366 Meander Run Rd
Locust Dale, VA 22948
540-672-6373 (phone)
540-672-7066 (fax)
[email protected]
va.siameserescue.org
Recognizing the Siamese Cat
Introduction
Founded in 1998, the Siamese Cat Rescue Center works with shelters and other rescue
organizations throughout our coverage area, assisting with the placement of Siamese cats.
This can be done either by transferring qualifying cats into our Rescue Program., or by
referrals to an ‘advertising newsletter’, known as ‘The Siamlist”.
This informational booklet was designed to help you identify Siamese and Siamese mixes
that may be eligible for placement in our program.
Recognizing a Siamese Cat in Rescue
In the Rescue and Shelter business, we understand there is rarely such a thing as a ‘purebred’
Siamese. For the purpose of identifying candidates for our program, we use the term
‘Siamese’ to encompass a broad class of cats meeting the following criteria:
• Blue eyes. This is a requirement. Cats with eyes of any other color would not be
considered Siamese.
• Points. Points consist of a contrasting color on the face (mask), ears, tail and feet. The
most common points are seal (dark brown), chocolate (light brown), lilac or blue (grey),
flame (orange) and lynx (striping, either alone or atop one of the above mentioned
points), and tortie (calico markings on the pointed areas only).
• Body color. The rest of the body should be a cream color (for chocolate or flamepoints),
a brown (varying from light tan to darker brown) (for sealpoints), a light grey (for
blue/lilac points and lynx points). Whatever color the body is, it should be consistent
and solid.
• Hair length. The fur on most purebred Siamese is very thin and tight to the body; on
other Siamese cats it may be thicker (what we term a ‘flannel coat’) with a length up to
an inch or so. Siamese cats are not, however, long haired, and cats meeting the above
criteria but having long hair are more likely to be Himalayan mixes, and not suitable for
our program.
Additional identifying features might include:
• Head and body style
o Wedge – Siamese with a triangular face and a long lanky body are called wedge heads
o Apple – Siamese with big round faces and typically stocky bodies are appleheads
Eligibility Criteria
When an Intake Evaluator visits your shelter to assess a Siamese cat, they will be looking at
the cat to determine the following:
• Whether the cat is negative for Feline Leukemia and Feline Aids, if known.*
• Whether the cat can be handled by Shelter Staff and / or our Intake Evaluator, and if
there is any history of aggression.
366 Meander Run Rd
Locust Dale, VA 22948
540-672-6373 (phone)
540-672-7066 (fax)
[email protected]
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va.siameserescue.org
Whether the cat has blue eyes.
Whether the cat has clearly defined points, with a solid body color
Whether the fur is of an acceptable length, ie this is not a long haired cat
Whether there is any white on the cat, and if so, how much. (Note – some white on the
paws and mask are acceptable and are considered for our purposes to be a ‘snowshoe’)
Whether the cat is using the litterbox fairly well
Whether there are any significant or chronic medical conditions that may be
unresolvable
Whether or not the cat is pregnant, and if so, whether it can still be safely spayed
Approximate age based on dental and body condition
Any assistance you can provide with respect to these queries, either in advance, when
assistance is requested, or at the time, when the IE is conducting the evaluation, will be
greatly appreciated.
In order to qualify, the cat must test negative on a FeLV/FIV combo test, regardless of age
or background. If the shelter is unable to provide this test, alternate testing arrangements can
be made at the time of pull, however, we ask your consideration in allowing the Intake
Evaluator to return the cat to the shelter, should they test positive on either of these tests.
The following pages provide photographs and descriptions of each of the three body types
and the color points characteristic of the Siamese that are eligible candidates for placement
with Virginia Siamese Cat Rescue Center.
366 Meander Run Rd
Locust Dale, VA 22948
540-672-6373 (phone)
540-672-7066 (fax)
[email protected]
va.siameserescue.org
BODY TYPES: MODERN OR “WEDGIE”
Wedge heads (also called
wedgies or modern) are the
result of breeder's intent to
encourage an elongated
look. Wedgies come in all
color points and have a
long, slender, tubular body,
long legs, small oval shaped
feet, long graceful neck,
long whip like tail, a wedge
shaped head (hence the
nickname) large ears set far
apart on the head, and
slightly slanted vivid blue
oval shaped eyes.
366 Meander Run Rd
Locust Dale, VA 22948
540-672-6373 (phone)
540-672-7066 (fax)
[email protected]
va.siameserescue.org
BODY TYPES: CLASSIC
Classic Siamese are the
"in the middle" type. This
type is of medium build
and has good muscular
development. The neck,
body, legs and tail are
slightly elongated. The
ears are medium sized,
the eyes are rounded
almond-like and there is a
very small break in the
nose below the eyes.
