Talk:Siamese (cat)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cats Portal

This article is supported by WikiProject Cats.

This project provides a central approach to Cat-related subjects on Wikipedia.
Please participate by editing the article, and help us assess and improve articles to good and 1.0 standards, or visit the wikiproject page for more details.

???

This article has not yet received a rating on the Project's quality scale. Please rate the article and then leave a short summary here to explain the ratings and/or to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the article.

Siamese (cat) appears on Thailand Portal as the "Selected article" of July 2007.

[edit] Cat picture

The cat on the picture is not Siamese breed, but rather a mix between a Siamese and a ordinary gray "tiger" car. It can be seen on the colour of the head and the tail. So change the picture.

The picture's caption is "A chocolate tabby pointed Siamese", or Siamese mix. If you have a better public domain or free-license picture of a Siamese cat available, please upload it. – Quadell ^{(talk) (help)}[[]] 18:22, Nov 17, 2004 (UTC)

What's with the links to entries on colors? The only way that is useful is if it links to the actual cat colors. Blue linking to blue just shows normal bright blue, which is the color of no cat I am aware of. The sentence even refers to "cat colours," but each reference is just about the normal color.

[edit] pictures of Siamese cats

I have some great photos of Siamese cats. I will to add them when/if I work out how.

You have to have an account to upload stuff. Click here to create an account. Once you're logged in, click the "Upload file" link on the left side of the screen, and follow the directions. Some good pictures of Siameses would be great. If you need help adding them to the article, let me know. [[User:Lachatdelarue|Lachatdelarue (talk)]] 22:59, 22 Nov 2004 (UTC)

I don't understand this, I downloaded a picture of one of my Traditional Siamese girls to be a part of this page and I can't find it anywhere?—The preceding unsigned comment was added by TrinnyTrue (talk • contribs) .

The image is Image:Niobe050905.jpeg. To use it in the article, simply enclose it in double square brackets, but without the colon (look at wikicode of my message to see what I mean). By the way, you can sign your edits with four tildes.--Drat (Talk) 19:49, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

I added the image because it was a better quality image (no red-eye) than the one that was there. My Siamese is also traditional. Does anyone have a good image of a modern Siamese so we can illustrate that aspect of the breed as well? --Ginkgo100 ^{talk · contribs} 23:22, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

Thank you so much for adding Niobe's image : ) I have a picture of a Classic Siamese I cannot provide a picture of a Modern Siamese as I only breed Traditional and occasionally Classic. TrinnyTrue

I have a picture of a seal-tortie point Siamese if anyone wants me to add it. --Sharpay Evans 06:47, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

Go right ahead.--Drat (Talk) 07:30, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

Sorry about the delay. I'm just trying to get a really good picture of my cat, Thai. Problem is, she runs away whenever she sees the camera. I'll try again tomorrow.--Sharpay Evans 04:31, 30 March 2007 (UTC) Okay, I finally have a picture of my Seal-Tortie pointed Siamese cat, Thai. Just click on the blue 1 to see it. Thanks! [[1]] --Sharpay Evans 03:52, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] That innocent look.

Is the 'look of innocence' common to Siamese (or rather, is it worth writing about in the article)? You know, when they know they've done something wrong, and they give you that look. Our siamese cats did that from time to time. Damn I miss them (they passed away in '95, '03 and '04 at 4, 13 and 15 respectively). I may upload a cute pic of one of them asleep on a printer (from memory worthy for the page, not just a cute pic).--DooMDrat 00:35, Feb 24, 2005 (UTC)

Our Siamese is perfect in every way, so she's never had to assume an innocent look. Except for hissing at other cats, but she feels no shame about that. SnappingTurtle 13:28, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Meowing

Does anyone know what the genetic basis for Siamese propensity for meowing is? It seems generally acknowledged that Siamese are more talkative than most other breeds. I can personally attest to this.

