What type of Siamese do I have?

switchwrx

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We just adopted the cutest little siamese kitten and after doing some research about the differences between: traditional, classical, and modern siamese we are really worried about our little guy.

I have read nightmare stories about the modern siamese -- short life expectancy, health problems, etc -- any help/feedback would be much appreciated!

Classic? Traditional? Modern?

thanks in advance.



 
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switchwrx

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Thanks for the reply/welcome Katie.

And I agree, she is gorgeous -- such a great personality too!

I will look into Siamese Rescue, thanks.

Any other feedback from other members would be much appreciated.
 

tnr1

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You're welcome...I'm sure that Ken or someone else who regularly posts here will be able to tell you about your kitten...I just don't know how soon they will see this post.


Katie
 

kumbulu

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Hi, I'm no expert when it comes to Purebred cats but I found this:

The Traditional Siamese are heavily built with small ears and rounded heads. The Classic Siamese are more elongated in head, body, and legs, yet they're still strong and sturdy. The Modern Siamese is extremely slender and has a long narrow head and huge flared ears.

So I'd say she's probably a Classic. Her ears look big but many kitten's ears look big until they've grown into them a bit. Also, is the breeder registered? They can tell you who they're registered with or even which type of Siamese she is. Did she come with papers? They may say her type on them.

Whichever kind she is, she is just gorgeous. Congratulations on your new furrbaby!
 

lorie d.

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A guote from http://members.lycos.co.uk/TSCA/2.html
"Modern Siamese often have small, sunken eyes, totally unlike the beautiful large eyes of both other types, and these cause many eye problems and infections. The cats are more delicate, more prone to illness and shorter lived than the more normal Traditional and Classic."

I think Siamese cats are really beautiful animals, especially the traditional and classical. I was just wondering what the reason is for the modern Siamese to be shorter lived and more prone to health problems than the other two types? Has this type been over-bred?
 

catfur

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Honestly, (I am a teeny bit of an expert on purebreeds, just a teeny bit though) I would hazard a guess that your little guy (what's his name?, and more pictures, we always want more pictures) is of the modern "type." As to his health I would: a)take the horror stories you have read with a grain of salt (a big one). I have encountered quite a few Siamese (etc...) cats at shows, I have never seen one with the sunken eyes the horror stories mention. For delicateness, every one I have held felt more like a small, fuzzy, and purring brick, not at all delicate. I think that very short, less dense hair on the Modern Siamese simply fails to hide a slender well built cat. For example take a normal domestic and dunk it (well, don't actually, neither the cat nor you will be very happy about it, just observe a bathing instead) and you can see just how little (or so it seems) cat there is under all of that fur. None of the extensive veterinary literature I have perused mentions anything special about Modern Siamese having significant health problems (other than the usual raft of genetic disease each breed seems to have in very small numbers). And, b) consider the source of the "tales of woe." Why?

Many Traditional Siamese breeders and Modern Siamese breeders don't seem to like each other (hate is a word often bandied about, unfortunately) and obviously they disagree about how their favorite cat should look. Each variety of breeder seems very opinionated about the other's cats and I have heard a number of nasty things said by some people. The Traditional Siamese breeders (as a whole, not necessarily every individual) seem to think that the Modern Siamese breeders are breeding nothing more than misshapen, hideous monsters that have no place in polite society. While the Modern Breeders (again, not everyone) talk like the Traditional Breeders are breeding nothing more than alleycats which just so happen to have seal points. So honestly, I wouldn't listen to anything one camp has to say about the other.

Anyway, he is a real cutie.

Note: for an example of an even worse "catfight" about breed definitions do a bit of research into the Ragdoll. Whew, that is quite the row.
 

loubelia

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Hi, sorry I cant' tell you any feedback regarding health-but your kitten definitely looks different than mine did-it must be classic or modern cause I believe my Simba is a traditional Siamese (aka. Applehead).
Love your kitten's pics by the way.
P.S. ask Sherral46, who breeds Siamese. Maybe she'd know?
 

caspar

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This kitty looks like my Coco, who is a Seal Point. I don't know anything about "Classic", "Modern", or anything like that. Siamese kitties tend to be cold natured all the time so please keep this little fellow warm. My Coco is 13 years old and still going strong. I had another Seal Point who lived 18 years. Now I'm not sure how long cats are supposed to live, but she outlived my longest living dog at the time, who lived 15 years. You have a beautiful guy. Just keep him warm. He loves hot weather.
 

cilla

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No experience at all in breeds, so I'm sorry I can't help. But I can recognise a beautiful kittie when I see one. He is adorable. What have you called him?
 
