Blue Eyes A Result Of Selective Breeding
The modern-day Siamese cats are different from the traditional ones. Traditional Siamese cats have a rounder overall structure, crossed eyes, and bent tails. The breeders want the Siamese breed to be slimmer and have a more refined appearance. Thatâs when they began the selective breeding, to eradicate the not-so-good features of the Siamese and retain the good ones such as their remarkable blue eyes. And with continuous selective breeding comes the notable changes for these cats. They now have slim bodies, the bent tails and crossed eyes have disappeared, while their blue eyes persisted until today.
Are All Siamese Cats Cross
While its common to find cross-eyed Siamese cats, its certainly not impossible to find one that isnt. Because many people consider strabismus to be unsightly, breeders have removed that trait when breeding new generations of Siamese cats. Therefore, if the cross-eyed appearance bothers you, you can always visit a breeder.
However, theres no guarantee that the Siamese cat will or wont be cross-eyed, as breeders only have so much control over genetics. Therefore, it isnt necessarily recommended to seek out a non-cross-eyed Siamese cat. If youre interested in the breed and want to adopt, ensure that youre comfortable with any possible disability!
Outside of the possible cross-eyes, Siamese cats are beautiful cats. To learn about beautiful cats that are similar to Siamese cats check out our article:
When Should I Take My Cat To The Vet
Luckily, adopting a cross-eyed Siamese cat doesnt require an extra trip to the vet. After all,the cross-eyed appearance is very common in the Siamese breed due to the optic chiasm mutation. However, there are a few situations when your cats crossed eyes should be a cause for concern:
- If your cat was adopted with normal vision and grew cross-eyed over time, you may want to consult your vet as that could be a sign of another vision problem unrelated to the optic chiasm mutation.
- If you notice your cat has a hard time walking around or bumps into objects often, you may also want to visit the vet just to ensure that nothing more serious is occurring. According to Animal Path, light clumsiness should be expected, and you can protect your cat from harm by placing soft objects around your home.
- The regular appearance of crossed eyes shouldnt require a trip to the vet, but if you notice your cat starting to lose his or her vision due to glaucoma or progressive retinal atrophy, your cat should be taken to the vet as soon as possible. As mentioned in the last section, these conditions cant always be cured but should be treated as soon as possible to prevent complete and total blindness.
Unless your cat is behaving strangely, theres no reason to panic! Familiarizing yourself with common eye ailments of the Siamese breed can help to put your mind at ease.
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Taking Care Of Your Siamese At Home
Much of what you can do at home to keep your cat happy and healthy is common sense, just like it is for people. Watch her diet, make sure she gets plenty of exercise, regularly brush her teeth and coat, and call us or a pet emergency hospital when something seems unusual . Be sure to adhere to the schedule of examinations and vaccinations that we recommend for your pet. During your cat’s exams, well perform her necessary check-ups and test for diseases and conditions that are common in Siamese. Another very important step in caring for your pet is signing her up for pet health insurance. There will certainly be medical tests and procedures she will need throughout her life and pet health insurance will help you cover those costs.
Siamese Cat Name Ideas
In case youre about to adopt a Siamese and still havent found the right name for them, here are some that might fit their strong personality and unique coat pattern:
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Do All Siamese Cats Have Blue Eyes
Both parents have to have blue eyes in order for their offspring to have blue eyes. But the general consensus is if a Siamese is purebred, theyll have blue eyes.
The Himalayan gene is present in Siamese kitties and that is what is responsible for that dazzling blue eye color. The albinism gene that causes Siamese cats to be crossed-eyed also causes their blue eyes.
The same as their human parents, Siamese cats have two Iris membranes in the eye. For us, we have the Epithelium and Stroma pigment cells that dictate our eye color. However, Siamese cats do not possess these pigment cells due to the albinism gene.
Technically, Siamese cats do not have an eye color. As strange as it sounds, Isaac Newtons Rayleigh Scattering theory can explain the idea behind this. Blue is the color that contains the shortest wavelength. Therefore, it scatters more than any other color. Technically Siamese cats have blue eyes for the same reason the sky is blue. It is the predominant color for the human eye.Are all blue-eyed cats Siamese though? Answers can be found by clicking on the link.
Temperature Controlled To A T
If you look at the distinct markings of the Siamese cat, have you ever stopped to wonder why their markings are located in the exact spots that they are? Well, as it turns out, these markings serve as an indicator for the cooler parts of their body. As kittens, regardless of their predetermined points, they are entirely white all over their body. By one year of age, the kittens will have developed their established color pattern. So essentially, the cooler the part of the cats body, the darker the fur.
