Flame point Siamese cats have a cream base color and orange tabby points on their nose, ears, feet and tail.
They are social, affectionate, curious, and very vocal.
Not all cat breed registries recognise flame point Siamese cats. Those that don’t recognise them often accept the red Colorpoint Shorthair instead, which is very similar.
What You Need To Know About Flame Point Siamese Cats
These cats are so distinctive that people are often curious when they see one for the first time.
Questions our readers often have about flame point Siameses include:
- What is a flame point Siamese?
- Are flame point Siamese cats rare?
- Are flame point Siamese cats friendly?
- How much does a flame point Siamese kitten cost?
As well as answering all of those questions in this article, we’ve also got important information about:
- How big they get
- Choosing a flamepoint Siamese if you have allergies
- Health problems and life expectancy
- Feeding and grooming
- And finding healthy kittens
Use those links to jump to topics you’re interested in. Or join us from the start to find out everything you need to know!
What is a Flame Point Siamese?
These cats are also known as red point or red lynx point Siamese.
They were created by crossing the better-known traditional Siamese cat colors with orange tabby cats from other short coated breeds.
Those kittens were then bred back to traditional Siamese cats. So, new lineages arose with many Siamese qualities, and orange tabby points.
But those orange tabby cats in the family tree mean that the exact status of flamepoint Siamese cats isn’t universally agreed upon.
And some people in the cat community don’t accept that they are Siamese cats at all.
Does The Flame Point Siamese Cat Actually Exist?
In the United States the main cat breed registry – the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) – only recognises Siamese cats with seal, blue, chocolate, or lilac points.
In the words of the Siamese Breed Council:
Instead of recognizing flame point Siamese cats, the CFA accepts another breed onto their registry – the Colorpoint Shorthair.
According to the breed standard, the Colorpoint Shorthair is “identical to the Siamese, but with its own distinct and unique colors”.
And those colors include red or apricot, which are more commonly known as flame points.
Registries that do Accept It
The International Cat Association, which also operates in the U.S., does accept flame point cats onto their Siamese register.
As do several other national registries. Including the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy in the UK.
So, the breed status of your flame point cat depends upon where you live. And, if you live in America, which breed registry you’re affiliated to.
Are Flame Point Siamese Cats Rare?
Depending where you live, flame point Siamese cats are somewhere between “somewhat rare” and “nonexistent due to registration rules”.
Where they are accepted as a possible Siamese color, they are still somewhat rare, because the traditional colors remain more popular and sought after.
But, besides flame point pedigree cats, there are lots of kittens still being born from accidental (or deliberate) matings between cats of different breeds, mixed breeds, or unknown ancestry.
In the UK for example, over 92% of all cats are thought to be mixed breed. Less than 1% are purebred Siamese.
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So it’s quite possibly more likely that you’ll meet a mixed breed cat with flame point coloring than a purebred cat!
What Do Flame Point Siamese Cats Look Like?
Cats described as flame point Siamese have a typically Siamese silhouette, and a short cream coat with red points covering their muzzle, ears, legs and tail.
The exact hue of their points can vary from golden apricot to deep copper. There are usually visible stripes of darker color within it.
You can see a beautiful example of a cat which matches that description in this picture:
Due to a quirk of how red pigment is inherited by cats, around three quarters of flamepoint Siamese cats are male.
How Big Do Flame Point Siamese Get?
Siamese cats are long, but slender. They typically weigh less than 8lbs.
As you would expect, Colorpoint Shorthairs are very similar in shape and size. But the weight range of the typical male extends a bit higher. Up to around 12lbs.
Mixed breed flame point cats can be much more variable in size. Their adult weight will depend upon factors like their sex, and their ancestry.
Flame Point Siamese Personality
Siamese cats are famously chatty, curious, and sociable.
They live for interaction and engagement, and follow their owners round making a lot of noise.
If they’re allowed to roam outside, they might also try visiting the homes of your neighbors in search of attention too!
Their owners often report that they don’t cope well with being left alone for long periods. If left alone, they can resort to destructive behaviors around the house, or hair pulling as a displacement activity.
Flame point Siamese cats are likely to share these traits. Colorpoint Shorthairs in particular are often described as being very like Siamese.
