There are two main types of Siamese cats. The Traditional Siamese cat is more moderate in appearance whereas the Modern Siamese cat is more extreme. The Modern cat his slimmer, longer, has a longer muzzle, more pointed hears, and darker points. These cats are more likely to be show cats.

Both breeds of Siamese cats are very attractive though so it is just a matter of personal taste as to which one you prefer.

Siamese cats are typically born white. Siamese cats are partly albino. There is a mutation in one of the genes involved in melatonin production. This gene is heat sensitive. It doesn't work at body temperature but it does work on cooler parts of the body. As Siamese cats age, the points start darkening. Points are usually the face, ears, paws and tail-all parts that tend to get cold easier.

Due to a mutation which caused the colour of the coat to be restricted to the areas known as the "points", that is the muzzle, ears, legs and tail, this unusual pattern, known as the Himalayan factor, is also found in other domestic animals, such as mice and rabbits.

This factor is also connected with the production of the fantastic blue eye-colour which has done so much to make the Siamese the most popular of all breeds of cat throughout the world.

Originally imported to Britain from Siam, now Thailand, at the end of the nineteenth century, the first Siamese cats were frail, exotic creatures. Treated somewhat like hot-house plants, and fed on strange diets, they often became sick and died. It says much for the tenacity of the breed that from such daunting beginnings it has achieved the numbers and diversity of colour varieties that we see today.