Traditional Siamese vs Sumxu - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

There are now three types of Siamese cats. The Traditional Siamese is said to be the original cat imported from Thailand.

The Classic was the type that was common in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. The original Siamese cat became one of the most popular breeds in Europe and North America in the 19th century.

The Traditional Siamese is also called an applehead Siamese.

The Sumxu is an odd-looking cat with its droopy ears or drop-ears. The truth is, the cat is considered extinct and the last reported Chinese lop-eared cat was way back in 1938.

According to reports, the cat seems to have first made an appearance in 1656 and was always described as a curiosity. It seems as if they were valued as pets but they were also used as food. A Polish man was the first Westerner to describe the Sumxu in his illustrated book Flora Sinensis. The breed was once found in and around Peking and resembled a long-haired Scottish Fold.

The Traditional Siamese cat is medium-sized, lean, and muscular and weighs between 3 and 6kg. The coat is short and he is considered a medium shedder.

The kittens of these cats are born white and the coloring comes in over the next days and weeks. The head of the Traditional Siamese is well proportioned to its body size.

The medium size ears are slightly rounded at the tip and the eyes are large and bright blue in color.  

The coat is short, sleek, and soft and accepted colors are cream with chocolate, brown, lilac, red, tortie or blue points.

Temperament:

The personality of the Traditional Siamese is loud, vocal, and demanding. These cats let you know precisely what they want and it is almost like having a human companion in the house.

They love to give their human owners lots of attention as well. They’re intelligent, curious, playful, and energetic.

The Traditional Siamese cat isn’t really recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) anymore as the breed’s temperament has changed so much.

The Chinese have always eaten this cat and because it has always been found in restrictive conditions the cat lost its keen sense of hearing because it no longer needed to hunt. The cat's ears lost their upright nature and became the hanging ears that are characteristic of the Chinese cat.

The cat had a long silky, shiny coat and was a dirty yellowy type of color. It had a ruff, a thick tail and blue, slanted eyes. It is thought that the size of the Sumxu was somewhat larger than the standard cat so he would have been a medium to large-sized cat, weighing in the region of 4 to 7kg. He was thick-set and muscular.

Temperament

It is thought that this cat wasn’t particularly active and that it seems to only become really animated when offered food, preferring to lie beside a warm fire than to be found outside. We can only assume that it was a fairly quiet cat.

The Traditional Siamese cat is such an amazingly intelligent animal and sometimes they can become quite human.

These are not your traditional cool, independent, sleep all day kind of felines and people liken them to having a dog as a pet. They love to play, and they are so active you could even put a leash on one and take it for a walk.

They are energetic, local, and lively. They are such affectionate cats too and they get on well with children and with other pets.

When you bring a Traditional Siamese cat into your life, it is like you are bringing in a human companion, except that the Traditional Siamese is far more amicable than many humans.

Not much is known of the character of the Sumxu cat as it is now extinct. It doesn't matter what kind of cat you have because every cat needs to be loved and well cared for. If you can't do that, then why get a cat in the first place.

One wonders what kind of pet the Sumxu cat would have made?

These are robust cats and you won’t find many health issues with it.

Avoid obesity. Siamese cats are prone to obesity and these slim cats can’t afford weight gain. Extra weight can put a whole lot of pressure on the cat’s joints and they can also develop other problems such as diabetes. The label of the commercial cat food you give your Traditional Siamese will indicate how much food your cat should get a day based on your cat’s weight.

Diet plays a massive role in the health of a cat, and inferior cat foods can mean you spending more money at the vet because of digestive issues.

If you are in any kind of doubt as to what to feed your cat, rather speak to your vet about what and how much to feed him. Your cat is a carnivore and it is most important to feed your cat foods high in protein.

Take your cat to the vet whenever he is sick and also just for a general check-up. You want to make sure that your Traditional Siamese is free from any health problems as well as parasites.

Also, make sure your cat is always up to date with his vaccinations as there are some cat illnesses such as feline panleukopenia, also known as distemper, that can kill your cat.

It is always a good idea as well to spay or neuter your Siamese to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

If your Traditional Siamese has any health conditions, your vet can help provide you and your pet with a treatment program.

The Sumxu cat should have seen the veterinarian every year for an examination and to make sure his vaccinations and deworming were up to date.

Every cat deserves to be taken to the vet when they are sick or injured.

It is never a good idea to give your cat medication that hasn't been prescribed by the vet. If the Sumxu cat had ingested a poisonous substance, it would have been kind to call the vet. It would have been dangerous for the Chinese to eat such a cat that had ingested poison.

While cats should be spayed and neutered, it is quite possible that the Sumxu cat was eaten before it ever had a chance to become a parent. Neutering and spaying a cat has health benefits for the cat and can prevent cancers.

To care for your Traditional Siamese, you need to feed him a high protein diet. Always read the labels of the cat food you buy to ensure that the proteins included come from animal sources and not from plants.

All cat food should contain taurine.

Provide your active cat with a climbing tree or perch.

Brush your Traditional Siamese cat regularly. He has a short coat so once a week will be enough to keep it shiny and clean.

You can feed your cat and provide all he needs, but nothing will be more important to your cat than showing your love for him by spending lots of time with him and showering him with love.

One would have hoped that the now-extinct Sumxu cat received high-quality cat food. If you don't know what to feed your cat, your veterinarian will be able to advise you on the best diet. The cat food manufacturers always produce foods that take into account the cat's age and activity levels.

Certainly, every cat needs taurine, an essential amino acid, for heart and eye health. The food you choose for your cat should contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals.

You will need to provide fresh, cool water for your cat at all times. Wash and refill your cat’s water bowls regularly.

Take your pet to your vet for any signs of illness such as diarrhea, vomiting or lethargy.

The Sumxu cat would have required a brush every few days as the coat was long and silky. Brushing helps keep your cat's coat free of dust and loose hairs.

The Sumxu would have needed a warm, clean dry place to sleep.

Every cat that goes outdoors should have a collar and ID tag.

Your cat will need a litter box which should be placed in a quiet, accessible location. The Sumxu cat would not have liked feces in his litter box, and litter boxes of all cats should be kept clean.