Siamese Descriptions & Standards

1889 - 2006

Presented by Betty White at the Siamese Awards Dinner (Reno 2006) in
conjunction with her speech "Siamese Standards - A Retrospective"
• • •

Harrison Weir, F.R.H.S., Our Cats and All About Them,
Chapter: "Siamese Cats," 1889

POINTS OF EXCELLENCE
ROYAL CAT OF SIAM

HEAD: Small, broad across and between the eyes, tapering upwards and somewhat narrow between the ears: forehead flat and receding, nose long, and somewhat broad, cheeks narrowing towards the mouth, lips full and rounded, ears rather large and wide at base, with very little hair inside.

FUR: Very short, and somewhat wooly, yet soft and silky to the touch, and glossy with much luster on the face, legs and tail.

COLOUR: The ground or body colour to be of an even tint, slightly darker on the back, but not in any way clouded or patched with any darker colour; light rich dun is the preferable colour, but a light fawn, light silver gray, or light orange is allowable; deeper and richer browns, almost chocolate, are admissible if even and not clouded, but the first is the true type, the last a variety of such beauty and excellence; but the dun and light tints take precedence.

MARKINGS: Ears black, the colour not extending beyond them, but ending in a clear and well-defined outline; around the eyes, and all the lower part of the head, black; legs and tail black, the colour not extending into or staining the body, but having a clear line of demarcation.

EYES: Rather of almond shape, slanting towards the nose, full and of a very beautiful blue opalesque colour, luminous and of a reddish tint in the dusk of evening or by artificial light

TAIL: Short by comparison with the English cat, thin throughout, a little thicker towards the base, without any break or kink.

SIZE AND FORM: Rather small, lithe, elegant in outline, and graceful, narrow and somewhat long; legs thin and a little short than otherwise; feet long, not so round as the ordinary cat, neck long and small.

CONDITION: In full health, not too fat, hair smooth, clear, bright, full of lustre, lying close to the body, which should be hard and firm in the muscles.

* Footnote:
Mr. Darwin states in his book on "The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication," that "throughout an immense area, namely, the Malayan Archipelago, Siam, Pequan and Burmah, all the cats have truncated tails about half the proper length, often with a sort of knob at the end." This description tallies somewhat with the appearance of some of the Siamese cats that have been imported, several of which, though they have fairly long and thin tails, and though they are much pointed at the end, often have a break or kink. Many of the Siamese kittens bred here have kinks in their tails.

• • •

 

 

John Jennings, Domestic or Fancy Cats,
Chapter: "Judging on Points," 1893

[Excerpt] The Siamese is a splendid show cat, and is moreover of considerable value, and it will be doubtless one of the first rescued from the "variety" class. I look forward for the Crystal Palace or any other comprehensive exhibition of cats to take the initiative and provide a separate class. Personally I consider the dun body colour the only true representative of this beautiful variety, and to which the heaviest points value is accorded. The eyes are at times a darker blue than is observed in white cats, but it is equally an important adjunct to a true bred Siamese; and attention to their matching is equally important. Of the markings, ears are a characteristic feature, the nearer black the better; they should be stopped off like those of a Himalayan rabbitt, the face, feet, eyes, and tail definitions being somewhat less sharply broken in color; but the denser, and greater equality these markings assume, the higher the range of points value.

Frances Simpson, Cats and All About Them, 1902

[Excerpt] Perhaps the most difficult cat to breed and rear in this country [England] is the Siamese. Some fanciers declare these cats cannot stand our climate, and others attribute their great delicacy to these terrible pests - worms - to which this breed is very subject. Certain it is that breeders of Siamese have much to contend with and many disappointments to suffer. The Royal Cat of Siam, so called from the original breed being kept in the Palace of the King of Siam, is one of the most fascinating cats to keep as a pet. They have wonderful intelligence, and seem to have great powers of attaching themselves to human beings. In colouring they resemble pug dogs. When born they are nearly white, and gradually turn a pale fawn. Their ears, muzzle, tail and legs should deepen to a dense brown chocolate colour. The markings of the ears should be sharp and distinct. The eyes should be a lovely bright blue, large and round. On the question as to whether the tail of a Siamese should be kinked or not kinked, no two opinions appear to agree, though H. M. the King of Siam is quoted as saying they ought not to be. A rather strange characteristic of this breed is the tendency to darken in coat as they grow in age. For this reason it is well to have the classes at shows divided according to age. Siamese cats may be said to be in their prime at a year old; after this their colouring becomes blurred.

