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The 'old-style' or traditional Siamese — a pointed cat with a rounder head and apple-cheeked face, preserving the look of the breed as it arrived from Siam before modern show breeding made it ultra-slender.
- Origin
- Thailand
- Category
- shorthair
- Lifespan
- 12–16 yrs
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 3.5–5.5 kg
- Coat
- Short, fine and close-lying
- Colours
- Pointed (seal, blue, chocolate, lilac and more)
😺 Temperament
🏡 Best suited to
📊 Personality ratings
📜 History & origin
The Thai is a preservation breed that keeps alive the original conformation of the Wichienmaat, the pointed cats of Siam (now Thailand) described in centuries-old manuscripts and first brought to the West in the late 19th century. As Western breeders selectively bred the Siamese toward an ever more extreme, wedge-headed and elongated form through the 20th century, fanciers who preferred the original moderate, round-headed type began breeding to preserve it. That traditional cat was given its own standard and the name 'Thai' to distinguish it from the modern show Siamese; it is recognised by the WCF, TICA and other registries.
🧼 Care & grooming
The short, fine coat is wonderfully low-maintenance — an occasional brush or a stroke with a damp hand keeps it gleaming. What the Thai demands is interaction: this is an intensely social, talkative cat that wants to be involved in everything its people do. Plenty of play, climbing space and company stave off the boredom and loneliness that this people-oriented breed feels keenly.
🩺 Health notes
The Thai is generally hardy and long-lived, benefiting from a broader, more moderate physical type than the extreme modern Siamese. As with the wider Siamese family, it can be predisposed to certain conditions including some dental issues and, in some lines, amyloidosis or respiratory sensitivity, so buying from a conscientious breeder and keeping up routine veterinary care are wise.
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