History of the Traditional Siamese
"History of the Traditional Siamese Cat"
By Mary Jo Cannarella, Cann-Dee-Apples Cattery, Nashua, NH
The Siamese cat is the most popular shorthaired, purebred cat in the world. According
to legend, these cats were first seen in the temples of Siam. The first Siames cats in
literature occur in a five-hundred year old manuscript in the National Library at
Bangkok. They are pictured in drawings of cats in "The Cat book Poems" of ancient
Thailand. These cats served as pets and "temple guards." Kings and priests of Siam
revered their Siamese cats, and only royalty or wealthy persons were allowed to own
them. For this reason, the Siamese is known as the Royal Cat of Siam. In 1884, King
Chulalongkorn (son of Monkut, whose story is told in The King and I) presented a pair of
sealpoint Siamese, Pho and Mia, as a farewell gift to Owen Gould, the British Consul
General in Bangkok. These were the first cats taken from Siam to England, and the gift
was a great honor, since the royal family had bred them in the palace.
Gould's sister, Mrs. Lillian (Gould) Veley exhibited the progeny of Pho and Mia at the
Crystal Palace in 1886. Soon the Siamese cats became a favorite of British cat
fanciers. Curious crowds flocked to see the Siamese, for never before had they seen
cats like these. The cats appealed immediately to people, for their beautiful contrast in
color, their litheness, their sleek coat and their strikingly beautiful blue eyes. Coupled
with intelligence and loyalty, a mischievous sense of adventure, and loving
temperament, Siamese cats gained immediate popularity. The Siamese Cat Fancier's
Club was founded in England in 1902.
Siamese cats were first seen in the USA in 1903, when they made an appearance at a
cat show, taking the public by storm. By 1909, the Siamese Cat Society of America
was founded, and the standard for the breed was established. The popularity of
Siamese cats reached its peak during the 1950's, when Disney's animated movie,
"The Lady and The Tramp". However, Disney portrayed them as cold and conniving,
and nothing could be farther from the truth.
The Siamese cat of the 1950's and 60s looked very different from the long-bodied,
wedge-headed cat known today as the Modern Siamese. A little book, published in
1956, titled, Siamese Cat Book, by Vera M. Nelson, is now a collector's item. Every
Siamese cat pictured in this book is a "Champion" or "Grand champion"; all are
Traditional Siamese cats. They appear well proportioned and staunch, with well-
developed shoulders, heads and hindquarters. Their necks are medium to short length
and muscular. Their heads are not wedge-shaped, but rather round; muzzle, chin and
jaw are not pointed. Ears are medium-sized and look well proportioned in relation to
the size of the heads.
Vera Nelson writes, "For fifty years Siamese have been exhibited in this country, and
they have come a long way from the early specimens to those of the present. The type
has changed decidedly for the better due to…..the scientific approach to breeding
taken by the serious breeders…."
By 1964, the sturdy, Traditional Siamese had lost favor with breeders and cat show
judges, and show points were only awarded to Modern Siamese cats. These were thin,
long-legged cats which had long heads, tapering in straight lines to a narrow muzzle.
Traditional Siamese acquired the nickname"appleheads." Moderns are extreme cats.
They have extremely elongated, tubular bodies; willowy, svelte and very thin. Their
heads are wedges, with large ears, which appears, from the front, as a triangle. Long,
thin necks and long legs are featured, as well as a whip-like, pointed tails. Modern cats
and kittens may appear to be emaciated. After 1964, as tastes changed, those
influential in the breeding and judging of the Siamese cats rewrote and reinterpreted
the breed standard, encouraging the breeding of cats with more and more extremely
thin bodies and wedge shaped heads.
Between the extreme Modern and the Traditional "Applehead" was the Classic
Siamese. A lighter, slightly longer-headed cat, the Classic is on a continuum between
the Traditional and the Modern, without going to either extreme. Today, the Classic and
the Traditional are both accepted as Traditional Siamese. The Classic has always
appeared naturally in litters of Siamese kittens. Selective breeding of the most narrow-
headed kittens in the litter, and "petting out" the Applehead" kittens resulted in the
development of the extreme wedge. Inbreeding may also have sometimes contributed
to the development of the Modern, with resulting negative impact on longevity and
robust health.
During the 1970's and 1980's, breeders who continued to breed the round-headed
"appleheads" lost show points for their Siamese, while Moderns were winning in the
show ring. Therefore, many breeders either stopped entering their "appleheads" in
shows, or they began to breed their cats to the standard set by the cat associations
and the judges, in order to win the titles they coveted. Some breeders continued to
breed Traditionals as pets, and many of these were not registered with any cat
organization. Most Traditionals were spayed or neutered, not being considered
breeder quality. By 1986, a Traditional Siamese kitten was hard too find on the market,
for they had nearly disappeared.
Breeding for an extreme look in any animal may have a negative impact upon the
general health of the breed. Numerous examples of weakening of the species by
selective breeding of extreme types can be seen in dogs and horses, for example.
England has been able to reverse the trend of breeding cats to extreme standards, and
they have encouraged the preservation of the Traditional Siamese. Breeders in the
USA are following this trend.
Many persons in the market for a Siamese kitten are unaware that the Siamese comes
in three different types. However, those who remember a Siamese from their childhood
realize very soon something has changed. The cat they remember is not seen much
anymore. You won't see Traditionals at cat shows today. Breeders who have traditional
kittens are hard to find.
The Modern Siamese has become so prevalent that many Siamese cat breeders are
unaware of the Siamese breed's history, and how the Traditional cat fits into the story.
By the '90s, some people actually believed that the Siamese cat had always looked
like the Modern. They even believed that "appleheads" were Siamese cats of inferior
quality! The truth was easily found in old books and videotapes documenting Siamese
cats of the 1950's through the 1970s.
The Traditional Cat Association, Inc. (originally called The Traditional Siamese
Association) was founded by Diana Fineran in 1987, to bring the Traditional Siamese
back from near extinction. She provided interested persons with a list of breeders and
a Kitten Referral List. As membership grew, the TCA was expanded to include many
other breeds of traditional cats, such as the Burmese, Doll-Faced Persian, Traditional
Balinese, and others, as well as the Classic Siamese. Today, heath, longevity and
genetic diversity in the bloodlines of the Traditional Siamese has fostered renewed
appreciation for this treasure. Dedicated breeders, whose mission is to "preserve,
promote and protect the Traditional cat" are active in the Traditional Cat Association,
which has written standards for each breed of traditional cat accepted for their registry.
It is likely that someday both Modern and Traditional Siamese will be recognized and
shown in the ring. However long it may take, breeders and lovers of the Traditional
Siamese know that it has never ceased to be the favorite of millions, who cherish the
beauty, curiosity, intelligence and loyalty of the Traditional Siamese.
Are all three of these types of Siamese cats purebred Siamese? The answer is yes,
they certainly are. Today, breeders specializing in the Traditional Siamese cats are
hard to locate, but they do seem to be increasing. The increase is due to the steady
demand for Traditionals. The Traditional Cat Association has been working to preserve
the gene pool of these beautiful cats, whose very extinction seemed possible, just a
short time ago.
If you want a Breeder's List from the TCA, send a SASE and $2.00 to Diana Fineran at: