Your guide to finding and caring for an Applehead Siamese in Boston
An Applehead Siamese suits a Boston triple-decker better than you might expect, as long as someone's home to talk back. These cats are chatty, and that voice carries through the shared walls of a Jamaica Plain or Dorchester three-family. They don't need much floor space, just a tall cat tree by a window and a person who plays with them every day. A Mission Hill or Fenway apartment works well if you're around evenings and weekends, since many of these cats dislike long, empty days.
Give an Applehead Siamese a home
While we don't have enough cats near Boston, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 8 y. +, 2660 miles
Siamese
F, 8 y. +, 2660 miles
Siamese
M, 3-7 y., 2660 miles
Siamese
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 2660 miles
Siamese
F, 9 mo., 2660 miles
Siamese
M, 0-6 mo., 2673 miles
Siamese, Domestic Short Hair
F, 4 mo., 3348 miles
Siamese, Domestic Long Hair
F, 4 mo., 3348 miles
Siamese, Domestic Long Hair
M, 5 y., 3348 miles
Siamese
Applehead Siamese is the popular name for the old-style Siamese, a sturdier, rounder-headed cat than the long, wedge-headed Siamese of the show ring. It reflects how Siamese cats from Thailand looked when they first reached the West, 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 and vivid blue eyes, a short coat that's easy to care for, and plenty of conversation. They're clever and affectionate, and in a Boston winter, when everyone is indoors more, that attention is easy to give. Plan on daily play and company, since many dislike being alone for long stretches.
Having an Applehead Siamese in Boston
Applehead Siamese pair the classic pointed coat with a rounder look. Their voice, their need for company and their quick minds shape daily life more than their size does, which matters in a Boston apartment with close neighbors.
Appleheads tend to be affectionate, social and very vocal, and many follow their people from room to room. Some get demanding or jealous of attention, and many struggle with long hours alone, which matters if your Boston commute is long. Personalities vary from cat to cat, so how a particular cat behaves tells you more than the breed.
Expect an active, curious cat that enjoys wand toys, fetch, climbing and puzzle feeders. Daily interactive play helps prevent boredom habits like nonstop meowing. Because Boston winters keep cats indoors for months, plan on indoor play most days, with a tall cat tree and a window perch for bird-watching.
Siamese-type cats can be prone to dental disease, asthma and other respiratory trouble, progressive retinal atrophy and a form of liver amyloidosis. Some have crossed eyes. Dry heated indoor air in winter can irritate asthma-prone cats, so watch for coughing or wheezing. A veterinarian can check teeth, eyes and breathing at regular visits.
An Applehead adapts well to a one-bedroom or a triple-decker floor, since its needs are attention and enrichment rather than square footage. Window perches and cat trees help. Its loud voice can carry through the thin walls of older Boston buildings. Keep it indoors, since coyotes are active across the city.
| 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 Boston.
Boston's rescue community is active, and pointed Siamese-type cats are fairly common among the cats looking for homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Boston area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an Applehead Siamese is coming in.
An Applehead Siamese fits Boston best when someone is home a fair amount, since these cats are social and dislike long empty days. A long commute can be hard on them. They handle small apartments well, and a second cat or a daily play routine keeps them busy through the long indoor winters.
Yes, an Applehead Siamese can live happily in a Boston apartment, because its needs are attention and enrichment rather than space. Give it a tall cat tree, a window perch and daily play. Its loud voice can carry through shared walls in older buildings, so a quieter unit helps.
Yes, as indoor cats they handle Boston winters well. Their short coat offers little insulation, so keep them inside with a warm bed away from drafts. Wipe paws after any trip out, since street salt can burn, and keep antifreeze locked away because it's highly toxic. Daily indoor play burns off winter energy.
Yes, if the cat is in a secure carrier. The MBTA allows small pets in carriers at all times, ideally on your lap and away from the doors. Animals can't ride loose or on seats, and staff may restrict access in crowds, so skip holidays and big events.
Yes. Massachusetts law bars towns from regulating dogs by breed, and Boston has no known cap on cats. Applehead is a type rather than a formal breed, so look for pointed, blue-eyed cats with rounder heads among the listings here. Availability changes, so save a search to hear about new cats.
Very little. The short single coat needs a quick weekly brush, a bit more in spring when shedding picks up. Dry indoor winter air can make skin flaky, so watch for dandruff. Regular nail trims and tooth care matter more, and brushing at home covers most coat needs, so professional grooming is rarely necessary.
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.
Food runs about $25 to $50 a month and pet insurance about $25 to $50 a month. Routine vet care is roughly $150 to $350 a year, and other costs such as litter, flea prevention and dental care add $450 to $1,150 a year. Together that comes to about $1,200 to $2,700 a year, before any adoption fee.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Boston.
