Your guide to finding and caring for an Applehead Siamese in Birmingham
Applehead Siamese cats do well in Highland Park's apartments and condos. The old-style pointed cat doesn't need much floor space, just a window perch, a tall cat tree and someone who'll talk back. The historic buildings along Highland Avenue and the newer condos nearby keep a chatty cat close to its people all day, which is exactly what it wants. It's a good match for Birmingham renters who work from home or keep a flexible schedule.
Give an Applehead Siamese a home
M, 8 mo., 450 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Siamese
F, 2 y., 461 miles
Siamese, Calico
M, 3-7 y., 461 miles
Siamese
F, 8 y., 462 miles
Siamese
F, 8 y., 462 miles
Siamese
F, 1 y., 462 miles
Siamese, Domestic Short Hair
M, 8 y. +, 465 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Siamese
F, 3-7 y., 465 miles
Siamese
F, 3-7 y., 465 miles
Siamese
F, 0-6 mo., 473 miles
Siamese
Applehead Siamese is the popular name for the traditional, old-style Siamese, a sturdier, rounder-headed cat than the wedge-headed Siamese of today's show rings. It reflects the look of the pointed cats that first reached the West from Thailand in the late nineteenth century, and some registries now recognize the type as the Thai. Many cats called appleheads are simply pointed cats of Siamese ancestry.
Expect a pale body with darker points, vivid blue eyes and a short coat that stays tidy with a quick brush. Personality is the big draw: these cats are clever, talkative and devoted, and many follow their people from room to room. That means planning for company, since an empty apartment all day can lead to loud complaints. Pointed Siamese-type cats are fairly common in shelters, so watch the listings on this page.
Having an Applehead Siamese in Birmingham
This is a lively, people-focused cat with a pointed coat and blue eyes. In Birmingham's apartments and houses, its need for company, its loud voice and its busy mind matter more than space, and indoor living suits it best.
Applehead Siamese cats tend to be affectionate, social and very vocal, and many bond closely with their people. Some get demanding or jealous when attention drifts, and long hours alone can bring on yowling or mischief. Each cat's personality varies, so spend time with a cat before deciding.
Plan on daily interactive play: wand toys, fetch, climbing and puzzle feeders. A tall cat tree by a window gives a Birmingham apartment cat somewhere to climb and watch the birds. Many also learn to walk on a harness, though outings are best kept to cooler hours and shaded spots.
Siamese-type cats can be prone to dental disease, asthma, progressive retinal atrophy and a liver condition called amyloidosis, and some have crossed eyes. Not every cat develops these. Regular dental care and yearly checkups help catch problems early, and a veterinarian can look over a new cat's eyes, teeth and breathing.
Apartments suit this cat well, since its needs center on attention rather than square footage. Cat trees, window perches and toys keep it busy. Its loud voice can carry through thin walls, which matters in older buildings. A second cat or a home where someone is around often suits it.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,200 to $2,700 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and other supplies, and occasional at-home brushing.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Birmingham.
Birmingham's rescue community is led by the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, with foster-based groups also helping cats find homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Birmingham area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an Applehead Siamese is coming in.
Yes, for many households. An Applehead Siamese suits Birmingham renters and homeowners who are around a lot, since these cats are chatty, social and dislike long stretches alone. Mild winters and air-conditioned summers are easy on an indoor cat. If your days are long, a second cat or plenty of puzzle toys can help, though every cat differs.
Yes. No breed-specific rule for cats is known in Birmingham, so you need only follow the general requirements: a city license for cats four months and older, and a rabies shot by three months with the tag on a collar or harness. Many shelter appleheads are pointed mixes without papers, and the same rules apply.
Yes, an Applehead Siamese does well in a Birmingham apartment because its needs center on attention, not space. Give it a tall cat tree, a window perch and daily play. Its loud voice can carry through thin walls in older buildings, so confirm your lease allows a cat and any pet deposit before adopting.
Yes, for an indoor cat. Birmingham's mild winters suit a short-coated Applehead Siamese with a heated bed, and humid summers are fine with air conditioning and fresh water. Spring storms are the bigger concern, since thunder and tornado warnings can stress cats. Keep a carrier ready and a safe spot planned.
Only in a carrier on MAX On-Demand, not on regular buses. MAX fixed-route buses generally don't allow animals other than service animals, while MAX On-Demand asks that non-service pets travel in an airline-approved carrier. Birmingham has no subway, so a sturdy carrier is also the practical choice for rides to the vet.
Very little. The short single coat needs only a weekly brush, a bit more if shedding picks up, and Birmingham's humid summers don't call for any trimming. Plan on occasional nail trims and regular tooth care. Professional grooming isn't usually needed, and the yearly Other costs already allow for at-home brushing.
You can adopt an Applehead Siamese through local shelters, humane societies and Siamese-specific rescue groups, which often list pointed cats of traditional Siamese type. Adoption fees typically run from about 50 to 200 dollars and usually include spaying or neutering, vaccinations and a microchip. Searching adoption listings for Siamese or Siamese mix cats widens the options considerably.
Applehead Siamese cats commonly live about 12 to 20 years, and many reach their late teens with good care. Indoor living, a healthy weight, dental care and regular veterinary checkups support a long life. Like other Siamese-type cats, they can be prone to dental and some inherited conditions, so watching for changes as they age helps.
An Applehead Siamese is a traditional or old-style Siamese cat with a rounder head, a sturdier body and less extreme features than the modern show Siamese. It keeps the classic colorpoint coat, with darker ears, face, paws and tail, and striking blue eyes. These cats are typically talkative, affectionate and social, and they are often found in shelters.
Expect roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year for an Applehead Siamese in Birmingham. Food runs $25 to $50 a month, insurance $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care $150 to $350 a year, and other costs $450 to $1,150 a year. Insurance is optional, and illness or emergencies can add more.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Birmingham.
