Siamese or not?!

[Chickenandgritz]

Hello!

I have always had rescue moggies before. We have been fortunate enough to have lovely friendly ones!!

However, my family have traditionally had Siamese (not immediate) and Im thinking maybe I’ll follow my former family members but looking online it says they shouldn’t go outside. I wouldn’t like an indoor cat - just watching mine sunbathing and climbing the tree for a good scratch is great. What’s your view? Also, would you get two. Sadly my relatives are long gone.

Also any other recommended breeds alongside Siamese. I liked the more traditional Siamese with the fuller face, and anyone have any recommendations for breeders.

I also don’t know if I’d feel guilty getting a kitten when so many cats need homes.

They are pretty needy and loud as cats go. Lots of chat. That might be fine for you, or might drive you up the wall. Regarding going outside, I think that very much depends on your local roads but I agree, no cat should have to be in indoor cat.

Thank you. Yes I imagine they are always around, whereas ours will have sat with you some days and others find they are quite happy on their own and wouldn’t even known had a cat!!!

We’ve never had kittens at our house. It’s a residential 30 mph street. My only worry is it often used as a cut through for school pick ups so guess we’d have to let in and out, not around those times when still young.

Think carefully about the noise factor!

We've got a bengal, which I think were originally bred from Siamese and OMG he's loud. He's getting louder as he gets older too. So much chat. Likes to let you know about EVERYTHING and when he wants something he wants it now.

He's also brilliant - a very 'dog-like' cat - really sociable, will 'play' football with my son, very affectionate. But he does my head in sometimes with the constant SHOUTING at me. It's like having another child going 'mum, mum, MUUUUUUM'

He goes outside. We had to keep him in once during a lengthy recovery period and he was going absolutely nuts by the end of it. He is definitely not an indoor cat.

Maybe have a look at Burmese as well? DBro & DSiL have had those - similar in looks to a Siamese but less extreme looking, not quite as vocal, can be very affectionate.

However one of the reasons why breeds such as Siamese & Burmese are recommended to be indoor only cats is because they are so very steal-able! They look gorgeous and unusual, and tend to be so friendly that any stranger can go up to them, just pick them up & walk off with them.

If possible, a compromise could be cat proofing your back garden (assuming you have one) so they can go out but safely.

I have had Burmese cats for many years, they have the look of old fashioned Siamese, particularly the chocolate Burmese who have 'pointing'. They are slightly less loud than Siamese but still very high maintenance.

They need a lot of attention and they also have a talent for getting into trouble if you let them out. Not just cars, there are plenty of other ways they can get into trouble - locked in people's sheds, attacked by dogs, fights with other cats. The drama was all a bit much for me, and they now have an enclosed garden.

(I just saw the post above mine - no one has ever walked off with one of ours, I used to worry about it but it was the one thing I need not have worried about!)

Oh - and get two. One will drive you barmy, at least two will keep each other entertained.

We have had Siamese, Burmese and currently have an Ocicat (originally bred by crossing Siamese and Abyssinians), and they have all been indoor/outdoor cats with free access to a catflap. If you like a 'chunkier' Siamese-type build, then Ocicats and Burmese are very attractive (with lots of character... more than the purebred Siameses we have had anyway). My Egyptian Mau (the grey cat) is my favourite, though he is not a 'Siamese type'.

I looked it up and was pleasantly surprised to find that the domestic cat side of the Bengal's ancestry included Egyptian Maus.

We had a Tonkinese neighbour who moved into our house. She was just lovely. Not sure about loud but definitely sociable - I’m sure that’s why she moved into our house, her mum was out of the house working full-time and we had a nice little girl to play with! Also very intelligent. She was fine outside and that was on a very busy borderline urban/suburban street - although I do have a theory that the busier the road, the safer the cat is, because they will stay away from the busy traffic and also the traffic doesn’t move fast enough to hit them.

Would have loved to get one myself but then when it came time to get my own kitty, I decided not to spend that much money, and it ended up being a rescue moggy!

Very vocal. A friend had three and my god it was too much! I have Maine Coons and the male can be quite chatty but not too much.

We had a beautiful Abyssinian

Indoor cats is ok as long as it suits the cat. All of my Persians are indoor, with access to an enclosed garden. But they are just not streetwise enough to go out into the neighbourhood. They’d also risk getting stolen.