Standards: "ROYAL CAT OF SIAM"

• • •

Eleanor Booth Simmons, CATS, 1935

[Excerpt] True Siamese are medium in size, with a well-muscled body, not fat, and very lithe and graceful in action. The head is wedge-shaped, long and narrow, the ears broad at the base and small at the apex and very neat and well-defined. The legs are rather thin and not long; the hind legs are slightly longer than the forelegs. The feet are somewhat smaller than those of the domestic short-haired cat. The tail is thin and tapering and not very long.
A good many people think that Siamese cats have kinked tails. So learned a commentator as M. Oldfield Howey asserts in his fascinating book, The Cat in the Mysteries of Religion and Magic, that the kinked tail has been a Siamese characteristic for two hundred years. There is a Siamese legend which says that somebody once tied a knot in a cat?s tail to remind it of something (perhaps to leave the throne room backward) and the knot stayed. Another form of the story is that a princess strung her rings on her cat?s tail while she bathed, and tied a knot to keep them from falling off. But the royal Siamese have no kinks. Any kinky-tailed Siamese in America were brought here by sailors who picked them up in the streets over there.

• • •

BODY COLOR to be as light and even as possible, cream being the most desirable, but fawn also admissible, without streaks, bars, blotches, or other body markings.

POINTS (namely, mask, ears, legs, feet and tail) to be clearly defined, of the shade known as seal brown.

MASK complete; Namely, connected by tracings with the ears, neither separated by a pale ring as in kittens, nor blurred and indistinct, the desideratum being to preserve ?the marten-face,? an impression greatly aided by a good mask.

EYES bright, and decided blue.

COAT glossy and close-lying.

SHAPE Body rather long, legs proportionately slight.

HEAD rather long and pointed.

• • •

CFA Siamese Standard, 1916

HEAD: Rather long and pointed. Deep chocolate brown mask. Pale fawn color on top of head between ears.

EARS: Neat, narrow, small at apex, broad at base, well-defined, deep chocolate brown in color.

EYES: Not so round as domestic cat, slanting somewhat toward the nose. Blue in color, deeper shade preferred.

BODY: Medium in size, graceful, lithe of movement. Clear pale fawn in color.

LEGS: Slender, not too long, and of a deep chocolate brown in color. FEET: Smaller than those of the domestic cat, deep chocolate brown in color.

TAIL: Tapering, straight preferred, deep chocolate brown in color.

COAT: Soft, sleek, short, glossy, close-lying.

CONDITION: Not too fat, inclined more to muscle.

OBJECTIONS: Pale eye color, odd eyes, grey or yellowish tinge in eyes. Blotchy or mixed coat, tabby or ticked markings or shading. Extra or white toes. White spots on belly or throat. Long hairs appearing in the chocolate brown points.

• • •

CFA Siamese Standard, 1934

 BODY COLOR: Even pale fawn or cream, slightly darker across the shoulders, shading gradually into a lighter color on the stomach and chest. The coat to be a warm fawn with no grey. In judging body color in older cats, allowance should be made for a darker coat, as Siamese darken with age, but the body should not be so dark as to eliminate contrast with the points. Kittens lighter in color.

POINTS: Mask, ears, legs, feet and tail, dense and clearly defined, all of the same shade of deep seal brown. Mask should be connected by tracings with the ears, except in kittens.

SHAPE: (Body and Tail) The body should be medium in size, dainty, long and svelte. Neck long and slender, legs proportionately slim, hind legs slightly higher than front. Feet small and oval in shape. Tail, long and tapering to a fine point. A slight kink in the end is allowed. Winners to be withheld from bobbed, screwed, badly kinked or pompom tails.

HEAD AND EARS: The head should be long and taper in straighter lines from the ears to a narrow muzzle, with no break at the whiskers. Skull to be flat and the nose to be a continuation of the forehead with no break. In profile, a straight line is seen from the center of the forehead to the tip of the nose. Allowance to be made for jowls in the stud cat. Ears erect, rather large, pricked and wide at base.

EYES: (Color and Shape) Eyes clear and of a vivid deep blue color. Eye aperture almond in shape and slanting toward the nose in true oriental fashion. Preferably not crossed.

COAT: Short, fine in texture and lying close to the body.

CONDITION: Perfect physical condition. Not fat, inclined to muscle.

BLUE POINT: The above standard to apply to the Blue Point Siamese except the coat is to be a silvery blue, slightly darker across the shoulders, changing gradually to an oyster white on the stomach and chest. Points to be of a much darker blue, but of the same tone as the coat. There must be no warm tone of fawn in the coat. Allowance made for older cats. Kittens lighter in color.

UNDESIRABLE: Round headed, fat, thick-set specimens, apparent hood, rough or shaggy coats, odd eye color, grey or yellowish tinge in eyes. Tabby or ticked markings, light hairs appearing in points. White feet or toes. Receding chin.