CatBreedsEncyclopdia.com
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Can A Siamese Cat Be Disqualified From A Show
The CFA Siamese breed standard refers to the shape of the eyes and the fact that they should not be crossed a common defect in Siamese cats and that they should be vivid blue. A Siamese show cat will be disqualified if he does not have blue eyes. Disqualification also occurs if the cat has white toes and/or feet.
Do Other Cat Breeds Have Crossed Eyes
Crossed-eyes are most common to the Siamese cat but can occur in other breeds as well. This can be due to injury, nerve weakness, or hereditary abnormalities. Or they may be part Siamese!
Other cats prone to crossed eyes include the Persian and the Himalayan. My friends Russian Blue has one eye that crosses when hes in a certain mood. And in dogs, the Boston Terrier is often a carrier of the gene.
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Do Siamese Cats Get Darker With Age
Yes, Siamese cats do tend to get darker with age. Because their overall body temperature drops the enzyme responsible for their coloring, Tyrosinase becomes active in body parts apart from extremities thus making her body darker.
With that, I think I have given you the maximum I could as far as the questions surrounding Siamese cat coloration, their eyes, and the impact of temperature on their body is considered.
But as is the case with all things, nothing is perfect, neither is my knowledge.
So, if you wish to know anything apart from what I have discussed here do let me know in the comments below.
I will try to answer them to the best of my abilities.
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Why Does My Siamese Cat Have Crossed Eyes
Crossed-eyes can affect any cats with injury, nerve damage, or due to genetics. Particularly, it is more in some cats like Siamese, Persian and Himalayan cat breeds due to their genetics. The very striking appearance of Siamese cats, for example, is caused by a convergent strabismus, where both eyeballs are looking inward towards the nose.
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What Do Most Siamese Cats Die From
Health and Care
Siamese and Siamese-derived breeds have higher mortality rate in comparison to the other cat breeds. Most deaths are caused by tumors, especially mammary tumors. They are also at higher risk of gastrointestinal problems, lung infections, feline OCD, vestibular disease and Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome.
Theyve Got Striking Looks
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Via Pixabay
Famous for their ballerina-esque bodies, Siamese cats are sleek and lithe. They have piercing baby blue eyes, large ears, and a coat that comes in four different shadesseal, chocolate, blue, and lilac.
The majority of their fur is a lighter shade with darker markings around the face, ears, feet, and tail.
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Selective Breeding Of Siamese Cats
Siamese cats today we see are not those they used to be earlier. With selective breeding overtime significant changes came in them. The traditional Siamese cats were much rounder all over and few of them still exist today though they are very rare. With time selective breeding was done for a slimmer Siamese cat began and today you will see many Siamese cats with slim bodies. Traditional Siamese cats also have crossed eyes and bent tails. The blue color of the eyes, however, has persisted.
Do Siamese Cats Have Bad Eyesight
Most cats have accurate vision, even in the dark. Siamese cats have a genetic flaw that causes a lack of eye pigments. As a result, this breed may have trouble with night vision.
According to research made by the National Center for Biotechnology Information,
Siamese cat has a grossly abnormal lateral geniculate body. His anatomical study suggested that certain fibres originating in the temporal retina of each eye cross in the chiasm instead of remaining uncrossed.
It is unlikely for a Siamese cat to move around the house at night. They cannot see color or distinguish details in the dark.
Breeders have not been able to alter the albinism gene in siamese cats. However, watch out for any signs or symptoms of an eye illness. For example, red eyes, eye discharge, and excessive winking show eye disease.
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The Princess And The Ring Stand
Once upon a time in the ancient kingdom of Siam
there was a Princess of the Royal Household who loved to swim. Each day, she would make her way to her favorite bathing pool accompanied by her faithful feline companion.
Each day, she would take off her rings, and, for safekeeping, place them over her cat’s tail. . Gradually, over the course of many years, the cat’s tail developed a permanent kink.
And to this very day, there are still some Siamese cats born with kinked tails!
The Longevity Of A Siamese Kitten With Cross
As we have researched so far, especially in West Thailand, Tradition Siamese cats tend to inherit the cross-eyed feature and kinked tail. Ive seen many Siamese cats with the specified feature, lived in Georgia.
