The Siamese cat is renowned for its striking appearance, distinct personality, and elegant physique. This breed standard outlines the ideal characteristics of the Siamese, focusing on its refined structure, distinctive coloration, and overall balance. Understanding these points is crucial for breeders, judges, and enthusiasts alike to appreciate and preserve the unique qualities of this beloved feline companion.
General Appearance
The ideal Siamese is a medium-sized, svelte, and refined cat. It possesses long, tapering lines, exuding an aura of lithe yet muscular grace. While males may be proportionately larger, balance and refinement are paramount, ensuring all features contribute harmoniously to the overall impression.
Head
The head is a long, tapering wedge, proportionate to the body. This wedge shape begins at the nose and extends in straight lines to the ear tips, forming a distinct triangle. There should be no break at the whiskers, and the underlying bone structure should be apparent when the whiskers are smoothed back, with allowances made for jowls in stud cats.
Skull and Profile
The skull is flat, with a long, straight profile extending from the top of the head to the tip of the nose. There should be no bulge over the eyes or dip in the nose.
Ears
Strikingly large, pointed, and wide at the base, the ears continue the elegant lines of the wedge.
Eyes
Almond-shaped and medium in size, the eyes are neither protruding nor recessed. They are slanted towards the nose, harmonizing with the lines of the wedge and ears, and should remain uncrossed.
Muzzle, Chin, and Jaw
The muzzle is fine and wedge-shaped. The chin and jaw are medium in size, with the tip of the chin aligning with the tip of the nose in the same vertical plane. Neither receding nor excessively massive, these features contribute to the breed’s refined facial structure.
Body
The body is medium-sized, graceful, long, and svelte. It presents a distinctive combination of fine bones and firm muscles, with shoulders and hips continuing the sleek lines of the tubular body. The hips should never be wider than the shoulders, and the abdomen should be tight.
Neck
The neck is long and slender, complementing the elegant lines of the body.
Legs and Paws
The legs are long and slim, with hind legs being higher than the front, maintaining good proportion to the body. The paws are dainty, small, and oval, with five toes in front and four behind.
Tail
The tail is long, thin, and tapers to a fine point, completing the breed’s slender silhouette.
Coat and Condition
The coat is short, fine-textured, and glossy, lying close to the body. The cat should be in excellent physical condition, with clear eyes and a muscular, strong, and lithe physique. It should be neither flabby nor boney, and certainly not fat.
Coloration
Body Color
The body color is typically even, with subtle shading allowed. It’s important to note that Siamese cats generally darken with age, so allowance is made for darker coloration in older cats. However, there must be a definite contrast between the body color and the points.
Points
The points—which include the mask, ears, legs, feet, and tail—should be dense and clearly defined, all in the same shade. The mask covers the entire face, including whisker pads, and connects to the ears via tracings, without extending over the top of the head. Ticking or white hairs in the points are not desirable.
Nose Leather and Paw Pads
These should match the color of the points. Improperly colored or spotted nose leather or paw pads are penalized.
Eye Color
The eye color is a deep, vivid blue, a hallmark of the breed.
Penalties and Disqualifications
Certain characteristics are penalized, such as improper nose leather or paw pads, a soft or mushy body, or visible protrusion of the cartilage at the end of the sternum.
Disqualifications include any evidence of illness or poor health, weak hind legs, mouth breathing due to nasal obstruction or poor occlusion, emaciation, a visible kink in the tail, eyes other than blue, white toes and/or feet, an incorrect number of toes, malocclusion resulting in an undershot or overshot chin, and the presence of long hair.
Siamese Color Variations
The Siamese breed is recognized in several distinct color variations:
- Seal Point: The body is an even pale fawn to cream with a warm tone, shading gradually to a lighter color on the stomach and chest. The points are a deep seal brown. Nose leather and paw pads match the points. Eye color is deep vivid blue.
- Chocolate Point: The body is ivory with no shading. The points are a milk-chocolate color, warm in tone. Nose leather and paw pads are cinnamon-pink. Eye color is deep vivid blue.
- Blue Point: The body is bluish-white, cold in tone, shading gradually to white on the stomach and chest. The points are deep blue. Nose leather and paw pads are slate-colored. Eye color is deep vivid blue.
- Lilac Point: The body is glacial white with no shading. The points are frosty grey with a pinkish tone. Nose leather and paw pads are lavender-pink. Eye color is deep vivid blue.
This comprehensive standard serves as a guide to the ideal Siamese cat, celebrating its unique blend of elegance, personality, and distinctive beauty.
