THE TRADITIONAL SIAMESE is a big boned, round faced, rounded bodied, heavy, and extremely healthy cat. This is the original Siamese to come out of Siam (Thailand) with all the loyalty, high intelligence and talkative personality the Siamese breed is famous for. Champion Wankee (above) is a Traditional Siamese.  He was the very first Show Champion Siamese in the late 1800's.

 

THE CLASSIC SIAMESE is a big boned cat, who is SLIGHTLY more elongated all over than the Traditional Siamese.  The Classic Siamese head has a WIDE wedge shape to it, but is not extreme in any way. This is the second original type to be imported from Siam (Thailand).  It too is the original Siamese, and is every bit as healthy as the Traditional Siamese.   Photo reporduced courtesy of Sheelagh Lecocq.

Justin

 THE COAT for both the Traditional Siamese and the Classic Siamese is basically the same. It is short, and somewhat thick, which gives it a bit of spring when touched. It has a wonderful soft feel. 

 

Buggsie

THE EXTREME WEDGE SIAMESE (MODERN) is an extreme cat in every way. This is an extremely elongated, willowy, thin svelte cat with a sharply pointed wedge shaped head topped with huge ears. The long nose and the whole look of the head are exactly shaped like a piece of pie. Every part of the body is long and thin to excess. This includes the neck, body, legs and whip like tail. A general look of emaciation prevails through out. Photo courtesy of Elsie Wilson.

 The Traditional Siamese and the Classic Siamese are the two body types that came out of Siam (Thailand). The Extreme Wedge Siamese is a man made, genetically engineered, derivative of the two original Siamese. Intense inbreeding was used to manufacture the Extreme Wedge Siamese, which was brought into existence to satisfy the political forces at work within the breed. This took time. SLOWLY the breed was changed. The very first Siamese exported out of Siam was the Traditional Siamese. As more cats were exported a second body type became recognized and this is the Classic Siamese. Old books and old photographs prove this. I would say sometime within the 1950’s the Extreme Wedge Siamese began its metamorphosis into what it is today. 

Until I came along in 1987 the only Siamese recognized worldwide was the Extreme Wedge Siamese. After great amounts of research, study and looking at many, many photos, I realized there were three body types for the Siamese breed. At first I thought there was only two, the Traditional Siamese and the Extreme Wedge Siamese. As I gathered more and more information and received testimonials from owners. I came to the conclusion that there was a third body type and that became known as the Classic Siamese. This took me some time-two years in fact-to reach this conclusion. I had to have proof and I found it. 

The next step was to give the Traditional Siamese and Classic Siamese the support and recognition they deserved, after decades of languishing in oblivion almost to extinction. I am the first person to write a Breed Standard for the Traditional Siamese and the Classic Siamese. I hold Federal Copyrights to both of these Breed Standards and many other Breed Standards that I have written. Both Standards were reviewed and accepted by the membership of TCA. Inc. at the time of their creation. Though copyrighted these Breed Standards are available to those who request their use in order to keep the breed uniform world wide. Copyright permission can only be obtained from Diana Fineran, their Author.   As we all know each cat association seems to deem it fit to have different breed standards for each breed. I find this nothing but nonsense. Uniformity is the right way to go for the breed.  To answer the questions why and how, the Siamese breed was changed, I offer this explanation: Some say it was fads. It was really much more than that. Over time and as the Siamese breed became ever more popular, more and more people became involved in breeding them. Shows were invented, bringing competition about. Certain breeders came into power in the resulting cat associations. Human ego, greed and the desire to win blue ribbons no matter what it cost the cat caused the degrading of the Siamese breed. These power hungry egomaniacs re-wrote the Breed Standard, ignored the Breed Standard, became judges to have a direct effect on the breed, and in general, pushed out any others who would not follow their dictates. They promoted the cats in their own catteries to the exemption of any other body type.

Through all of my reading I have not found any good reason as to why the Extreme Wedge Siamese was created. The Traditional Siamese and the Classic Siamese are healthy, genetically sound, long lived cats. The Extreme Wedge has displayed a destroyed immune system and genetic predisposition to illness. Only a very few bloodlines of the Extreme Wedge are healthy. Most live to be 2 to 5 years old and sadly die. Multiple testimonials are in my files about kittens born, but who could not survive one day of life. Others tell me the Extreme Wedge has a hyperactive, nervous personality. How anyone can justify doing this to any breed or to any animal is beyond me! 

Traditional Siamese breeding stock is rare worldwide. There seems to be more Classic Siamese. I love them both and find each to have the wonderful, endearing qualities that draws us to them and grips us for life. 

(This article has also been published in the TCA, Inc. newsletter June 1998, April 1999 Vol 54; The Traditional Cat Association Newsletter, Vol 3 #3 June 1998, Great Britain; All About Cats, Jan 25, 1999 Middx, Great Britain.)