Had a Female Siamese cat, named Kim, who was an oriental type, not the traditional one though, also with the kinked tail. Weight is pretty much lower than its standard size,
Well, it is less than 6lbs, and she wont gain more than 6lbs. It is obvious that due to inbred, she got that cross-eyed though. Roughly, she lived up to 10-11 years, passed away due to the complexities of strokes.
So this is all about the beginners guide for those who havent had any prior experience in having a Siamese cat, This is just an informational guide with a little bit of experience though, If you had any doubts, contact a vet sooner and resolve the problem.
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What Breeds Of Cats Have Blue Eyes
Among the felines sporting blue eyes, the Siamese cat is possibly the best known as theyâre one of the most popular domesticated cats globally, and are the most common blue-eyed cats available to adopt or buy. However, other cat breeds also have distinctive blue eyes that stay with them throughout their lifetime. These include Balinese, Himalayan Persian, Birman, and Javanese.
Why Are Siamese Cats Susceptible To Eye Conditions
Just like any animal, some breeds of cats are more susceptible to genetic conditions than others. Siamese cats are more likely to have eye conditions, though there isnt one complete reason as to why that is. International Cat Care explains that Siamese cats were cross-eyed from the beginning, along with kinked tails. However, these traits were found to be unattractive and undesirable.
Another reason why Siamese cats have more genetic conditions is due to inbreeding. Many people prefer Siamese cats to be purebred and will pay breeders exorbitant amounts of money for it. However, breeding often requires using the same cats repeatedly, especially if theres only a handful of purebred Siamese cats available.
This inbreeding can cause more genetic conditions that Siamese cats are susceptible to, such as glaucoma and progressive retinal atrophy. Therefore, if youre purchasing a Siamese cat from a breeder or hoping to adopt a purebred kitty, you need to be prepared to deal with possible genetic ailments.
Cross eyes can be part of life for a Siamese cat. To learn more about the life of a Siamese cat and the growth they go through:
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Eye Diseases In Cats: Exophthalmos Enophthalmos And Strabismus
Reviewed and updated for accuracy on March 25, 2019 by Dr. Hanie Elfenbein, DVM, PhD
If your cat has a swollen eyelid, cherry eye, pus around the eye or crossed eyes, they may be symptoms of one of three cat eye diseasesexophthalmos, enophthalmos and strabismus.
Exophthalmos, enophthalmos and strabismus are all eye diseases in cats in which the cat’s eyeball is abnormally positioned.
With exophthalmos, the eyeball protrudes or bulges from the orbit of the eye. This may be due to a space-occupying mass behind the eyeball.
Enophthalmos causes the eyeball to recess or sink into the skull. This happens possibly because the eyeball itself has lost volume and is becoming smaller in size.
Strabismus, or crossed eyes, is when one eye appears to look off at a different angle, unable to focus in the same direction as the other eye. This can occur with one or both eyes. Strabismus is caused by an imbalance of extraocular muscle tone, or it may be caused by something decreasing the mobility of the muscles surrounding the eye.
Physical Characteristics Of The Cross
- The average lifespan of these cats is between 15 to 20 years.
- The traditional Siamese has a round body and a big head as opposed to its modern counterparts who have a more slender appearance with almond eyes and thin tails.
- Their height ranges between the average scale of 25-20cm.
- They can weigh up to 5kg.
- The coloration of these cats is the classic Seal Point variety where the whole body is white with darker marking on tip areas like ears, paw pads, and nose.
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Can Cats Be Born With A Kinked Tail
Yes, some cats are born with a kinked tail. Many Siamese cats generally had kinked tails. A cat being born with a kink in its tail does not affect its overall health.
A wide range of tail abnormalities occurs in cats. A cats tail may be modulated or bent. Most tail abnormalities in cats are often hereditary.
Experts have noticed that tail defects in cats often skip one generation only to appear in the next one!
A study also suggests that a short or a kinked tail in Asian cats is a dominant trait due to mutation.
The kinks in Siamese cats are commonly divided into three categories which are:
Minor kink
Medium kink
Extreme kink
Minor kink a state in which a tail has a slight shortening with a kink at the distal end.
Medium kink describes a tail with a notable truncation at the proximal or distal end.
Extreme kink describes a bobtail with severe truncation and multiple kinks.
Do Cats With Blue Eyes Have Trouble Seeing
A: Blue-eyed, white cats are not more prone to blindness either hereditary or acquired than other cats. Your friends may be confusing blindness with deafness: here, the situation is completely different. Hereditary deafness is a major concern in white cats, and even more so if one or both irises are blue in color.
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