Chartreux vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison

Hailing from France, the Chartreux cat is a rare cat breed but is still recognized by a number of cat registries around the world.

It’s not a new breed of cat, and in fact, the Chartreux is mentioned for the first time in 1558 in a poem and later on in paintings. There are quite a few legends as to the origins of the Chartreux and while some believe that the cats were brought to France by monks others believe that the Chartreux's ancestors were feral mountain cats from Syria.

European breeders kept the breed from extinction, especially after the 2nd world war, and the first Chartreux were brought to the United States in 1971. In 1987 the Cat Fancier’s Asociation advanced the Chartreux breed to championship status.

As the traditional Siamese cats from Siam, now known as Thailand, this ancient breed of cat goes back to 1350AD. It is believed that these Traditional Siamese cats were first exported to the west in the 19th century.

The Applehead is a Siamese cat that looks the way Siamese looked when they were first brought out to the United States in the 19th century. Breeding with other cat breeds is what developed the Applehead Siamese.

The Applehead seal point was also imported to Britain. Breeders have developed other point colors and head shapes by cross-breeding long- and short hairs, but all Siamese are essentially bred from the Applehead seal point.

The Chartreux is a large, strong, stocky, muscular cat that can weigh anything between 4 to 7kg while some can weigh as much as 9kg.

He has short legs when compared to the large body. He is known for his blue-like, silver-gray coat. In fact, the color can be any shade in the region of blue-grey. The coat is short, dense and double-coated and he has gold or copper-colored eyes.

People who have owned these cats say that they can take 3 to 4 years to reach maturity. Some people get mixed up and think this cat is very similar to the British Blue but they are two different breeds altogether.

Temperament:

The Chartreux is a real lap-cat just loving being able to settle down into his human owner's lap. It’s a cat with a 'smiling’ face because of the structure of his muzzle.

He is a very affectionate cat and will follow his people much like a dog. He is very intelligent and quiet and adapts well to a new situation. It's a cat that loves to climb so you will need to invest in a climbing tree for him as well as a scratching pole.

He is a good cat for first-time cat owners as well as being a good friend in homes with well brought up children. He is able to be friendly with other pets in the house.

There is no denying that the very recognizable Siamese cats are one of the most popular cat breeds there are, known also for being very vocal.

The female Applehead weighs between 3 and 5kg and the male might weight a bit more, as much as 6,8kg.

Siamese cats are all born white but as they mature they develop their deeper color points. There are actually 3 types of Siamese cats, with the Traditional Siamese being known as the Apple Head - the original breed of Siamese.

This particular Siamese is a bit bigger and larger-boned than the modern Siamese, with the body being more muscular and heavier. The head of the cat is fairly round- or apple-shaped with the eyes also being somewhat rounder than other types of cats.

The legs are long and the tail long too and the cat has a fairly short, silky coat.

Temperament:

These cats look intelligent and they are, so much so, that it will be important to present them with lots of toys that make them think and require some skills.

They also love receiving attention from their human owners and although they are also vocal, they don’t talk as much as the modern Siamese cats.

They're curious and playful and don’t like being left alone for too long. They also get on well with children and other pets in the home but are inclined to become more attached to one particular person, wanting to follow their favorite human around.

Although this is a large, strong cat, he is actually a gentle feline in nature and he doesn’t like being part of any bickering among his human family, preferring to run away. He also doesn’t like being spoken harshly to when he has done something wrong.

This cat isn’t an extrovert by any means but he isn’t particularly shy either and enjoys spending time with his human family.

He isn’t a demanding cat but is easy-going, just wanting to get on in life and he promises to make you a steady, loyal companion.

Applehead Siamese cats are very friendly and loving pets. They are intelligent and very beautiful too, with their amazing blue eyes.

You will enjoy their friendship as they are prepared to become totally devoted to you, and of course, your playful cat will provide you with lots of laughs and entertainment too. The Applehead Siamese is known to make a splendid pet for you and once you've owned one, you'll think twice before getting another cat breed.

These cats are particularly prone to dental problems. The reason for this is that their incisors are closely set together and small.

Because of the heaviness of this cat, the Chartreux is also prone to a disease known as patellar luxation or kneecap displacement. This problem can eventually lead to lameness. One way to avoid this particular problem is to rather get your kittens from reputable breeders.

These cats are much inclined towards weightiness so you have to be watching his diet carefully, more so because the cat is prone to patellar luxation.

These are a healthy breed of cat and they have always been known to live longer than the modern Siamese cats.

With good care they can live to be up to 20 to 25 years of age. Good nutrition and a loving environment can help to eliminate diseases that the Siamese might have to endure. Some of these can be a blockage in the stomach, skin cancer, feline diabetes, hip dysplasia, and disrupted visual pathway which causes a squint.

Your Chartreux cat’s dense, double coat will require brushing once or twice a week, especially in the cat’s seasonal shedding period.

This cat doesn't take well to changes in his diet, particularly when he finds a type of food that he likes, then he wants to stick to that. You want to feed your cat a top-quality food to encourage good health but you want to avoid overfeeding as obesity in cats comes with lots of problems. A cat is a carnivore and you therefore need to feed your cat a diet rich in protein. Speak to your vet or another cat expert who can advise you on feeding your cat if you are in any kind of doubt. Make sure your kitty kat has a never-ending supply of fresh, cool water.

Always make a point of checking inside your cat's ears as well as inside his mouth for bad teeth. Bad teeth can cause terrible pain and your pet has no way of communicating this to you.

Have your cat neutered or spayed if you don't want your cat to have kittens.

Diet:

These cats have special nutritional needs and you want to be aware that obesity is a growing problem with modern-day cats. Make sure your Applehead has a healthy diet to maintain a healthy weight so that he keeps his lithe, lean looks.

You might want to try a little bit of homemade food to enhance your Siamese cat's commercial food which is a mix of top quality meat-based wet- and dry food. You can speak to your vet about feeding your Applehead Siamese because you want to know which food is best for such a cat.

These days the best cat food manufacturers make sure that their cat foods are made up of tasty ingredients such as real chicken and whole brown rice formulated with the right balance of vitamins and minerals to meet the dietary needs of every cat breed and the season of life they are in.

Grooming:

Because of the Siamese cat’s short hair with no undercoat, the cat requires less brushing than other cats.