau’s markings. This was taken as evidence that Wong Mau was a hybrid cat with Siamese in her background.

The Development of the Burmese

The first Burmese was registered in the United States in 1936. Very few Burmese were registered at this time, because the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) required three generations of like-to-like breeding before they would accept a cat as a purebred. This presented a problem because the Burmese gene pool was too small. Many breeders were still using seal point Siamese in their breeding programs to continue to produce quality kittens. In the 1930s, the only difference between a Siamese and a Burmese was the color.

By 1940, the Burmese had been accepted by three different associations for competition. However, in 1947, the CFA suspended the recognition of the breed, since there were so few who could meet the three-generation requirement. The only thing that saved the breed from extinction during this time was the fact that both the American Cat Association and the Cat Fanciers’ Federation continued to recognize the Burmese.

In the late 1950s, the Burmese, having established itself, was reinstated into the CFA. However, new Standards were also introduced, Standards which were almost opposite the Standards of the Siamese from which the Burmese was descended. In theory, this should have eliminated outcrossing, but the breed still needed new blood. So, crosses with the black Domestic Shorthair became common.

Eventually, the new look of the Burmese became popular, as did the introduction of new colors. However, the new colors were a point of bitter dispute between breeders, some of whom thought that only brown cats should be considered Burmese. Today, champagne, platinum, and blue Burmese are quite common, as is the original sable.

Some Breed Standards for the Burmese

The Standards for the Burmese, as with many other breeds, are quite strict. It is quite easy to have a cat that is penalized or even disqualified, so those picking a show or breeding kitten should do so with care.

General: The ideal Burmese is a cat of medium size with good muscle tone, and is surprisingly heavy for its size. This cat also has uniquely communicative eyes and a sweet expression.

Head: Pleasingly round without flat planes, the head should be well proportioned in relation to the body. The face is full, the muzzle short, and there should be a visible nose break.

Ears: The ears of the Burmese should be medium in size, set well apart, and rounded at the tips. They should also be broad at the base, and have an alert appearance.

Eyes: The eyes should be large, set far apart, and have a rounded aperture.

Body: A Burmese should present a compact appearance. This medium-sized cat should have legs that are in proportion to the body. Paws should be rounded, with five toes in front and four behind. Males should be larger than females.

Tail: The ideal Burmese has a straight tail, medium in length, with a gentle taper.

Coat: The coat of a Burmese should be fine and glossy. It should have a satin like texture, and be very short and close lying.

Penalties: Any cat with distinct barring on either the front of the rear outer legs will be assessed a penalty. Kittens and younger adults may have faint barring, which should disappear as the cat ages.

Disqualifications: There are several reasons a Burmese might be disqualified. These include: blue eyes, tail defects, distinct barring on the torso, lockets or spots, or anything that disrupts the line of the head or body.

The Burmese is a heavy and muscular cat, and they generally experience good health. However, these cats are prone to certain health defects, such as cleft palates and skulls that do not close. They are sweet, loving, and unique, and make wonderful companions for many cat lovers.