I don't know about the genetics, but I do fondly remember listening to some of the funny sounds the cats would make. "MaaaaaAAAAAaaaarrowwwwph!" and such. The oldest one, sometimes when she was alone in a different part of the house, and feeling lonely, would boost her volume to insane levels. She had a very distinct voice when she was calling for "her" humans.--DooMDrat 16:52, Mar 12, 2005 (UTC)

Yes, my 2 Siamese cats make a lot of noise. They meow when one can't find the other too! It's really aalot of fun to watch them. One of them can be annoying at time about following me everywhere. But, they are lots of fun to have. Reply to me. LADYBUG91090

Help my siamese kitten (11 weeks) wakes at 6am and crys till we come out of our room. We are scared we may have to get rid of him if the nabours complain. Any advice? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.145.163.244 (talk) 12:44, 8 September 2007 (UTC)

I'd suggest keeping the kitten in your room. But this is not an advice forum. In future, please take such questions to a cat forum (search google).--Drat (Talk) 13:18, 8 September 2007 (UTC)

Any sources regarding the peculiar 'mek-mek' or 'chatter' sound, most often made when spotting prey? An example could be found here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ8kzZBdY5Q, but that's hardly citable. I've known a lot of cats, and its only the four Siamese ones I've known that do that, usually when hunting bugs or birdwatching. If there are sources, then is it notable? 121.208.21.18 (talk) 06:44, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

Non-Siamese do this as well. I don't think it deserves a mention here. --Ginkgo100^talk 18:34, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Crazy Siamese-only stunts?

Perhaps a mention of the stunts certain Siamese love is worthwhile. I have a 7-year-old Siamese who gets wound up and will jump three feet off the ground to attack me, or he'll run up, slap my leg with his "power paw" and run off. They're a menace - luckily his loyalty makes up for his insanity. My other cats don't even approach the crazy Siamese.

(new) My mom used to have a bunch of crazy Siamese, one would run around the room in a circle over and over, sometimes running on the wall like matrix. They talk a lot. I want to get I siamese, but I would like to adopt a mature cat who needs a home from an animal shelter so I might not be too picky about the breed.

Yes, my 2 Siamese cats do crazy things all of the time.  They will leap over top of each other and it looks like they are fighting.  But, it's really cute to see them lying together cleaning wach other.

Ladybug91090 14:47, 22 May 2007 (UTC)Ladybug91090

[edit] Jake

somebody listed Jake from the Cat from Outer Space here. Jake was an Abyssinian (cat), a totally different breed.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Hailey C. Shannon (talk • contribs) .

I am now ladybug91090 my name has been changed if you wish to send me a message about siamese cats.--Prettywhitekitty 17:19, 19 September 2007 (UTC)prettywhitekitty

[edit] Tail hook for rings?

Many Siamese cats from Siam had a kink in their tails but over the years this traits has been considered to be a flaw and breeders have largely eradicated it.

I've been told that the tail bend was legendarily meant to have something to do with a princess hanging her rings on the cat's tails. Does anyone have suitable reference matter that mentions this (or something similar) at all? -Quiddity 05:21, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I've read a different one, about a king in Siam who was being slowly poisoned. All the attempts to keep him isolated were not effective, so his cat kept it's tail curled around his chalice in order to guard it even while asleep. It worked, and that's supposed to be why the cats now have the kink — due to the cat keeping it's tail curled like that for weeks. The problem is that I read this many years ago, and can't remember the book in which I read it. I can't remember if it was retelling of a legend, or a children's story; if it is a kid's story, I have no idea if it was based on a legend or not.--Drat (Talk) 05:59, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] External links

I removed the external links section, in accordance with WP:EL. All but one link promoted various clubs; the link about Siamese history contained redundant information with the article. If any other editors used one or more of these links as a source for the article, please add it back under Notes so we preserve the citation. --Ginkgo100 ^{talk · contribs} 18:22, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Discussion of incorrect name in other sources

"Several sources give Gould's brother Owen Nutcombe Gould (1857-1929) as the British Consul-General in Bangkok, but Owen was only 27 in 1884 and not known to be in Bangkok." It is valuable that the editor included this information, since many sources do repeat the incorrect name. but seems like this sentence might be better as a note than within the main body of the article? I didn't feel so strongly as to change it but thought I'd mention it here. Wichienmaat 14:15, 27 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "They usually get on well with other cats" -- WHAT???

Every Siamese I've ever known has regarded all other cats as the enemy. That is true for our Siamese, who hisses and spits at any other cat she sees. She also detests other animals. She loves my wife and me and is generally friendly with other humans.

