Siamese ~ Thai ~ Wichien-Maat

Owner Questions Q.

My Cats Poop really smells. What can I do?

A. When I got this email, I was rolling over laughing with enjoyment. I was laughing because I cannot stand foul smells, so I empty my cat litter almost daily. And I also have to deal with my Stud's ‘musty’ pee, which is a great incentive for the changing – yuck!! Here are some solid techniques you can try to reduce the smell:

Food I have found that eating a healthy diet with the proper amounts contributes to the 'OUT COME.' I dish smaller portions throughout the day (Break-fast, Lunch, and Dinner) instead of free feeding. Siamese are like the French, they love their food. So control feedings may help the problem. Remember your cat should be getting no more than ¾ cup a day of high quality food. If your one of my kitten owners you know I only recommend: EVO or Eukanuba Cat and Kitten Foods. Another common reason is wet food – those seem to really smell the place up. I don't recommend wet cat food except for an occasional treat because dry food is better for the cats teeth and digestive tract.

Litter Box I use Cedar chips which also really help with the smell. However, my oldest daughter liked the crystal beads. She had a Show Style that lived in her room most of the time, and so that is what she purchased and seemed to prefer. Now that was one cat that really smelled!!! Clay types of litters tend to retain a lot of moisture, which brings the smell along with it. I swear in the near future I am going to teach at least one of my cats how to use the toilet. My girlfriend who bred but had enough bathrooms, designated a bathroom just for her cats, and she taught all three how to use the toilet. Try some of these techniques and lets see how they work. The following was sent to me along time ago -- I apologize that I don't remember the original author.

Characteristics: The Siamese come in a multitude of colours. While the rest of the world understands the genetic component of what makes a siamese, ONLY the CFA Registered Siamese practice breeding cats from four colours. **The author finds this practices extremely unethical as it has severely limited the gene pool of the Siamese, and likely diminished thier health and vigor. Siamese found in Thailand, come in a variety of colours - the most famous of those colours are the Seal, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac points.** The Siamese are known for their voice. It is a hearty, deep-throated cry rather than a meow. They have been known to have entire conversations with their owners. It is not uncommon for people to ask if there is a baby crying during your telephone conversations. They are extremely intelligent and will undoubtedly get into all kinds of mischief in your home.

Temperament: The Siamese are an extremely social type of cat. If you are looking for a beautiful, quiet, “don’t bother me” kind of cat, then get a Persian. If you are looking for a beautiful, active, “don’t even think about ignoring me” kind of cat, then the Siamese is for you! Siamese want to be with you 24/7 and will expect you to share your food, your bed and your life with them. They will follow you from room to room. They are also known to be dog-like, in that they can be trained to walk on a leash and will fetch sparkly balls for hours on end. The Siamese cannot be left alone for long periods of time. They need companionship whether it be from their owner, another cat or even a dog. Siamese are known to be excellent with children as they somehow sense the innocence of a child and will tolerate their prodding and pulling as the child learns proper handling. They will comfort you when you are sad or sick. They will defy you when you tell them “no”. And one this is for sure, they will love you unconditionally. And why do they do all these things? Because they think they are human!

Is it true that Siamese are mean: No, Siamese are not mean. In fact, they are just the opposite. That wives tale was started because there were some Siamese that were very protective of their owners and would defend their owners if they felt they were being threatened. That was not necessarily a desirable trait in the Siamese, so today’s breeders are very selective and breed specifically for good temperaments. What happened to the old applehead Siamese? When the Siamese were brought over from Siam (now Thailand), there were cats that resembled both types. There were cats that were big and stocky with big round heads and smallish ears. There were also cats quite opposite in type with longer, more svelte bodies and larger ears. The breeders who decided to work with these cats selectively bred for refinement and elegance which we know as the Siamese of today. There are still some breeders that work with the other types of Siamese, however (assuming that the cats are CFA registered) these breeders are not breeding to the standard written by our registering association.

Are Siamese hypoallergenic: No, Siamese are not hypoallergenic. Their fur is very short and they only shed about twice a year, but most people are allergic to a cats dander and not their fur. Cat dander is actually a mixture of proteins found in the skin glands, saliva, and urine of animals. Animal dander can build up in carpets and upholstery, and it becomes airborne when disturbed by cleaning.

Do Siamese scratch furniture: Siamese will scratch furniture if another scratching alternative has not been made available. Siamese would prefer to scratch on a  sisal or carpet covered scratching post or even a cat tree as opposed to your furniture. Most Siamese breeders by their contracts do not allow de-clawing, so it’s best to provide your cat or kitten with a scratching post as soon as possible. Siamese are very easy to train to use the scratching post.  

How long do Siamese live: Siamese are known to be one of the longest-lived breeds of cat. With proper veterinary care, nutrition and exercise a Siamese can live to be anywhere from 13-20 years old. It is not uncommon for a Siamese to even live past the age of 20.  How big do Siamese get: The Siamese should be a medium sized cat with the males a bit larger than the females. Males can range anywhere from 8-12 pounds and females range anywhere from 6-10 pounds. What health problems are in the Siamese: Crossed eyes, kinked tails and even protruding sternums still show up from time to time in the Siamese breed. These are not desirable traits however they are not detrimental to their health.