The Siamese cat is a natural aristocrat, originally bred in the kingdom of Siam, which we know as Thailand today. Because these cats were considered sacred in ancient Siam, only members of royalty and Buddhist monks were allowed to keep them.
The breed was first described in the ancient Tamra Maew manuscripts also known as The Cat-Book Poems, which was curated during the Ayutthaya Kingdom between 1351 and 1767.
When European dignitaries began visiting Siam in the 1800s, they were often impressed with the cats and as a gesture of goodwill, members of the Siamese royal family began offering Siamese cats as gifts. These cats made their way to Europe with their new families, quickly gaining popularity for their exquisite appearance and unique personalities.
In 1878, Bangkok’s American consul gave a Siamese cat named “Siam” to U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes and First Lady Lucy Hayes. Siam was the first Siamese to reach America.
In 1884, British Consulate General Edward Blencowe Gould brought a breeding pair of Siamese cats to his sister, Lilian Jane Gould, who co-founded Britain’s Siamese Cat Club in 1901. Most British Siamese cats can be traced back to just 11 original imports.
The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) granted official recognition in 1906, making the Siamese one of the oldest pedigreed cat breeds in existence.
By the 1950s and 1960s, the Siamese had gained popularity worldwide. Today, the breed is accepted by all cat registries. Long-haired Siamese cats are typically registered as Balinese.