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Siamese
Siamese (cat), breed of shorthaired cat that originated in Thailand (formerly Siam) more than 200 years before the first specimen was shown in England in 1871. The distinctive Siamese coloring—a light body with darker points (face, ears, tail, lower legs, and paws)—is due to a recessive gene. The formation of pigment varies with the temperature; fur on cooler areas of the body, such as the ears and paws, is darker than the fur on warmer areas such as the belly. Siamese kittens are born nearly white, and the points darken as they get older. Siamese in cool environments tend to be darker than those in warm climates. As the cat ages, its pale body color may darken considerably due to poorer circulation. Originally, the Siamese came in only one color, seal point, in which the points are a deep brownish black. The modern Siamese can be found in a wide variety of pointed colors, including blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream, and tortie points, as well as lynx, or tabby, point variations of these colors.
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