I’ve got Burmese cats now, still extremely affectionate and sociable and love human attention, but definitely less needy and far less vocal than Siamese! I’d definitely consider Burmese. I’ll never have another breed of cat for the rest of my life now as they’re just so loving and wonderful.

mine are indoor cats for their own safety - they are so trusting (so risk of being stolen would be high) and would have literally zero road sense. I play with them all the time, and we have loads of toys and climbing structures and sleeping places in the house. There’s absolutely no way I’d ever let them outside, and I’d be totally distraught if they escaped by accident.

edited to say I had a previous Burmese who once escaped, and got onto someone’s boat (I lived by the river), and she ended up many miles away!! It was incredibly stressful!

Bengals are actually half Mau and half wildcat. Maus are also incredibly noisy and vocal!

I grew up with Siamese cats that roamed the fields where we lived. They were brilliant hunters, but also extremely sociable and friendly and always ready for a chat. We had about 4 and they were brilliant cats and great company, plus quite hardy. I would say they are fine to go outside (we had one who was a great ratter and the local farmer used to come and borrow him whenever he found a rats nest). the same cat also used to stow away in visitors cars. They are very clever and can figure out how to open windows and doors (not good in a cattery!) I’d love to have another one but I currently have birmans (also adorable and not as vocal).

I have two siamese cats and adore them. One is chatty and the other fairly quiet. They love to be sociable and so best suited to a home where a person is home quite a bit and enjoys their company. I found having two is good, as they do keep each other company.

They didn't appreciate being put in a cattery when we went on holiday and were VERY vocal about it. So much so that they've had a pet sitter come and feed them if we've been on holiday since.

There are Siamese rescue centres who could match you to one. Mine are wonderful, characterful, loving and affectionate cats. Quite opinionated too! If you are looking for an independent, low maintenance pet, I wouldn't recommend a Siamese. If you want a devoted companion, they are ideal!

I would also recommend outdoor access and cat proofing. Siamese can be stolen due to their sociability. Mine love to go outside, also, if they see you outside, they will want to join you!

Sorry - I assumed I had no messages!
so much to think about here but I’ll def look at the Burmese point and Tonkinese.
@SilverMau why is the Egyptian Mau your favourite?
thanks everyone

We have a Siamese , she has catio access , lovely affectionate cats . We’ve had ragdolls and moggies previously but wanted a more affectionate, people loving cat . We’ve did start off with brother and sister but lost her brother after emergency surgery last year , I’d definitely recommend getting 2 .

I’ve had a half Siamese cat. Lovely but very Siamese. The loud meowing, my god it drove me mad sometimes. Yes very nosy got locked in a shed or garage for a week once. Did hunt but not as brilliant as people say they are. Very clever but also naughty, biting into poisonous flowers and being rushed to the vets and fighting.

Family friends had a chocolate point Burmese called Jasper, loud but very affectionate.

DB’s school friend’s mum bred Siamese and had about 5 or 6 different points in the top floor flat of a house with no garden.

Friends have 2 Tonkinese brother and sister. Brother almost died a year ago and they’ve now aged 5 found their voices and personalities. Rarely go outside, male likes to play with small soft balls, you throw them for him. They steal hot toast from the toaster, butter and ate her DH’s pasta meal. People cats. The wife does wonder why she got them (her daughter found them over lockdown) but the male in particular, is very sweet. Has amazing blue green eyes. Sadly I think any shouting ie “stop with that toast” has minimal to no effect on them at all.

We have a rescue moggy but he is so loud. Likes to go out into the garden early in the morning and shout to come in especially when in the sideway so it echos. Loves to give a running commentary when he comes in getting louder the older he gets. Mind you he does have blue eyes so there could be some oriental inhim.

Oh blimey! I love a Siamese, my mums next door neighbour had one. I'd phone my mum & she'd be in the garden having a side convo "oh Pippi is telling me about that ginger brute - you're not happy are you Pips?" 😄

I've had Siamese ( Old fashioned type) and Burmese. All have been outdoor cats. Seal point Siamese are definitely my favourite and the chattier the better. :)

Having said that, would like to try a Tonkinese in the future.

I have only known the one, so it is a very small sample size!

He's a quiet cat, but very determined. It's hard to explain as I think that essentially we are just a good match. As much as I can call him my cat, equally, you could argue that actually, I am his human. If he needs a door opening, for example, he will come and find me, pat me on the leg and then lead me to the specific door. I have horses, and until he went deaf in his old age, he would help me check and feed them in all weathers. He loves to ride on the wheelbarrow when it is full of hay.

He's sat purring next to me right now. 🐈

Tonkinese are lovely. My friends anyway. But very naughty and seem to require interaction from their humans re play rather than go outside in their garden. They’re real homebodies.

Loud and blue eyes. Definitely got some oriental in him. The running commentary too. Drove me up the wall. But bless mine, was just telling me about his day.