FASCINATING! Where did you look to find this info out? I would LOVE to read more on this!Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45
Actually if you read on the background of the Siamese, you'd find that in "Siam" there were 2 different types of siamese all along. The temple cat siamese were the leaner more refined type (similar to the show type) and the "street" siamese were like Kotton - heavier boned.
When the Europeons went there, they picked up and took home the street type of siamese that was more available (you had to be special to get a temple siamese). So the "traditional" type was the standard in 1800/early 1900's. That is where you get the more rounded body, heavier boned and rounder head siamese you see in early cat shows or in early pictures.
When the more refined siamese came out of China, then the show siamese started to change.
Personally I'd like a little of both - a more slender body but with a little more traditional head - not too extreme on either.
Panther appears to be a cross between the 2 types. He is MOSTLY the oriental shorthair but his ears are too short and nose is not roman enough. Of course to ME he is perfect!
You can see here that Ben is Chunky but Panther is quite lean!