• • •

CFA Siamese Standard, 1955

Seal Point

BLUE POINT

The above standard is to apply to the Blue Point Siamese except that the coat is to be bluish white, changing gradually to an oyster white on stomach and chest. Points to be of a much darker blue, but of the same tone as the coat. There must be no fawn in the coat. Kittens, lighter in color. Eyes, China blue

CHOCOLATE POINT

The Seal Point standard applies to the Chocolate Point Siamese with the following exception: Points; milk chocolate color, the ears, mask, legs, feet, and tail to be even in color. The ears should not be darker than the other points. Eyes, clear, bright China blue. Pale or slatey eyes are to be discouraged. Body, ivory color all over. Gray or dingy shading to be a fault. Foot pads, cinnamon color

FROST POINT (Temporary Standard)

COAT AND CONDITION - Same as for Seal Points.

Note: Color of foot pads in Frost Points, salmon pink.

UNDESIRABLE FOR ALL SIAMESE (with exceptions noted)

Round-headed, fat, thick-set specimens. Hood (Mask continuing under the throat, producing an upside-down V; No distinct tracings, and face is all solid color.) Rough or shaggy coats. Odd eye color; gray or yellowish tinge in eyes; crossed eyes. Belly and hip spots. Tabby or ticked markings. Light hairs in points. White feet or toes. Receding chin. Gray coat in Seal Points. Fawn coat in Blue Points.

• • •

Siamese Standard - 1967

POINT SCORE

 

 

 

Head

Long Flat Profile........................................ 6
Wedge, Fine Muzzle, Size....................... ..5
Ears........................................................... 4
Chin........................................................... 3
Width Between Eyes...............................   2      20

Eyes

Shape, Size, Slant and Placement..........10       10

Body

Structure and Size, Including Neck..........12
Muscle Tone.............................................  5
Legs and Feet..........................................  5
Tail............................................................  3       25

Coat .................................................................10       10

Condition...........................................................5         5

Color

Body Color................................................ 10
Point Color - Matching Points of
  dense color, proper foots pads
  and nose leather.......................................10
Eye Color................................................... 10         30
                                                                                 100

 

GENERAL - The ideal Siamese is a svelte, dainty cat with long, tapering lines, very lithe but muscular

HEAD - Long tapering wedge. Medium size in good proportion to body. The total wedge starts at the nose and flares out in straight lines to the tips of the ears forming a triangle, with no break at the whiskers. No less than the width of an eye between the eyes. When the whiskers are smoothed back, the underlying bone structure is apparent. Allowance must be made for jowls in the stud cat. 

SKULL - Flat. In profile, a long straight line is seen from the top of the head to the tip of the nose. No bulge over eyes. No dip in nose.

NOSE - Long and straight. A continuation of the forehead with no break.

MUZZLE - Fine, wedge-shaped.

CHIN AND JAW - Medium size. Tip of chin lines up with tip of nose in the same vertical plane. AND JAW Neither receding nor excessively massive

EARS - Strikingly large, pointed, wide at base, continuing the lines of the wedge

EYES Almond shaped. Medium size. Neither protruding nor recessed. Slanted towards the nose in harmony with lines of wedge and ears. Placed well within the frontal plane of face. Never at side of head. Uncrossed

BODY - Medium size. Dainty, long, and svelte. A distinctive combination of fine bones and firm muscles. Shoulders and hips continue same sleek lines of body. Hips never wider than shoulders. No flaring of lower ribs. Abdomen tight.

NECK - Long and slender.

LEGS - Long and slim. Hind legs higher than front. In good proportion to body.

PAWS - Dainty, small, and oval. Toes: five in front and four behind.

TAIL - Long, thin, tapering to a fine point.

COAT - Short, fine textured, glossy. Lying close to body.

CONDITION - Excellent physical condition. Eyes clear. Muscular, strong and lithe. Neither flabby nor boney. No fat.

PENALIZE - Lack of pigment in nose leather in part or in total.

WITHHOLD WINNERS - Any evidence of illness or poor health. Weak hind legs. Mouth breathing due to nasal obstruction or poor occlusion. Emaciation. Visible kink. Eyes other than blue. White toes and/or feet. Incorrect number of toes.

COLOR - Body: Even, with subtle shading when allowed. Allowance should be made for darker color in older cats as Siamese generally darken with age, but there must be definite contract between body color and points. Points: Mask, ears, legs, feet, tail dense and clearly defined. All of the same shade. Mask covers entire face including whisker pads and is connected to ears by tracings. Mask should not extend over top of head. No ticking or white hairs in points.