The main differences between Siamese and Thai cats

History of the Siamese and Thai breeds

The ancestors of domestic Siamese and Thais come from Thailand. These graceful animals lived in palaces and Buddhist temples. At that time, they were recognized as divine messengers and given special honors. Thailand in ancient times was called Siam. When in the second half of the 19th century. These animals were brought to Europe, the breed received its name from the country of origin.

Over the years, feline breeders have worked to improve their appearance, so today the appearance of the Siamese cat has specific differences from what it had when it came to Europe from Siam. So it turned out that there were 2 subspecies of 1 breed that differed from each other.

To avoid confusion, in 1990 the animals with their original appearance were renamed Thai. Then they established a standard for this breed, which coincided with the descriptions compiled at the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th centuries. Among fans of the breed, there is also an unofficial name - “Old Siamese”. These animals are officially recognized as the classic carriers of the original appearance of these graceful tailed animals.

Today this breed is considered closed: to preserve the purity of the species, breeders involved in breeding Thais are prohibited from crossing with other breeds. People who do not understand the intricacies of selection still confuse representatives of 2 different breeds. This is due to the similarity of color and country of origin.

Origin of rocks

Siamese and Thai are direct descendants of an ancient breed, which today is commonly called the traditional Siamese. Descriptions of the variety are found in ancient manuscripts more than 600 years old. Stocky, blue-eyed pets with a dark muzzle, paws and tail were considered sacred animals, they lived exclusively in temples and with wealthy nobles. Animals were prohibited from being exported outside of Siam (Thailand), which is why the breed came to Europe only at the end of the nineteenth century.

After reaching the European continent, Siamese cats began to be actively demonstrated at exhibitions; their standard was written in 1892. Active breeding of Siamese and their selection have led to significant changes in appearance: pets have lost their stockiness, rounded head shape and stockiness.

Parallel to the development of the Siamese variety, their ancestors also existed in Thailand, which they decided to call Thai. Unlike their European counterparts, they have not lost their original appearance, but the breed standard was adopted only in 1990.

External differences and standard

Although both the Siamese and Thai breeds belong to 1 qualification group (Siamo-Oriental) and descend from 1 ancestor, these are 2 subgroups of cats, which have characteristic interspecific differences.

Let's try to figure out how to distinguish a Siamese cat from a Thai cat by appearance. The key distinguishing feature is the structure of the animal's body. In the Siamese, as a result of many years of selection work, it has become long, thin and graceful, while in the Thais it remains dense, round and muscular. The distinctive features between the Siamese and Thai breeds are given in the comparative table:

What both breeds have in common is sky-blue eye color: the richer and brighter it is, the higher the score for exterior the animal receives at cat shows and competitions.

Similarities

We'll talk about the differences between Siamese and Thai cats a little later, but for now let's figure out what common characteristics these animals have. Both breeds are intelligent, curious and very playful. They become obligatory participants in all family affairs; the animals are extremely sociable and “talkative.”

They have almost the same, or at least very similar color, which on the paws, tail and face can be brown, gray, black or purple. The fur on the body is light. Cats have a characteristic eye color for these breeds - blue or blue. That's all the similarities. If you look at photos of representatives of one and another breed, you will never confuse them again.

How to distinguish a kitten

If it is not difficult to distinguish an adult Siamese and a Thai by appearance, then determining the breed of newborn kittens is much more difficult due to the fact that the obvious distinctive characteristics of the breed in a kitten appear only by the 3rd month of life.

In order not to be deceived when buying a Siamese pet, pay attention to the following signs:

• elongated wedge shape of the skull, characteristic straight profile;
• thin elongated body on long thin legs;
• ears that are disproportionately large in relation to the head and are set wide apart;
• You can mentally draw an isosceles triangle between the tip of the nose and the corners of the ears;
• oblong elongated eyes with sharp upper corners and a peculiar squint;
• a thin long tail, even along its entire length, with a sharp tip.

The following signs will be characteristic of a little Thai:

• round head with a concave profile at eye level;
• dense, round and well-fed body with strong legs of medium length;
• small ears, like the average domestic cat;
• round wide open eyes;
• the tail is thick at the base, tapering evenly towards the tip.

Remember that it is recommended to take your pet into your home no earlier than three months of age. Then his immune system will be ready to adapt to new conditions, since the separation of a kitten from its mother is always a great stress for the animal.

Thai and Siamese cats: a complicated history of relationships

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Thai and Siamese cats: a complicated history of relationships

Thai and Siamese cats are different, but very similar breeds. Their common ancestor appeared in the kingdom of Siam, which later received another name - Thailand. Hence, confusion arises regarding the origin and properties of these rocks. Let's figure out what Siamese and Thai cats have in common and how they are different.