Really, that statement took me aback. I thought Siamese were known for fighting other cats unless they were all raised together. SnappingTurtle 13:26, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

I don't believe there is a citation for that particular statement, so it is unverified. You should feel free, therefore, to remove it, as it is the responsibility of the editor adding information to provide verification.

As for my own experience (which is WP:OR and can't be included in the article), one Siamese I had hated other cats, while my current Siamese gets along pretty well with my other cat. I have no idea how these experiences generalize to the breed in general. --Ginkgo100 ^{talk · e@} 20:14, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

Unpredictability is more a Siamese trait than amiability to their own kind. Probably (and this is OR) due to the fact they consider themselves superior to humans, let alone other cats. :) Blackjack4124 05:28, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

Well, I don't have a true bred Siamese cat, but she's at least half-Siamese and has many of the attributes, not just physical shape (longer thinner head, distinct eyes, that meow, the constant talking, the extreme attachment to one person, etc.). But she at least is very, very friendly with any human that I've seen her meet. However, any cat that she comes in contact is regarded as dead meat. She'll growl (beyond that, yowls with utmost anger) at any cat that trespasses outside, or if someone brings one into the house. That "Mmmmmrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroowwwhh!" type of meow that goes on for like 40 seconds and sounds nearly like a dog. However, she does tolerate our other Calico cat in the house. Though she is prone to being more fighting and hissing even with the Calico, than what you would expect in cats that "get along." There have also been very distinct periods where for about 1 month they hated each other. Callandor 07:34, 16 December 2006 (UTC)

Since I don't think the remark about them "getting on well with other cats" is cited, and clearly there are different experiences (which cannot be included in the article as OR), I'm going to remove that phrase altogether. --Ginkgo 100 ^talk 00:48, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

My cats aren't around other cats, but they get along with the dogs of mine to. ~~Ladybug91090

Siamese are generally a 'family cat' in that each generation for the last 4 has had them in my family, so I can comment from experience that ours have always integrated well into the family with at least 3 or 4 other cats already in residence - not necessarily other siamese. the trick might be that we've always brought them in in pairs though so that they have a friend and equal (and age-appropriate play mate!) i have heard that some siamese are particular and like to be the only cat in the family but i find that with proper socialisation, they get on well with other cats and animals. my 2 cents worth anyways...207.134.201.43 01:41, 15 July 2007 (UTC) rbp

[edit] English spelling

I noticed this article mixes American and British spelling. I checked the article history and first major contributions all used British spelling, so I am going to boldly change all the spellings to British. I normally use American spelling, so it is quite likely I will miss some; if so, please feel free to fix it. --Ginkgo 100 ^talk 21:41, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

The folks who are changing back and forth need to stop the meaningless revert war. It is appropriate to use either English or US spelling, depending on the article subject; here, the subject is neither primarily English nor US, and so it's important just to pick one and stick with it. Ginkgo100 was perfectly reasonable in picking the English spelling, so that should be it. Stop the US spelling reverts, other folks! --LQ 22:30, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] ID this cat please :D

I'd like to add this image but I have no idea what type of Siamese cat it is, so I can't really add it. Rawling 00:40, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Looks like a modern blue point. Might be a good infobox image, actually. --Ginkgo100^talk 21:21, 26 January 2007 (UTC)

It's the spitting image of my cat, Bobby - he's a lilac siamese point cat.

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.3.185.70 (talk) 09:03, 9 February 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Works of Doreen Tovey?

I wondered if the 'See Also' section would benefit from a mention of the works of this author (Cats in the Belfry, Cats in May etc.)? For those unfamiliar with them, they are memoirs of life with various Siamese, the most well-known probably being Solomon and Sheba. The books are very humorous, and I think would help one with little experience of Siamese to understand their temperament. I believe Mrs. Tovey is currently the President of the Siamese Cat Club (UK), although I could be wrong (I'm just assuming so from it being the same name, perhaps someone ele knows for definite): http://www.siamesecatclub.co.uk/about_us.htm. Should the books be added? Amphy 01:50, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

If the books and/or the author are notable enough, you can create an article on them, and link it from here. Otherwise I don't think it adds much. There are a lot of books about Siameses out there. --Ginkgo100^talk 03:34, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Traditional versus modern.

