Siamese descend from the pointed Wichianmat cats of Thailand, once called Siam, and reached the United States in the late 1800s. They are medium, lithe cats with a wedge-shaped head, big ears and vivid blue almond eyes. The short, glossy coat has no undercoat, and the darker face, ears, paws and tail come from a temperature-sensitive pigment gene.
Most Siamese are talkative, clever and tightly bonded to their people. That devotion becomes loud complaining or mischief when a cat is bored or alone all day, so puzzle feeders, wand toys and company matter. Cats vary, and many pointed cats waiting for homes are Siamese mixes with a similar look and personality. Only pedigree papers confirm a purebred.