Siamese descend from the pointed Wichianmat cats of Thailand, once called Siam, and reached the United States in the late 1800s. Their pale bodies, darker faces, ears, paws and tails, and vivid blue almond eyes come from a temperature-sensitive pigment gene. The coat is short, fine and single-layered, so it sheds lightly and needs only occasional brushing.
In Columbus, many cats labeled Siamese are pointed domestic cats of mixed ancestry, and their personalities vary as much as their looks. Still, the classic traits show up often: talkative, smart and strongly attached to their people. Expect a cat that wants to be involved, and plan on play, puzzle feeders and company. Siamese also darken with age, so a cat's coloring says little about how it will behave.