Your guide to finding and caring for an Applehead Siamese in Seattle
An Applehead Siamese suits Seattle's apartment neighborhoods, as long as someone is around to answer its chatter. A talkative cat in a Belltown tower or a Wallingford bungalow will happily narrate the street from a window perch, especially on a rainy afternoon. Expect conversation, lap time and a cat that follows you to the kitchen. Because they dislike long stretches alone, they fit people who work from home or keep flexible hours.
Give an Applehead Siamese a home
M, 0-6 mo., 3 miles
Siamese, Domestic Short Hair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 8 miles
Siamese
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 8 miles
Siamese
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 8 miles
Siamese, Domestic Short Hair
F, 2 y., 26 miles
Snowshoe
F, 3-7 y., 28 miles
Snowshoe
M, 3-7 y., 30 miles
Siamese
M, 3-7 y., 30 miles
Siamese
M, 2 y., 38 miles
Siamese
F, 2 y., 46 miles
Siamese, Domestic Medium Hair
Applehead Siamese is the popular name for the traditional, old-style Siamese, a sturdier, rounder-headed cat than the long, wedge-headed Siamese of modern show rings. Some registries recognize the type separately as the Thai, while many cats called appleheads are simply pointed cats of Siamese ancestry. At roughly 8 to 14 pounds, it's a medium-sized cat that fits easily into a small Seattle home.
The pale body, darker points and vivid blue eyes give the type its look, and the personality is just as distinctive: playful, clever and loud when a cat wants something. The short coat needs little care, so most of the work goes into attention, play and company. Temperaments vary from cat to cat, so a cat's own behavior says more than the breed label.
Having an Applehead Siamese in Seattle
Voice, company and a busy mind matter most with this type. In Seattle's compact apartments and rainy months, plan for daily play, good window views and enough time at home that a social cat isn't left alone for long days.
Applehead Siamese cats tend to be affectionate, social and very vocal, following family members from room to room and seeking laps. Some get demanding or jealous, and many struggle with long days alone. That suits Seattle households where someone is home often, or where a second cat offers company. Personalities vary, so a cat's own behavior matters more than the breed label.
Expect an active, curious cat that enjoys wand toys, fetch, climbing and puzzle feeders. Seattle's wet days make indoor play the main outlet, so aim for a couple of interactive sessions daily and a tall cat tree. Many learn tricks or walk on a harness, which can give an indoor cat a little supervised fresh air.
Siamese-type cats can be prone to dental disease, asthma, progressive retinal atrophy and a liver form of amyloidosis, and some have crossed eyes. Not every cat develops these problems. Regular dental care and yearly checkups help catch trouble early, and a veterinarian can check teeth, eyes and breathing after adoption. Many live well into their teens.
This cat adapts well to Seattle's apartments, condos and bungalows because its needs center on attention more than square footage. Window perches and cat trees keep it busy. Its loud voice can carry through thin walls in older buildings. Indoor living is safest, since coyotes are present in many Seattle neighborhoods, especially near larger wooded green spaces.
| 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* | $480 to $1,180 per year | $480 to $1,180 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,230 to $2,730 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, the $30 Seattle cat license for a spayed or neutered cat, 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 Seattle.
Seattle has a city shelter and several nonprofit rescues, and pointed Siamese-type cats show up in them fairly often. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Seattle area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an Applehead Siamese is coming in.
Yes, adopting one is straightforward. The main requirement is a Seattle cat license, which costs $30 a year for a spayed or neutered cat, and households can have up to three dogs and cats combined on a typical lot. Watch the listings on this page for Applehead Siamese and similar pointed cats, and save a search to hear about new arrivals.
Yes, this medium-sized cat does well in apartments, since it needs attention and enrichment more than space. About 58% of Seattle households rent, and the pet deposit can't exceed 25% of the first month's rent. Expect a loud voice, though, so a window perch, play and some company matter, especially in buildings with thin walls.
Yes, in a carrier. King County Metro buses allow pets other than dogs when they're in a carrier, with no fare, and Sound Transit allows pets in small containers. The King County Water Taxi requires an enclosed carrier for cats, and Washington State Ferries asks for a crate or carrier. A vocal cat may protest, so practice at home first.
Mostly yes, for an indoor cat. Seattle's mild, damp weather rarely brings freezing days, and summers stay cool, with only a few days a year reaching 90°F. The short coat has little insulation, so provide warm bedding in winter. Keep water and shade available during rare heat waves, and keep windows closed on wildfire smoke days.
It can be, especially for people who are home often or work flexible hours. This type is social and talkative, and many dislike long days alone. Seattle's rainy months mean indoor play carries the day, so a cat tree, puzzle feeders and daily wand-toy sessions help. A second cat can offer company if your schedule is demanding.
Very little. The short, single coat needs a quick brush about once a week, and a bit more when some cats shed in spring. Seattle's damp weather matters less for an indoor cat, so keep up with nail trims and dental care. Occasional at-home brushing is already counted in the Other costs of $480 to $1,180 a year.
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.
Plan on roughly $1,230 to $2,730 a year for an adult Applehead Siamese in Seattle. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and $480 to $1,180 for litter, the license, flea prevention, dental care and supplies.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Seattle.
