Carmiel Cattery

Siamese, Oriental Shorthair Cattery

The Siamese

This very old breed is mentioned in a manuscript dated 1350 from Ayuthia, then the capital of Siam, now Thailand. Note also that in the early 19th century, German naturalist Pallas Described white cats with dark extremities in central Asia. In Siam, the breed was reserved to the royal family and carefully guarded in the royal palace. However, two Siamese of unknown origin were successfully shown at London's Crystal Palace in 1871. In 1884, Sir Owen Gould, English Consul to Bangkok, obtained a pair named Pho and Mia. He brought them home and entrusted them to his sister, Ms. Veley. Pho and Mia produced the first champions awarded in 1885. That same year, August Pavie, a French diplomat, also brought home two specimens from Bangkok. They had been presented to the Jardin des Plantes by Mr. Paire, France's resident minister in Siam. In 1893, also in Paris, Mr. Oustalet, a professor at the Paris Museum of Natural History, drafted an article on the "Cats of Siam" brought back by the daughter-in-law of President Carnot. In 1889, Harrison Weir published Our Cats and All About Them, including a chapter on the Siamese. The first standard was established by the G.C.C.F. in 1892. The first breed club, the Siamese thus began its rich career. In 1890, the first Siamese cats were introduced to the United States. The Siamese has enjoyed considerable popularity since 1920. The breed's current morphology is quite different from its original type, which was rounder and more massive. Crossed eyes, a kinked tail, and even green eyes were allowed. Since then, selective breeding following a certain aesthetic has refined the breed's traits. The head is now triangular, the tail has no kinks and is therefore longer, and crossed eyes have been eliminated, in part.

This "Prince of Cats" (F.Méry) is perhaps the most extraverted of the domestic cats. With its volatile, or unpredictable, temperament, he has a very strong personality and tends toward excess in all areas. He is not peaceful or calm. If you want a cat with a true presence, the Siamese for you. Hypersensitive and highly emotional, Siamese cats adore company. They hate solitude and cannot stand indifference. If neglected, they become depressed. These "big mouths" will harass their owner with their often loud, raucous voice and will follow their owner everywhere to get attention. Exclusive, very possessive, and brimming with affection, they can become jealous. The sociable Siamese likes to play with children but does not always appreciate the company of other cats. Siamese cats are sensitive to cold and like comfort and thus apartment life. They reach puberty early, as females can have their first heat by 5 months. Heats occur approximately every two weeks, with no period of sexual quiescence in fall and winter. The Siamese is more prolific than average for domestic cats. Siamese kittens, who are obviously hyperactive and fearless, must be raised attentively. In terms of grooming, they require brushing once or twice weekly. They should be bathed several days before a show.

The Oriental Shorthair

Both originally from Thailand, the Oriental Shorthair and the Siamese differ only in coat and eye color. Some believe the Oriental Shorthair is the original type, while the Siamese, a colorpoint Oriental Shorthair, is a variety. Both breeds arrived in Great Britain in the late 19th century. From 1920 to 1930, the Siamese was more popular than the Oriental shorthair, which did not interest breeders until after 1950. By crossing Siamese and European Shorthairs of different colors, breeders successively obtained chocolate, white (Foreign white), and blue Oriental Shorthairs. By 1968, American breeders began breeding programs focused on an extreme morphological type closely resembling today's Siamese, while the British preferred a moderate type. The C.F.A. recognized the breed in 1972 as the Oriental Shorthair. In 1994 it approved the Oriental Longhair, or Mandarin. The Oriental Shorthair is not very common.

Like the Siamese, Oriental Shorthairs are very lively, extraverted, proud, and captivating. They are sociable and do not like being alone. These playful cats can tolerate children. They are affectionate and often very possessive, even tyrannical, toward their owner. Indifference is not acceptable to them. They are "talkative" and have a loud voice. They have the temperament of a hunter. Female cats are sexually precocious and have frequent heats. They are more prolific than average for domestic cats. They are easy to groom, as weekly.

The Havana

In the early 19th century in England, a female chestnut brown cat named Granny Grump was reported. Much later, around 1880, other cats of the same color were successfully shown. In 1950, after these cats had been forgotten for half a century, Baroness Von Ulmann crossed chocolate point Siamese cats with black European Shorthairs in an effort to obtain a foreign- type cat with a solid chocolate coat. She was so successful that breeders copied her. Unlike the FIFE, the GCCF recognized the new breed in 1958 as the Chestnut Havana or Havana Brown. Since 1971, the name Havana has been preferred, perhaps in reference to the color of the cigar or to the coat color of a breed of rabbit, and also after the lilac color was accepted by some federations. Since 1960, the breed has been highly successful in the United States, although in remains rare in Europe.

Havanas are lively, active, and playful but not aggressive cats. Standoffish toward strangers, they like tranquility and comfort. Calm, affectionate, and very gentle, they adore their owner. Less talkative than Siamese, they also have a softer voice. In terms of grooming, weekly brushing is sufficient for this breed.

Feeding your cats:

Because nutrition is one of the most important keys to your cat's health and longevity, one of your most important responsibilities as a cat owner is to provide your cat with the necessary nutrients required for its growth and maintenance. To do this, it is first necessary to understand what cats need in their diet.

Cats are obligate carnivores and are very different from dogs-and people-in their nutritional needs. What does it mean to be an obligate carnivore? It means that cats are strict carnivores that rely on nutrients in animal tissue to meet their specific nutritional requirements. In their natural habitat, cats are hunters that consume prey high in protein with moderate amounts of fat and minimal amounts of carbohydrates. Cats also require more than a dozen nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids. These nutrients are the building blocks of various structural body tissues; are essential for chemical reactions (metabolism, catabolism); transport substances into, around, and out of the body; supply energy for growth and maintenance; and provide palatability. The important thing to remember about nutrients, particularly vitamins and minerals, is that your cat needs the correct amount-but no more. It is possible to have "too much of a good thing" when it comes to vitamins and minerals; the use of supplements not only is unnecessary but also can be potentially dangerous to your pet's health. A key point to remember is that cats are neither small dogs nor people. Because of cats' unique metabolism, what might be good for you might be detrimental to your cat. A high-quality cat food assures an adequate supply of vitamins and minerals in your cat's diet; supplements should never be added without a veterinarian's approval. Another important nutrient with respect to overall health is water. Water helps regulate body temperature, digest food, eliminate waste, lubricate tissue, and allow salt and other electrolytes to pass through the body. You should provide your cat with clean, fresh water at all times.

Foods what we recommend to feed your cats with:

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