Have you heard of the Wedge Head Siamese cat? How is this variation different from other Siamese cats?
In this brief article, we are going to talk about the different varieties of Siamese cats.
One of the most easily recognizable breeds of cat, the Siamese is a distinctive and popular cat that now has several sub-varieties.
Hailing from the Kingdom of Siam, now known as Thailand, the Siamese are intelligent, loving, and vivacious cats.
Brought to the United States as early as the late 1800’s, the Siamese cat has been around for quite a while.
We’ve already covered the basics about the Siamese breed, talking about their personality, health, and appearance.
One point we didn’t touch on was the variations of the Siamese that have appeared as the breed has changed over the years.
Variations of the Siamese Cat
Over the years, the Siamese cat has undergone a rather drastic change in appearance.
This is due to breeding practices and goals set by breeders to meet or exceed show-cat preferences and to eliminate undesirable traits.
These days, there are approximately three “sub-varieties” or types of Siamese cat.
These varieties are known as the traditional “Apple Head,” the classic “Old Style,” and the modern “Wedge Head.”
The Traditional Apple-Head Siamese
This variety of Siamese cat is thought to most resemble the original Siamese cats as they were when imported from Thailand.
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Traditional Siamese are moderately sized cats, with males reaching as large as 18 pounds.
They have a round “apple-shaped” head, with rounder eyes, and a stockier, more muscular body compared to the other varieties.
The Classic Old-Style Siamese
This variety of Siamese cat is called “the Classic” by a lot of breeders.
The classic Siamese is a mix of the traditional and the modern, as it is the transitional cat between the two.
A classic Siamese is sleeker than the traditional, with more slanted eyes and a longer, thinner body.
This variety of cat was most popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It is what most people refer to when they think of a Siamese cat.
The Modern Wedge-Head Siamese
This variety of the Siamese is the most modern, and the most extreme, version of the Siamese cat.
As you might be able to guess, it is nicknamed the “Wedge Head Siamese” due to the extreme wedge shape of the cat’s head.
This variety is known for a lean, muscular body, long delicate legs, long thin tail, wide set ears, sharp face, long muzzle, and extremely slanted blue eyes.
The Wedge Head Siamese is considered to be the current standard for show cats.
Health Concerns for the Modern Wedge Head Siamese Cat
Unfortunately, along with the exaggerated features, the Wedge Head Siamese is proving to be more prone to the respiratory and pulmonary problems already associated with the Siamese breed.
Breeders are finding that along with a more delicate constitution, the Wedge Head Siamese is prone to dental issues.
It is suspected that this is due to the narrower face shape leaving less room for the cat’s teeth to comfortably grow in.
While Wedge Head Siamese cats can be as hearty and long-lived as any Siamese cat, there have been problems with life expectancy being as low as 5-6 years.
Modern breeders are working to identify the origins and causes of these health issues.
Much like the crossed eyes and kinked tail, it is suspected that many of these issues are genetic.
Summary
Because the modern Wedge Head Siamese cat is still so new, there has not yet been any scientific research by the medical community into any health risks.
We currently can only speculate and share the observations by breeders and cat owners on the emerging health concerns and issues with the modern Wedge Head Siamese cat.
As the Siamese cat breed continues to develop, it is possible we will continue to see more changes in appearance.
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Sources and Further Reading
- Thompson, Emily, “Traditional, Classic, & Modern Siamese” 2010-2017
- Bird, Cris. “The Types of Siamese“
- “Breed Portrait of the Siamese Cat“, Cat Fanciers Federation.
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Pictures of the Applehead and Old Style Siamese would have been a useful addition to your article for readers that are not as familiar with the breed. Siamese cats have such a huge variation from breeder to breeder, and each type of Siamese cat has characteristics that make it unique and impact what kind of companion it will be. I have one of each of the three types of Siamese cats you describe, and I know that a lot of Siamese lovers really prefer one type over another because of those traits. For me, their “Siameseyness” makes them amazing friends regardless of their body type. >^..^<
Don’t know what computer system you’re using but I see examples of all three cat face styles shown in the article.
I have two Siamese boys and I knew they were different types but I hadn’t been able to find any information like this so I could identify them.
All I knew is neither is a ‘wedge head’ type and personally I find those quiet unappealing. It does not surprise me that they have health problems, like many animals that are bred to look differently than the would in nature. Shame because they are such sweet cats.
Anyway I’m delighted to find out that I have both a ‘classic’ and ‘traditional’.
My younger boy is stocky and has much more rounded features. The other is long and skinny and his muzzle does come to a point, but not in the exaggerated way of the show cats. Both have the big blue eyes and dark markings.
I wonder is there any type specific variations in markings that someone could look out for, or are they always unique to each cat?
My traditional cat has stripes running up his head I wondered if that is more typical of the apple head type.
Thanks for the informative article!