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Photographs and Text copyright reserved @siameseroyalty.com |
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Types Of Body Shape, Coat Color and Eye Color
In this section I have included information about various types to help you differentiate between the Applehead, Traditional and Classic, the three main types found within the Traditional group of Siamese cats. We will also be discussing coat color, eye color, nose leather and paw pads. We will be starting from the largest of the three types going down to the most sleek. |
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Traditional Applehead
The profile of the Traditional Applehead is a more stocky, big-boned and heavier build of the three Siamese cats. It is also larger in bone structure. It is given the term, “Applehead’ due to fact its head resembles the shape of an apple. The Applehead’s nose profile has a dip that can be seen when the head is turned on its side. The “dip” is what breeders are referring to when describing a break in the nose. |
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Traditional
The profile of the Traditional is a more medium-size Siamese in bone structure. The shape of the head is more of an oval tilted vertically. The traditional has a slightly elongated face compared to the Applehead. It is also slightly more athletic in built than then the Applehead. The coats of all three Traditional Siamese cats are short and dense, yet soft and “springy” to touch. The Traditional nose profile has as a less pronounced dip than the Traditional Applehead. |
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Pictures courtesy of Sally Gaetjens - Sahja Siamese and Orientals. Above Grand Champion Sahja Forever Love Song profiles a V shaped head from tip of nose to ears. |
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Color Points, Paw Pads and Nose Leather
The original Royal Cat of Siam was the Royal Seal and is described as what is now known as the Seal Point Siamese, the first variety of Siamese to gain recognition. Most sorted and prized is the Seal Point, considered a royal color, and is said to be most Siamese. While other colors were slowly introduced they took some time to be accepted. The Blue Point was the next variety after the seal to gain recognition. Chocolate was the third and lastly, Lilac. Therefore, for many decades, these colors were the only recognized varieties of the Siamese type. The Red Point variety is one of the more recent additions followed closely by the Tabby. Although some associations recognize the Red Point, Lynx and Tortie Points as being within the Siamese Class, CFA and other registries list them as a separate breed known as Color Points. Most Fanciers support the theory that only the four basic colors, are truly Siamese. The others are hybrids or man-made. They are not fully Siamese. Flame Points, for example, are larger than other colors, being a cross between the America Shorthair and the Siamese. The Tabby, or Lynx Point, is another hybrid breed resulting from crossing a Siamese with a Tabby Domestic Cat. The Flame Point Siamese bred to a Seal Point results in a Tortieshell Siamese. |
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Seal Point Siamese. All Siamese cats descended from seal, the Dominant and the darkest of all four basic colors — Seal Point almost Black, dark brown in color. The younger have lighter bodies than the older cats. Body is pale fawn and shaded on shoulders and back. The points include facial mask, ears, legs, feet and tail. All Siamese kittens are born white. |
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Blue Point Siamese is a diluted color of Seal. Slate Blue and silver in color. Body a pale gray blue, not beige. |
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Chocolate Point Siamese is a variation of the Seal point. They are milk or dark chocolate in color and the body is ivory and remains light with no shading. |
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Lilac Point Siamese are dilutes of chocolate points. They are known as Frost points in some parts of the States. Points are a frosty grey with a pinkish tone. Their bodies are glacial white. Pictures courtesy of Stephanie Colvin Fluff N Stuff Cattery. |
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The Difference Between Color There is speculation that the four basic colors of the Siamese, Seal, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac have slightly different personalities. Whether such differences may be attributed to the color gene is questionable, however, it is an interesting hypothesis.
Seal: They seem to be more self-confident and think that they know it all. They are far more aristocratic, the most Siamese of the Siamese breed. They are known for being more possessive of their owners and dislike change in their environment. They are more dignified than the other colors.
Chocolate: They are the clowns and most extroverted of the breed because they like to entertain you. They are also extremely affectionate and love to kiss and nibble your ears. They want to have fun and will go along with almost anything.
Blue: They are the most loyal of their owners and extremely affectionate. They tend to be more thoughtful and quiet, if this is possible for the Siamese breed. They will purr just because their eyes meet your eyes. They love to jump on your shoulder and be carried around. They care the most about being close to their owners. They will purr all night if allowed to sleep with you. They’re seldom aggressive with other cats.
Lilac: React with a more artistic and melodramatic type of temperament. They have a subtle beauty of their own and believe that they are truly superior in their beauty and intelligence. They demand your attention and are very clever at getting it.
**These character generalizations are fun to note, but perhaps, should not be taken seriously, as personalities derive from complex interrelationship between genes and the effect of environment.
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From lightest to darkest. The three undertones are seen in the eye color chart. |
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Eye chart consisting of a blend of the undertones from light to dark blue. |
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To the left is Grand Champion Koblizek’s Dessert Glory of Sahja lilac point, the profile of the Wedge Siamese. From the tip of the nose where the nose ends, there is no dip that can or should be seen. Also, notice the neck is longer and more slender than the Traditional. |
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Paw pads are a Slate grayish color. |
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Nose leather is a grey color. |
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Nose leather is a chocolate brown color. |
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Paw pads are peachee/cinnamon pink with a light brownish tint. |
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Nose leather is lavender pink in color. |
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Paw pads are jet black. Can also appear seal brown in color. |
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Nose leather is jet black color or Seal brown. |
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Paw pads are Pinkish in color. |
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Traditional Classic
The profile of the Traditional Classic is a more elegant athletic muscular shaped body and is just as healthy as the Traditional Applehead and Traditional. Lighter on their feet than the two mentioned above, the Traditional Classic yet again has a slightly more elongated shape to its head then the Traditional Applehead and Traditional, but is not extreme in any way. It also has a slightly more elongated body, legs and tail. It is still part of the three groups of Traditional Siamese cats that originated from Siam. The Traditional and Traditional Classic Siamese possess the original body types that came from Siam. These cats have been known to live well into their teens. The Traditional Classic nose profile has as almost no dip that can be seen when the head is turn on its side. |
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Eye Color
Many Siamese fanciers regard the eyes of the Siamese their most valuable feature. In certain light they appear to glow red. They vary in their depth of color and are collectively made up of many shades of blue, but appear as one solid color. The blue color has often been likened to various shades of blue owing to the gene responsible for the Siamese pigmentation. The shades of blue might range from the palest blue to blues associated with the flower of forget-me-nots or to that of the sapphire gemstone, a deep violet blue. I have made a eye chart that is consist with three main undertones that are found in the Siamese eyes: The yellow to pale yellow. The grayish to white hue. The red to a paler red. The different blues combine to form the dominant blue fact that can be seen. |