Classics have a slight
wedge, neither rounded
nor pointy. They are not
extreme in any way.
366 Meander Run Rd
Locust Dale, VA 22948
540-672-6373 (phone)
540-672-7066 (fax)
[email protected]
va.siameserescue.org
BODY TYPES: TRADITIONAL OR “APPLE-HEADED”
Traditional Siamese (also
called appleheads) have
thick round heads,
muscular, sturdy bodies,
and brilliant blue eyes.
Their eyes are shaped like
almonds on the top half,
and rounded on the
bottom half. There is a
slight break in the nose
below the eyes. The ears
are medium sized, though
smaller than the Classics.
The muzzle is blunt,
though not short.
Nothing is extreme on this
body type.
366 Meander Run Rd
Locust Dale, VA 22948
540-672-6373 (phone)
540-672-7066 (fax)
[email protected]
va.siameserescue.org
COLORS: SEAL POINT
The seal point is the most
commonly recognized
Siamese. The body is pale
fawn to cream, lighter on
the stomach and chest.
The points are deep
brown, nose leather and
paw pads are the same
color as the points. The
seal point's eyes are a
deep vivid blue.
Pointed cats such as the
Siamese, are born pale all
over. As they grow older,
the points gradually
develop. Age, and the
gradual cooling of the
body that can come with
it, can cause the fur to
become darker.
366 Meander Run Rd
Locust Dale, VA 22948
540-672-6373 (phone)
540-672-7066 (fax)
[email protected]
va.siameserescue.org
COLORS: CHOCOLATE POINT
The body is Ivory, with no
shading visible. Points are
milk chocolate. Nose
leather and paw pads are
rosy brown to cinnamon
pink the eyes are a deep,
vivid blue.
366 Meander Run Rd
Locust Dale, VA 22948
540-672-6373 (phone)
540-672-7066 (fax)
[email protected]
va.siameserescue.org
COLORS: LILAC OR BLUE POINT
Blue. The body is bluish
white, cold in tone, and
shades to white on the
stomach and chest. Points
are a deep blue (gray
actually), nose leather and
paw pads are slate gray,
and the eyes are a bright
vivid blue.
Lilac. The body is glacial
white with no shading.
Points are a frosty gray
with pinkish tone. The
nose-leather and paw pads
are lavender pink, and the
eyes are a bright vivid
blue. The coloring of the
lilac-point is very delicate
and light.
366 Meander Run Rd
Locust Dale, VA 22948
540-672-6373 (phone)
540-672-7066 (fax)
[email protected]
va.siameserescue.org
COLORS: LYNX POINT
Lynx. The body on a
lynx point ranges from
cream to pale fawn,
shading to lighter color on
the stomach and chest.
Body shading may take
the form of ghost striping.
Points can be seal or blue,
with stripes on those
points. The key with
lynxpoints is that the
main body should be a
creamy color, not tabby
stripes or swirls.
366 Meander Run Rd
Locust Dale, VA 22948
540-672-6373 (phone)
540-672-7066 (fax)
[email protected]
va.siameserescue.org
COLORS: FLAME OR RED POINT
The body color on a flame
point is cream to white
with some shading; points
are light apricot to deep
red. The nose leather and
paw pads are bubble gum
pink. Most reds show
tabby striping and have
little color on their legs.
The eyes are a deep vivid
blue.
Flame points are very slow
to develop their full
coloring, and can take up
to two years to develop
fully.
366 Meander Run Rd
Locust Dale, VA 22948
540-672-6373 (phone)
540-672-7066 (fax)
[email protected]
va.siameserescue.org
COLORS: TORTOISE POINT OR “TORTIE”
TORTIE. Torties are Cats
with tortoiseshell markings
on the points. The body is
pale fawn to cream,
shading to a lighter color
on the stomach and chest.
Points are seal brown,
uniformly mottled with red
and cream. A blaze is
desirable. The nose
leather can be seal brown
or flesh pink where there
is a blaze. Paw pads can
be seal brown or flesh
pink. The eyes are a deep
vivid blue.
366 Meander Run Rd
Locust Dale, VA 22948
540-672-6373 (phone)
540-672-7066 (fax)
[email protected]
va.siameserescue.org
COLORS: SNOWSHOE
White markings on the
paws and/or on the face
and chest would be
termed, for Rescue
purposes, a ‘Snowshoe
Siamese’. In these
instances, we look to see
how much white is on the
body and whether there is
a fairly solid body color.
These cats are considered
for Rescue in limited
numbers.
These cats will be
considered for rescue in
limited numbers.