Is a Siamese Cat the Right Pet for You?

With its bright blue eyes and gorgeous fur, the Siamese Cat is favored by many. The beauty of this cat alone can make you consider having one for a pet. If you don't know the breed well, there are some things you should consider before acquiring one.

Siamese are quirky and particular. They like or don't like things a certain way and will let you know it. Siamese also need space to run around and get rid of their energy. They are usually a more active cat, especially in the early years of their lives. They often do better if there is at least one other cat in the house for them to play with. They enjoy chasing each other and rough housing. If a Siamese does not have enough space, enough activity, and someone to play with, they can develop behavior problems and generally not be very nice.

I've personally seen how the wrong living arrangement caused bad behavior in a Siamese named Slushy. Slushy lived in a very small apartment with no other pets. Some days he was home alone for many hours. He would chew cords, shoes and other things around the house. When he wanted to run and chase someone, he would run down the hall after the children and attack their legs and bite them. He would find all sorts of mischief and even broke or destroyed things.

Slushy, didn't like to be pet often and would bite you if you wanted to pet him when he didn't feel like being touched. He would also throw "fits" if you locked him out of a room he wanted to be in. When locked out of the living room one evening, he proceeded to go into the bedroom and knock things off the dresser. You also could not touch his stomach or brush him. If you did, he would bite you very hard. Most of this, as found out later, were behavior problems because he wasn't happy.

Slushy also had "normal" Siamese quirks. One of these had to do with the computer area. He claimed the top of the computer monitor as "his". He would lay up like it was his throne. If you made him get down, he would get right back up there. Then when you would try to type at the computer, he would come lay on the desk wanting to be pet and push the keyboard off demanding you pay attention to him and stop whatever you were trying to do. This obviously was just a quirk and not bad behavior.

The realization came one day that Slushy wasn't happy. He needed more than he was getting. He needed more space, more activity, and other pets to live with. Being unable to move somewhere bigger and have more pets, the decision was made to find Slushy a home that would meet his needs. The search began and a suitable home was found. A family with two other cats (one a Siamese), a dog and three children were particularly looking for another Siamese cat for a playmate for their own Siamese. They fell in love with Slushy and adopted him.

The first week was rough. Slushy was having a hard time with the transition and displayed bad behavior, but he soon settled in and started making friends. He and the other Siamese became best buddies and were the perfect playmates for each other. Their other cat was older and didn't rough-house like the Siamese cats did, but you could find all three of them curled up on the couch together enjoying an afternoon nap. As for the dog, Slushy could live with or without the dog, but he didn't mind her.

Slushy still had his little Siamese quirks, but the bad behavior started disappearing now that he had friends to be with and a playmate to run around and rough-house with. He did get into some chocolate ice cream and leave little chocolate footprints in the kitchen, but who doesn't like chocolate! Slushy was now a happy, healthy Siamese.

If you are thinking about a Siamese cat as a pet, take these things into consideration when making the decision. Do you have enough room for a Siamese to run around in? Do you have any playmates for a Siamese? Will their little quirks bother you or will you find them amusing? If you can say you have enough room, playmates for a Siamese and the patience for their little quirks, then you may truly enjoy this active breed.