Siamese vs Cymric - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

The Siamese cat is one of the most recognized cat breeds there are. The cat hails from Thailand and is the foundation stock for a number of other breeds.

It comes in two distinct variations - traditional and the more modern Siamese.

In the United States, most of the top cat registries only consider the 4 original fur colors as Siamese – chocolate point, seal point, blue point, and lilac point.

The Cymric is a naturally tailless cat although having said that, not every Cymric is completely tailless.

It’s actually a long-haired Manx cat this and thought to date back to 1750. It is one of the oldest cat breeds.

Known also as rumpies or stumpies, the taillessness of the Manx an Cymric started as a mutation among the island's domestic cat population. Long-haired kittens were born to Manx cats on the Isle of Man, but in the 1960s, similar kittens were born in Canada and then specifically bred.

The Cymric became popular, even though it took years for the Cymric to be recognized as a breed of its own by cat associations. The International Cat Association (TICA) gave the cat breed status in 1979.

The Siamese cat is a medium-sized cat. Today’s Siamese cat is recognized by the triangular-shaped head, the slender, muscular body, the blue almond-shaped eyes, the largish ears, and the cream point colored coat.

The face of the Siamese also has a mask of the same point color. Weighing at between 3 – 5kg, the Siamese has a long neck and slender tail.

All Siamese kittens are cream or white at birth, but they develop visible points in the first few months of life. The coat is short and glossy. By the time the kitten is 4 weeks old, the points are clearly distinguishable.

Temperament:

Siamese are affectionate, curious, playful, intelligent cats and are known for their vocal, social natures.

With the Siamese cat, you may see him bonding strongly with one particular person in the family.

They’re active cats and are also one of these cat breeds that are described as being more dog-like. Some of them become so attached to their human owners that they can become depressed or suffer from separation anxiety when left alone for long periods of time.

Because of the cat’s intelligence, he can be easily trained to respond to simple commands.

The Cymric is a medium-sized cat that can weight between 4 and 6kg and he is round in shape and stockily built. The back legs are also longer than the front legs.

He has a short, arched back with a broad rump. The unusual but beautiful Cymric has long hair and a thick double coat that is glossy and vibrant. Some cymrics have tufts of hair on their ears and toes.

All colors of the coat are available and it can be solid or patterned - white, blue, red, black, cream, tortoiseshell etc.

The eyes are large and can be green, copper, or yellow. The ears are widely spaced with rounded tips.

Temperament:

The Cymric is described as a sweet-natured, placid cat that doesn’t get ruffled over much, though he does get excited about his human family.

He tends to be reserved around strangers. He is a loving cat and simply loves being around his human family. He is a strong cat and intelligent too and he is quite capable of watching you and then learning how to open doors and get into cupboards.

He is sociable and talkative too and enjoys ‘talking’ to you, especially when he has attached himself to one member of the family. He thrives on his human family's company and is a cat that provides lots of entertainment for you. Even though he becomes attached to one family member, he gets on well with children and pets in the home.

The Siamese cat is such a popular breed and with good reason. It makes a splendid companion for single people, families, couples, and older people. It gets on well with children and other pets too.

However, it is an energetic cat and won’t relish lying around day after day. He will want you to play with him and exercise him too, providing him with a stimulating environment.

These are such affectionate cats too, that it will be too sad if he lands up in a home where people don’t provide him with love and care. In exchange for that, you couldn’t ask for a better companion and friend.

Yes, the Cymric has quite a few health issues but many people choose to overlook these as they love the personality of the lovable cat breed.

It’s such an intelligent cat too but best of all it offers total love and companionship.

It is certainly an unusual domesticated cat breed that appeals to many different people and it is guaranteed that you’ll also find him one hang of a feline pet.

With good care, your Siamese cat can live to be between 12 and 20 years of age. It is a slim cat, so you want to keep him that way as becoming overweight can put a whole lot of pressure on the cat’s joints and bring on other health issues.

There are always some common cat diseases to watch out for and one of these is mammary tumors. They also battle with gastrointestinal problems and lung infections.

They are actually prone to respiratory problems, but this is more seen in younger cats. Upper respiratory infection with the Siamese cat will usually last about a week or it can go on longer.

Your cat with have a nasal or eye discharge, will be drooling as well as have ulcers around the nose and mouth with aches and pains aa well as lethargy.

Make sure that your Siamese cat is up to date with his vaccinations.

If you look after your Cymric well, he can live to a good age of up to 15 years. The lack of a tail is a genetic defect and the cat’s deformed spine can cause health problems including arthritis.

In fact, the cat’s lack of a tail causes some serious diseases. The defective gene responsible for the loss of the tail affects the spine and can actually cause spinal problems. In fact, when completely tailless Manx cats mate, the defects can be so severe that some of the offspring are born dead.

People often speak of these health issues of the cat as the Manx Syndrome.

Some cats have a narrowing of the anal passage and this can lead to bowel blockages. Make sure to get your Cymric vaccinated against deadly cat illnesses and ensure veterinary checks for parasite control and illness.

Good diet is one of the most important ways to care for your Siamese cat. Your cat is a carnivore and you therefore need to ensure he gets an appropriate diet otherwise you’re going to be spending more time at the vet with a sick cat than you’d like to.

Always check with your vet if you have any uncertainties about feeding your Siamese kitten. Kittens will eat different food to an adult, and even in adulthood, there is commercial cat food manufactured for adult cats, pregnant felines, lactating cats, energetic cats, senior cats and sick cats.

Where possible, you will need to try and provide your cat with some fresh, raw meat too.

Never leave your cat without a bowl of fresh, cool water night and day.

The coat of the Siamese cat is thick, soft, and silky and he will require a brush every week to keep it like that.

They are agile, athletic cats, loving to jump up onto perches so it will be a good idea to provide a climbing tree or some other equipment where the cat can leap up onto.

Provide your cat with a litter box and make sure that the cat’s feces are removed every single day.

Diet:

As a kitten, provide your Cymric with food appropriate to its age. Once your cat turns one, you can start feeding him adult cat food. There are a whole lot of excellent commercially manufactured cat foods – dry and canned foo – but always choose a high-quality one where the first ingredients listed are always meat. This is because the cat is a carnivore. Make sure the food has taurine, which is an essential amino acid for cats.

This cat has a thick coat and he will need a brush at least twice a week, especially as he is a high shedding cat. While you brush your cat, look out for any problems such as red areas, hair loss, sores or irritated skin. Take note of any unusual lumps.

Some people take their Cymric to the vet once a year for a routine medical check-up. They have the nails clipped and the ears and teeth checked. It is also a great way to get your queries answered on the nutritional and health needs of your pet.

You will need to have your Cymric’s nutrition checked to keep him in tip-top condition. The Cymric cat has a good appetite and his build can allow him to put on weight easily. Obesity can put pressure on the spine and lead to all kinds of joint problems.

Provide your cat with a litter box and keep it immaculately clean.