Siamese cats descend from the pointed Wichianmat cats of Thailand, once known as Siam, and reached Britain and the United States in the late 1800s. They're medium-sized, usually 6 to 14 pounds, with a sleek build, a short glossy coat and vivid blue almond eyes. The darker face, ears, paws and tail come from a temperature-sensitive pigment gene.
Many Siamese are talkative, intelligent and intensely devoted to their people. That devotion can turn into loud complaints or mischief when they're bored or alone for long hours, so puzzle feeders, climbing space and daily play matter. Plenty of cats in shelters are Siamese mixes with similar coloring and personalities, and only pedigree papers confirm a purebred, so it helps to focus on the cat's actual behavior.