Photo: Thai cat

According to the felinological organization WCF, now Thai and Siamese are two different breeds, but they belong to the same group - Siamese-oriental. While little was known about Thai cats in our country for a long time, their Siamese brothers were very popular back in the USSR and Russia in the 90s. Not everyone could afford to have such a pet at home, which is why the Siamese became a kind of status breed. The owners of elite animals could not even imagine that their beloved cats are sometimes not Siamese at all, but Thai.

What caused this confusion? The fact is that initially, from the kingdom of Siam (now it is called Thailand, as we remember), it was the Thai cat that was brought to Europe and North America, which was nicknamed the Siamese. In their homeland, these graceful creatures were treated with awe and reverence; they were kept in temples and palaces, and presenting a cat as a gift was considered a sign of special respect. Later, in the 19th century, European breeders developed a new breed, but gave it the same name, not knowing about the existence of “real” Siamese (Thai) cats. The two Siamese breeds existed in parallel for a long time, but today a division has occurred: one of them (imported from Siam) has become Thai. Difficulties are also associated with the similar color of cats: both Thais and Siamese have blue eyes, a light coat and a dark (black, brown or gray) “mask” on the face. This color is called “color point”.

Let's look at the differences. One of the most obvious is the body proportions of Thai and Siamese cats. The body of the latter is flexible, elongated and thin. Due to their exceptional slimness, Siamese are sometimes compared to top models. The body of Thai cats is more rounded, neat and small. The Siamese's tail resembles a whip; it is long and thin, which suits their body type. The Thais have the opposite: their tails are short, thick and quite fluffy, approximately the same as those of British breed cats.

If you look closely at the head and face of Thai and Siamese cats, a lot of differences will catch your eye. Thus, the ears of the Siamese are very large, the eyes are slightly slanted, and the nose is so straight that when viewed in profile, it seems as if the cats do not have a bridge of the nose as such. Because of their huge ears, Siamese kittens often seem doubly funny and look like either aliens or bats. By the way, this makes them related to another independent breed - the Oriental. Pets of the Thai breed can be recognized by their medium, slightly rounded ears, large eyes and convex profile. In general, their appearance is less exotic.

Photo: Siamese cat

The color point color, common to the Thai and Siamese breeds, allows for some discrepancies. Siamese are born completely white and only by the age of six months acquire the coat color characteristic of the breed, while Thai cats are distinguished by the complete absence of undercoat, which makes them less resistant to cold weather. This serves as excellent proof that the Thai breed is still older than the Siamese, because it developed taking into account the climatic conditions of Southeast Asia, while the Siamese were bred artificially somewhat later. At the same time, it is not difficult to notice a paradox: usually cats living in the south (for example, in Turkey or Greece) are slimmer than their northern counterparts, but in this case this rule does not work.

The temperaments of the breeds in question have both similarities and differences. Siamese cats are mostly choleric. They are cunning, capricious and jealous, but at the same time extremely smart, easily master various tricks and become strongly attached to their owner, showing aggression towards anyone who intends to offend him. Siamese cats do not get along easily with other animals and prefer to spend time in the company of humans, enjoying their undivided attention and love. Representatives of the Thai breed are sanguine. They are also intellectually developed and devoted to their owner, but will not mind spending time with other inhabitants of the apartment or house. Thai cats are sociable and need constant human contact. When you are busy, the pet will find entertainment on its own, but the owner may not like it, since active sanguine people, which include the majority of Thais, are often characterized by destructive behavior - not out of anger, but out of boredom.

Thus, Siamese and Thai cats, despite the common history of origin, are significantly different from each other. Both breeds are beautiful in their own way and find loyal admirers all over the world, remaining popular to this day, but which pet you should choose is up to you. Caring for them is quite simple: due to the fact that both Thais and Siamese have short hair, it will be enough to comb them once a week or simply stroke them with a damp hand. These cats do not really need full water treatments, so you should not bathe your pet unless absolutely necessary.

Photo source: www.pixabay.com

Differences in character and temperament

Siamese cats are sociable and friendly pets. They do not like to be alone and prefer to spend most of their time communicating with a person. It is extremely undesirable to leave them alone in an apartment or house. Having a naturally loud and shrill voice, a Siamese cat, left all alone, will cause inconvenience to neighbors with a plaintive and drawn-out meow.

This way he will roar for hours, so those who leave their pet alone for a long time are advised to get a second cat or choose a different breed of cat.

Siamese are playful and active. They prefer active games to relaxing on the couch. The breed is amenable to slight training, but one cannot expect great success from them due to their wayward nature.

In the information space there is a misconception about the aggressiveness of this breed. It is not true. Aggressive behavior in an animal is a consequence of improper upbringing or psychological trauma suffered at an early age.