Flamep Point Siamese Health Issues
Whether your flame point Siamese-looking cat can be officially registered as a Siamese or not, they likely have a large amount of Siamese heritage.
And this is likely to be reflected in their overall health.
Siamese cats are prone to heart disease, respiratory disease, problems with their eyesight, and kidney failure.
Colorpoint cats are prone to most of the same kinds of inherited diseases as the Siamese cats, since they have a lot of Siamese ancestry.
But there’s evidence that those diseases actually materialise less often, since they benefit from a wider genepool due to outcrossing.
Looking After A Flame Point Siamese Cat
Since they have short coats, these cats need very little grooming.
But, it’s still a good idea to get them used to being handled, touched all over, and having their ears, eyes and mouth examined from a young age.
This will make veterinary check ups less stressful for them in future.
Taking a close looks at their physical condition at home every week means you’ll spot the early symptoms of illness quicker too.
Like most cats, flame point Siamese – whatever their ancestry – love playing with toys, climbing, and interacting with their family.
And of course, they benefit from a high quality, nutritionally complete diet.
Are Flame Point Siameses Hypoallergenic?
For some people, their dream cat is one which doesn’t aggravate their allergies.
Sadly, no cat breed is truly hypoallergenic, since all feline produce allergens in their saliva.
Their saliva coats their fur when they wash themselves, and the allergens become airborne as the saliva dries.
So, flame point Siamese cats are not hypoallergenic.
But some people with allergies might react less severely to them because their fur is short and fine. So, it may require less licking to keep clean.
Are Flame Point Siameses Good Pets?
You don’t have to look far online to find lots of happy cat owners who are besotted by these felines.
These affectionate, social cats are a good match for homes where one or two people have a lot of time to interact with them. For example, with retired couples.
Or families, where everyone between them has a lot of time to play games and dispense cuddles.
Purebred Siamese cats are prone to a number of genetic diseases. But red Colorpoint Cats are less so, and mixed breed cats with flame points are even less so again.
So, they have lots of potential to be wonderful pets in the right home.
Finding And Raising Flame Point Siamese Kittens
If you’d like to find out more about bringing home your own flamepoint Siamese, you can find contact details for breeders in your area from the appropriate breed registry.
In the U.S. that is TICA for Siamese cats accepted with flame points.
Or, you can use the CFA website to look for Colorpoint Shorthair kittens with red points.
Lots of flame point cat owners also report finding their kitties at a rescue shelter.
These cats may not be purebred. So if you find them as kittens, the finer nuances of their grown up personality are going to be harder to predict than for purebred kittens.
But if you adopt them as adults, the shelter staff should be able to give you a good idea of what they’re like.
How Much Does A Flame Point Siamese Kitten Cost?
Purebred flame point kittens – either Siamese or Colorpoint Shorthair – can be expensive.
This is because their coloring is uncommon.
The exact cost will depend upon where you are, whether anyone else is breeding flame point cats locally, whether the kittens’ parents hold any show titles, etc.
But, don’t let a breeder convince you that the only way to get a flamepoint cat is by paying a lot of money.
As we’ve seen, mixed breed kittens and rescue cats can also have beautiful flame points. And since they all have some Siamese ancestry, they are likely to have more than just their pattern in common with Siamese cats.
So, it’s possible to spend a lot of money on a flame point Siamese. But, it’s also possible to get a cat with lots of the same qualities for a more modest price.
Choosing A Flamepoint Siamese
If you decide that this cat is your perfect pet, our guide to buying a kitten will help you take the next steps.
You might also find our toilet training and kitten feeding guides useful.
Do you already have a flame point Siamese cat?
Tell us about them in the comments below! What do you think other people interested in these cats should know?
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References And Resources
- The International Cat Association. Siamese Breed Group Standard. 2009.
- Cat Fanciers’ Association. Colorpoint Shorthair Standard. 2012.
- Cat Fanciers’ Association. Siamese Standard. 2015.
- Governing Council of the Cat Fancy. Siamese Standard. 2019.
- Murray. Proportion of pet cats registered with a veterinary practice and factors influencing registration in the UK. The Veterinary Journal. 2012.
- Bell & Kavanagh. Veterinary Medical Guide to Dog and Cat Breeds. CRC Press. 2012.
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