General Information

About Siamese:

The question I have to ask is ‘why do you want a kitten and a Siamese kitten at that?’ I think it is only fair to let you know a bit about them if you haven’t had the experience of a Siamese. The character of a Siamese is unlike any other breed with the exception of maybe Oriental and Burmese but then they come from the same neck of the woods. I believe the only difference between them is that Siamese have blue eyes and a pointed coat pattern.

Siamese are great companions and have to be involved with what the family are doing. They will demand your attention at times and will sit on your lap for hours on end and you will not be popular if you need to go to the loo. They are happy enough to be indoor cats as long as they have company, preferably human company and lots of toys to play with. They like conversation and will talk to you if they want something that you will give them, of course. They are athletic and think nothing of jumping up on top of your kitchen units.

The outdoor Siamese will bring you many little presents of mice, rabbits, frogs, birds and anything that he can catch or takes a fancy to and is obviously not too big to carry. I have heard of a Siamese who stole socks from a neighbour’s washing basket and a joint of lamb that was for the dinner. Not on the same day though. Yes, they are thieves. They are also clever at working out how to open a door. Fridge doors are a favourite. They like to accompany you to the toilet and insist on sitting on your lap which is a little awkward. They may even drink from the toilet bowl, yuk!!

They are very funny at times. Normally they are very good at judging a distance if they are making a leap for a high place but occasionally they misjudge it and come crashing down taking anything with them like your best vase or table lamp so it’s best not to have any valuable objects around.

You can train them to walk on a lead like a dog. They are dog-like in other ways like playing ‘fetch’ that can go on for hours. They like to carry things around in their mouth. Mine have a habit of getting my collection of Teddy bears from the top of the wardrobe and playing with them. High places aren’t out of reach for a Siamese.

What to look for when choosing a kitten:   

If you haven’t owned a Siamese, it would be best to do as much reading as possible about them.  Bear in mind, however, that some books are better than others. If you have a friend who has a Siamese, try to spend a bit of time with them. There is no harm in phoning up a few breeders and asking for their opinions and advice on the breed. They are usually happy to talk about their beloved cats.

When looking for a Siamese kitten or any pedigree kitten for that matter, it is best to contact several breeders to get an idea of what is available and also an idea of the price of a kitten. This will vary a little depending on what comes with the kitten and what vaccinations are done, etc. You must also make it known if you want your kitten for breeding or just for a pet. Expect to pay between £800 and £1000 for a registered Siamese with full vaccinations. You may have to pay a bit more if you want a breeding cat.  If a breeder charges much more than that, then in my opinion he or she is rather greedy. Don’t believe it if the breeder tells you that the price is higher because their kittens are rare or whatever.  It is true there are not many breeders of the old-style Siamese but it’s no justification for charging more.  There are traditional Siamese in this country if you look for them.  You might just have to travel further than you want or wait longer for one.  One very important piece of advice, if you are buying a pedigree and paying pedigree prices, you MUST get a certificate of registration. This is the only document that tells you the kitten is a pedigree. It is best to ask this question in the initial conversation with the breeder. (I am not talking about the pedigree certificate which is usually A4 size and issued by the breeder.) If you don’t get a proper registration document, ask why. The breeder may say that the kitten is just a pet and not for showing so no registration is necessary. That is very misleading.  They should still be registered. The breeder may tell you it is a pedigree but you don’t have the proof. The GCCF registration document is in the form of a white card A5 size and on it you will find details of the parents and also the registration number of your new kitten. The breeder may well belong to a different registration body like Felis Brittanica and it would be best to find out what their registration forms are like; I don’t know. Please do your homework before buying a kitten. The GCCF web site is very informative. Please read the ‘Buying a kitten’ and also ‘Code of Ethics for Breeders and Owners’ There is a link to it on my links page

If possible, go and see two or three litters before making up your mind but NOT on the same day. You will not be popular with a breeder if you bring a bug with you from a previously viewed litter. Some of the things to look out for are runny noses and eyes, sneezing and general looking unwell. Diarrhoea (a dirty bottom is a sign of this) or bloated tummy. Look for solid kittens with a good weight and smell nice. Kittens that are interested in playing when awake. Kittens that like being handled although sometimes they just want to play with each other of course but they should be inquisitive and lively about visitors unless it is their nap time. They should definitely not be timid or scared of people. In saying that, if you take your young lively toddler with you to see the kittens, don’t be surprised if they all run and hide.

