Siamese vs Don Sphynx - 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.

Of Rusian origin, the Don Sphynx is an interesting looking, hairless breed. The cat came about in 1987 when a hairless cat was seen in Rostov-on-Don, a Russian city.

Cat breeder Elena Kovaleva rescued the kitten and it was at about 4 months of age that the kitten began to lose its hair. Later it was mated with a local tomcat and produced kittens which became the founding stock of the Donskoy breed.

The cat breed was recognized by the World Cat Federation in 1997 as well as the International Cat Association later on in 2005.

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 Don Sphynx is a medium-sized cat known for its large ears and its long, webbed toes.

Their weight can be anything from 3 to 6 kg It’s a hairless cat but has different skin types that come in different shades – Flock, Rubber Bald, Velour and Brush.

The cat has this dominant hair loss gene that causes the coat they have at birth to thin and fall out. In fact, on close inspection, you’ll find that the cat isn’t entirely hairless but has a very fine layer of fuzz. The skin can be oily and the cat requires bathing fairly regularly.

These particular cats are also more susceptible to the cold and to sunburn. The legs of this cat are long and slender and they have a bit of a bow-legged appearance to them, but this is because of the barrel chest. The tail is long and hard.

Temperament:

These rare cats make excellent pets because they have all the characteristics needed that make them companionable. They are loving, companionable and playful. These are also intelligent, exploring cats which means you’ll need to provide them with games and toys that can keep them occupied.

They’re good with children and other pets and are even good for first-time cat owners. Breeders of these cats will tell you that they are even-tempered and amicable. They are gentle towards children and other pets.

Most of the time the cat has a calm demeanor but is highly sociable. As an entertainer too – he will do anything to get a laugh out of his human family.

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.

The sphynx cat is an energetic feline that absolutely loves the attention of its human owners. In fact, he will even be willing to show off to get some kind of reaction from his humans.

This is certainly a cat that has a sense of humor. They’re friendly, loving cats who like to even follow you around the house to be where you are. They are loving and loyal, curious, intelligent and active.

It’s a hardy breed and you won’t have many health issues to contend with. We know that they are prone to skin conditions and periodontal disease so watch out for these with this amazing, but unusual looking cat.

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.

Hairless cats are prone to teeth and gum issues, and every Don Sphynx owner needs to regularly check their cat’s teeth as bad teeth can cause a lot of problems with health as well as discomfort with the teeth.

This cat breed is also fairly prone to skin problems. You will need to watch him for rashes and fungal infections. Remember, that this strange-looking cat also needs vaccinations and de-worming as well as regular veterinary health checks.

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.

In spite of this being a hairless cat, it still requires frequent grooming, and yet you have to be careful that you don’t allow the cat to be bathed too often either.

Have your cat spayed or neutered to avoid kittens that you don’t want. This is beneficial for the cat’s health.

This is a unique cat and when it comes to food, if you can afford it, go for the very best food there is. Good food contributes to good health and this cat is a carnivore and requires food high in meat protein.

Of course, it requires other nutrients and the best commercially manufactured cat foods will have a list of ingredients in them that are important to your cat’s health.

Of course, with diet, there are other important considerations to think about and one of these is the right quantity of food to maintain the cat’s ideal weight. Too much weight gain can put pressure on the cat’s joints and contribute to health problems.