([2]) The kitten pictured is a traditional Siamese kitten because it is large boned, it's head is round and its body is plump. A classic Siamese has a more triangle shaped head and tubular body. A modern Siamese is thin boned, has a very tubular body and small triangle shaped head. PrettyKitty3000 14:31, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

Yes, but this is your interpretation of the picture. I'm not in any way saying you're wrong, but it is possible that this is actually a pedigree modern Siamese pictured at an odd angle, or with odd lighting, or whatever. The problem is that the person who uploaded this picture (and thus, the person who presumably knows the actual cat) described it as modern. Maybe we need to ask them for clarification? Or could we have a second opinion? I'm just not comfortable with describing something like this based on what it looks like, rather than what the person who owns the cat says it is. Perhaps we might think the picture is a bad example to use? Skittle 21:20, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

I think it would be better to simply remove the picture, since it does not clearly illustrate the appearance of a modern Siamese. --Ginkgo100^talk 02:27, 29 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Famous Siamese Cats

I found a famous Siamese we can add to that section. Miss Pussy, Rutherford B. Hayes' cat. 68.205.128.200 02:08, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

Is Miss Pussy herself famous, or only her owner? --Ginkgo100^talk 19:30, 9 May 2007 (UTC)

Both of them are, I guess.

Removed Jinxie from Meet The Parents. He's a Himalayan not Siamese. 68.8.106.74 (talk) 05:21, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] General problem with naming conventions for WP page address links

In "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_retinal_atrophy", the link to "Siamese" is embedded as "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siamese_%28cat%29", When this link is copy-pasted into a Mac Mail new email, for example, the link is converted by Mail to "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siamese_%2528cat%2529", which is invalid (Mail replaced the percent character with its hex equivalent). Please advise your editors to avoid using special characters, or, at least, to avoid using "escape" codes, in links and anywhere else that copy-paste could result in such a conversion. For this case, the solution is simple: the name of the page shoud be "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siamese_cat". The linking page "...Progressive_retinal_atrophy", as coded, violates "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_edit_a_page#Links_and_URLs" in the paragraph which begins, "In the URL, all symbols must be among: ...", and the paragraph which follows.

[edit] Rename to "Siamese cat"

Shouldn't this article be called "Siamese cat" and not "Siamese (cat)" ?? Chessy999 15:25, 25 August 2007 (UTC)
- Use of parentheses is following precedent with other breed articles. Since these cats are often referred to as "Siameses", I think the idea is that "Siamese cat" is redundant. --Ginkgo100^talk 16:23, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Wiktionary

Think the Wiktionary:Siamese cat definition is not generic enough, cannot Siamese have different coloured eyes and so forth ? Chessy999 15:27, 25 August 2007 (UTC)

No, pointed cats like Siamese always have blue eyes. The eye color is caused by the same gene that causes the points, so it's biologically impossible to have a pointed cat with eyes of a different color. --Ginkgo100^talk 16:25, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

Would you kindly take a look at the Wiktionary definition of Siamese cat advise me if you feel it is correct. thank you. Chessy999 19:11, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

I thought it was incomplete and unclear, so I modified it. However, I have very little experience at Wiktionary; you might want to ask users there what further changes, if any, might be helpful. Of course, since it's a wiki, you can make the changes yourself as well. --Ginkgo100^talk 21:30, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Seal point redirect

Why does seal point redirect to Siamese cats? Many breeds use this designation, and the Siamese page currently gives only a brief one-sentence description of the phrase. 68.13.70.164 14:14, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

Good question; it should probably redirect to Point (coat color). I'll change it now. --Ginkgo100^talk 20:57, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Modern Siamese picture

Article needs a modern Siamese for comparison. --165.21.154.91 (talk) 15:19, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

No kidding. You got one? --Ginkgo100^talk 03:37, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Found some on commons. The infobox needs a better one though. Doesn't show the diff between old/modern well.--Dodo bird (talk) 12:22, 1 April 2008 (UTC)

Are the cats on the left modern Siamese? And is this a Siamese? Looks too stout to be one to me.--165.21.155.9 (talk) 06:40, 1 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Cats portal

A summary of this article appears on a rotational basis in Portal:Cats under the "Selected breed" section. Any improvement to this article's lead section should be copied to the relevant entry on Portal:Cats/Selected_breed. --165.21.154.90 (talk) 06:14, 23 March 2008 (UTC)