Types of Siamese Kittens

The Siamese is one of the oldest cat breeds, originating from Siam, now known as Thailand, where they were considered sacred. They were first brought to England by an ambassador and soon after made their way into English cat shows. During the 20th century they began appearing in American cat shows. This breed is well known for striking blue eyes, unique voice, affectionate disposition, intelligence and loyalty. Anyone interested in a Siamese kitten should note there are several breed variations to consider.

  1. The Applehead or Traditional Siamese Kitten

    • Applehead or traditional Siamese have a short round face, and huskier build.

      The earliest Siamese cats tended to have round faces, heavy and quite muscular bodies. Once in England, the development of the applehead or traditional Siamese occurred by crossbreeding the originals with American and British Shorthair breeds. This produced kittens with a huskier build, a short round face and the prominent color points. Devout Siamese enthusiasts claim this variety is the closest to the original and is the purest form of the breed.

    The Classic or Old-Style Siamese Kitten

    • For some people it can be difficult to distinguish between the applehead and classic Siamese, as they are quite similar in appearance. The classic or old-style falls in between the extremes of the applehead and the modern varieties. These kittens have the same large-boned build but are typically longer and slimmer than the applehead, yet they have a slightly more triangular face. The classic gets its name for the era in which it was popular, during the 1950s through the1970s and is the predecessor to what is known as the modern look of the breed.

    The Modern or Wedgehead Siamese Kitten

    • The wedghead Siamese has a distinct triangular-shaped head.

      The modern or wedgehead Siamese is what is most commonly associated with the modern-day show circuit and is easy to recognize due to its distinct and sharp features. This Siamese has an elongated neck and tail, lean and muscular body, sharply triangular head, long muzzle, sleek short coat and large ears. It's also well known for its notably slanted almond-shaped eyes, which may also be slightly crossed. However, those looking for this variety of kitten should be cautioned that they are more prone to various genetic health conditions as a result of such specialized breeding.

    Color Variations

    • All Siamese kitten varieties are born completely white.

      There are numerous color patterns associated with the Siamese breed including the snowshoe Siamese with white paws and even the apricot-point Siamese with red and cream color points. However, only four color varieties are officially recognized by the Cat Fancier's Association. Those are seal point, chocolate point, blue point and lilac point. Seal points are the best-known variety with a nearly black mask, ears, tail and feet. Chocolates have lighter brown points, blues have a blue-white coat and slate-blue points, while lilacs have pinkish-gray points and a white coat. All Siamese kittens are born white, later developing their creamy coats and color points over the first several weeks of life.