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switchwrx

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Originally Posted by Catfur

Honestly, (I am a teeny bit of an expert on purebreeds, just a teeny bit though) I would hazard a guess that your little guy (what's his name?, and more pictures, we always want more pictures) is of the modern "type." As to his health I would: a)take the horror stories you have read with a grain of salt (a big one). I have encountered quite a few Siamese (etc...) cats at shows, I have never seen one with the sunken eyes the horror stories mention. For delicateness, every one I have held felt more like a small, fuzzy, and purring brick, not at all delicate. I think that very short, less dense hair on the Modern Siamese simply fails to hide a slender well built cat. For example take a normal domestic and dunk it (well, don't actually, neither the cat nor you will be very happy about it, just observe a bathing instead) and you can see just how little (or so it seems) cat there is under all of that fur. None of the extensive veterinary literature I have perused mentions anything special about Modern Siamese having significant health problems (other than the usual raft of genetic disease each breed seems to have in very small numbers). And, b) consider the source of the "tales of woe." Why?

Many Traditional Siamese breeders and Modern Siamese breeders don't seem to like each other (hate is a word often bandied about, unfortunately) and obviously they disagree about how their favorite cat should look. Each variety of breeder seems very opinionated about the other's cats and I have heard a number of nasty things said by some people. The Traditional Siamese breeders (as a whole, not necessarily every individual) seem to think that the Modern Siamese breeders are breeding nothing more than misshapen, hideous monsters that have no place in polite society. While the Modern Breeders (again, not everyone) talk like the Traditional Breeders are breeding nothing more than alleycats which just so happen to have seal points. So honestly, I wouldn't listen to anything one camp has to say about the other.

Anyway, he is a real cutie.

Note: for an example of an even worse "catfight" about breed definitions do a bit of research into the Ragdoll. Whew, that is quite the row.
Thank you Catfur, that made my night. And thanks to everyone else, great community -- much appreciated. I will let you know how the first vet checkup goes tomorrow and I will post more pics of her.

cheers.
 

hopehacker

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I have a traditional Siamese as well as a Classic Siamese. I think you're kitten looks more like a Classic. The kitten has a wedge shaped face, but not a severe as a Modern, plus the tail looks thicker than a Modern, and the fur looks fluffier than a Modern. Also, the kitten's eyes look like they are larger.

I also want to say that the kitten is absolutely adorable.
 

rapunzel47

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What type of Siamese do I have?
The cutest!

He's adorable beyound words. And, from a total non-expert, his features don't seem extreme, so I'd be surprised if he were the "modern", and therefore probably not prone to the hazards thereof.

Assuming that to be the truth, the one bit of experience I can contribute is that our big ol' Siamese was over 15 when he packed it in...and they are wonderful, crazy critters.. you'll have a fine time with him!
 

kittenkiya

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From looking at the pictures, I believe it is a Seal Point. He/She is not dark enough to be a Chocolate Point.
 

snosrap5

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My family always had a siamese cats. My mother loves them. Growing up we had a total of 3 and they all lived long healthy lives. 15 and 16years. The last one is still going strong. I now have one, he is a traditional siamese or applehead. Your kitten looks more on the classic side. Im partial to any breed of siamese or even any cat for that matter. I will tell you this in my experience with siamese 34yrs worth. They are the most talkative group of cats I have ever come across. I think Max would talk to the walls if they would talk back.. Enjoy your siamese that is one beautiful kitty.
 

pondwader

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Originally Posted by KittenKiya

From looking at the pictures, I believe it is a Seal Point. He/She is not dark enough to be a Chocolate Point.
Chocolate points are lighter than seal points, both in the points and the body, but the sure fire way to tell the difference is the nose and foot leather, in a seal point they are almost black, in a chocolate point they are reddish tinged and lighter.

As to the type, it is a classic type, and a nice looking baby by the way! Congrats!
I'm new to the board, and don't mean to butt my nose in so to speak, but I have been raising Siamese for over 14 years now.... am an aminal lover at heart, all animals, but Siamese cats are especially close to my heart
 

kittenkiya

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My most adject apologies, pondwader. I thought the darker ones on the body were Chocolate points. Thanks for clearing that up, I hate giving wrong information.
 

anne g

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Hello, I just joined this forum, and I have a question about siamese cats - do you keep them as indoor or indoor/outdoor cats? What is best for this breed?
 
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