Once you have found a kitten that you want, don’t assume that the breeder will let you have it without question. A good breeder will ask you several questions about yourself before he or she will decide to let you have one of their precious kittens so don’t take it for granted that because kittens are available that you will automatically be allowed to buy one. You may be refused for some reason that the breeder may explain. It is a two-way decision. I always insist that potential kitten owners visit the kittens at least once prior to collection so that they can see where the kittens are reared and what kind of house they come from. The visit is also to reassure the breeder (me) that the person is suitable as more discussion takes place usually over tea or coffee and therefore more information is given out as a result. It is a ‘getting to know’ time. Don’t think, however, that you might make a journey only to be told you are not suitable. That rarely happens as, in my case,  I will more than likely have made up my mind before meeting people.

I would just like to add a strong piece of advice here – If you go to a breeder to view kittens and there are lots of outside pens/cages with cats and kittens in them and they are all wailing their heads off, please leave the premises a.s.a.p. This is really bad practise and in my opinion this is what you would call ‘kitten farming’

If you buy from an unscrupulous breeder or dealer, you will be supporting their trade in misery. For every kitten you buy, another takes it place.  Another piece of advice and rather important is that some breeders will sell kittens under age and not vaccinated.  This is not in the interest of the kitten at all.  Kittens need their mum for longer than people think. The correct age for a kitten to leave home is after they have had their second lot of vaccinations and that is after 12 weeks of age.  Some breeders will let kittens go at 8 or 10 weeks which is too young, in my opinion, to be going off to a new home.  The kitten will not have had both or even first course of vaccinations and more than likely not have been seen by a vet for a check up.  You could be buying a kitten with a heart defect and you wouldn’t know it.  Vets will give the kittens a good check over at the time of their vaccinations so this is done twice before the kittens are ready to leave home.  There is no reason to let the kittens go early apart from the breeder saving money on food and the cost of the vaccinations, or course.  Even if the kittens have had 1 lot of vaccinations, it’s still not enough.

Buying your kitten:

When you buy your Siamese, the breeder should give you a pedigree certificate and the registration document (white card if GCCF registered), Also the vaccination card, and ideally an information sheet including details of types of food given.  I tend to advise people of this in an email prior to buying their kitten. There may be a short-term free insurance with your kitten.  I also do a kitten agreement/invoice.  In my case, you will be asked to sign that you will have the kitten neutered at approx. 6 months old if you bought the kitten on the non-active register and that means you cannot breed from your kitten. Not all breeders will give you an agreement to sign but I do.  The breeder should also be available to help with any questions and problems you might come across once you have your kitten.

Your responsibility as an owner:

Initially, Siamese kittens are really just like any other kittens. They can be a handful. You would have to be prepared to deal with a lively kitten and also watch that it doesn’t come to any harm especially in the first few weeks. If you are buying the kitten as a pet and not for breeding, you will need to neuter the kitten around 6 months of age. Maybe younger. Before buying a kitten, you would need to realise that it is like having a child around and for a very long time too. You may have your Siamese longer than you would a child as your son or daughter could conceivably leave home in their late teens and your Siamese could possibly live to 20+. A kitten is not an object that you can replace after a year or so. They become part of the family and should be considered as such. If you don’t think that, then please don’t buy a kitten. Moving house and going on holidays will affect your Siamese. Are you out working all day? This is very important as Siamese love and need human company.

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Rehoming:

Sometimes it is nobody’s fault that you may need to rehome your cat. You really must to contact the breeder in the first instance, as they probably will be able to help with rehoming.  I myself would insist that anybody buying one of my kittens must get in touch with me first. I would either take the cat back or find a suitable home for them direct from the owners.  Placing your Siamese in ordinary cat rescue centres would not be a good idea at all as they are not experienced in any particular breed and could maybe not find the most suitable home for a Siamese. Also passing on a cat to a friend or relative needs very careful consideration.

Conclusion:

Having said all this, I hope I haven’t completely put you off but there is no point taking on a cat unless you do your homework. If you have considered the negative side of what I have said and you are still keen, then in my opinion you would probably be OK for a Siamese. Siamese cats are full of character and fun and in my opinion they make the best companions out of all cats. I have never regretted choosing Siamese to breed. They bring such joy and life to a home. I just can’t imagine not having them around. Life just wouldn’t be the same.

Useful Books:

The Complete Siamese by Sally Franklin

Cat Confidential by Vicky Halls
Cat Detective by Vicky Halls
What is my Cat Thinking? By Gwen Bailey

Siamese Cats: Legends and Reality by Martin Clutterbuck