Thai cats are calm, affectionate and sociable pets. They love to lie quietly on the sofa, next to their owner, preferring peaceful contemplation of the events taking place around them to noisy games. Thais get along with other pets, including dogs, and get along with all family members, unlike Siamese, which choose one owner.

Although Thai cats do not become attached to one person, they also do not tolerate loneliness well. A pet locked in an apartment will become apathetic and depressed, and its character will deteriorate. Therefore, it is better to get 2 Thais at once: then they will calmly wait for the owner from work, playing together and not arranging a cat concert for the neighbors.

Character of the Thai breed

The character traits of each representative of this breed are individual. In general, these are calm and balanced cats. They are distinguished by curiosity and attentiveness to everything that happens around them. Thais are very smart, which has been noted more than once by cat lovers. They become very attached to their owners. It is worth noting the lack of jealousy towards other animals living in the house.

The disadvantages include the inability to leave Thais alone for a long time. According to the observations of breeders, with prolonged loneliness, representatives of this breed may experience mental disorders. Constant emotional contact with a person is very important for them. If your pet is left alone for a long time, then you should take care that he does not get bored.

In terms of entertainment, other animals and special toys are suitable. It is worth remembering that a cat needs a certain space to play. It should be planned so that it is safe both for the pet and for surrounding objects in the house.

Changing their place of residence is not critical for them. The cat quickly adapts to everything new.

It should be noted the attitude of this breed towards small children. You can safely leave kids alone with a cat and not be afraid of being bitten or scratched. Thais play with their claws practically without letting go. If they start to get bored, they will simply leave.

Characteristic features include the unusual talkativeness of cats. The variety of sounds they can make is simply enormous.

Facial expressions are well developed. You can judge his mood by the cat's face.

It is also worth noting their curiosity. It is stronger than fear and always takes over. No matter what the owner does in the house, the Thais will always be there. Exploring everything new and unusual is in their blood.

They are highly trainable. It is not difficult to teach a Thai certain tricks. The cat will gladly support any of your endeavors. Walking on a leash is not a problem for them. They are active and energetic.

Before getting a cat of this breed, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons. Thai cats have always been distinguished by their special affection for their owner. Transferring them from one owner to another is like signing their death warrant.

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Which breed is smarter?

The fact that the intellectual abilities of the Thais is higher than that of the Siamese is undeniable. The Thai cat is famous for its natural cheerfulness, curiosity and good learning ability. It is difficult to outwit her and it is useless to hide the things she likes.

A Thai beauty has the intelligence to open a kitchen cabinet door or drawer. She has an excellent memory - she will remember where you hid your favorite toy, wait until you are distracted, and steal the trophy.

Thais are trainable: in this respect they resemble dogs, they are trained to fetch various things. If the cat understands that it is being played with, it will happily bring the owner a ball or a toy mouse. Like a dog, she understands the commands: “sit”, “lie down” and knows how to give a paw.

Although the Siamese, like the Thais, have high intelligence, their poor learning ability is determined by their independent and freedom-loving nature. One should not expect complete obedience from the Siamese breed; rather, the owner will have to adapt to the character of such a pet.

Attitude towards children

By nature, Thai cats are sociable and socially adapted to living in a family with other animals and small children. They, unlike Siamese, will find an approach to all family members; when with children, they will not let out their claws even in a game of chance, and will patiently endure squeezing and annoying caresses.

In addition, Thais are a “talkative” breed of cats: when their owner addresses them, they make funny sounds in response, maintaining a conversation. Sometimes they “chat” incessantly, so those who like silence in the house are better off getting a more phlegmatic breed.

Unlike Thais, Siamese are individuals who become attached to one owner; they are jealous, and this negative character trait sometimes extends to children. If a Siamese is given less attention than children, he will harbor resentment and will not make contact with younger family members.

Both Siamese and Thai breeds are recommended for those who are able to spend a lot of time with their pets.

Origin

In the distant past, Thai and Siamese cats were considered representatives of the same breed. The differences between the animals, not only externally, but also in character, turned out to be so obvious that after some time they were divided into two different breeds, despite the fact that they had a common ancestor - the traditional Siamese.

The confusion arose from the kingdom of Siam, which we know today as Thailand. It was from here that the first Siamese cat was taken out. Then, during selection, another breed appeared, which also began to be called Siamese. For a long time, the Siamese and Thai cats, which had differences (you can see the photo in this article), belonged to a single breed. Although these animals are separated today, most cat lovers consider all individuals with the characteristic dark mask on the face to be Siamese.

Experts say that the thickness of the coat and its shade most often depends on the climatic conditions of the country in which the variety appeared. Today there are almost forty different species of such cats in the world.