Siamese Cat Breed Information

The Siamese is the loudest, most demanding, most trainable cat most NZ households will ever consider. It is colourpoint, blue-eyed, slender to the point of looking lanky, and bonded to its people in a way closer to a small dog than a typical cat. NZCF and Catz Inc both recognise the modern wedge-headed type, with the older apple-headed cats now registered separately as Thai.

Siamese live a long time, often 15 to 20 years, and the breed comes in seal, chocolate, blue, lilac and a growing range of newer point colours.

Personality and behaviour

A Siamese is in every conversation in the house. They follow their humans from room to room, talk constantly, and dislike being on the wrong side of any closed door. The voice is loud and distinctive, often described as crying or yelling. The breed is highly people-bonded, openly affectionate, and intolerant of being alone for a working day.

They are the most trainable cat on this site. Clicker work, harness walking, fetch, recall and even simple agility sit comfortably within the breed’s mental stimulation needs. The flip side is that an under-stimulated Siamese is destructive and noisy, opening drawers, shredding paper, and yelling at 3am.

The surprise for new owners is how dog-like the Siamese turns out to be. Greeting visitors at the door, riding on shoulders, and following the household around the house are all normal Siamese behaviours.

Care and grooming

Coat care is among the lightest of any pedigree cat. A weekly wipe with a damp chamois or rubber grooming mitt removes the small amount of shed and is enough for show condition. Bathing is rarely needed.

Where Siamese are demanding is in mental routine. Plan on 30 to 45 minutes of structured play and training daily, plus puzzle feeders, vertical space, and rotation of toys. A bored Siamese finds its own entertainment, usually loudly.

Dental care matters more than for most breeds. The slender Siamese jaw produces crowded teeth and a higher rate of dental disease. Brush teeth weekly, schedule annual dental checks, and budget for occasional cleans under anaesthetic.

Indoor vs outdoor in New Zealand

Indoor or catio. The Siamese is a moderate prey-drive hunter, which adds to the standard NZ case for keeping cats contained. The bigger arguments here are theft and traffic. The breed is friendly to strangers, conspicuous, valuable, and not street-aware. SPCA NZ guidance to keep cats contained applies cleanly to Siamese.

The breed handles indoor life better than most active cats because it is so people-bonded. A Siamese will follow you around an apartment all day rather than seeking outdoor stimulation. Pair this with a catio or window perch and the breed thrives.

Living arrangements

Two-cat households work better than single-cat households for Siamese, especially if the household is empty during a working day. Common pairings are two Siamese siblings, a Siamese with a Burmese or Tonkinese, or a Siamese with another active social breed. Avoid pairing with a cat that wants to be left alone (a senior British Shorthair, for instance), as the Siamese will harass.

Vertical space matters. Cat trees, shelving, window perches and a clear running circuit through the house keep Siamese happy. The breed is athletic and climbs.

Where to find a Siamese in New Zealand

The NZCF and Catz Inc breeder directories list NZ-registered Siamese breeders (NZCF Siamese breeders, Catz Inc Siamese). Expect a three to six month waitlist for kittens, with prices typically NZD 1,200 to 2,800. Ask whether the breeder works with traditional or modern type, what point colours their lines produce, and whether parents have been screened for breed-typical heart and kidney conditions.

Adult Siamese do appear at SPCA NZ and at all-breed cat rescues, often surrendered when their vocal habits or attention needs prove too much for the original household. Adoption costs NZD 150 to 350 and the cat is desexed, vaccinated and microchipped.

Insurance and lifetime cost

The Siamese claim profile is dominated by dental disease, asthma and bronchial disease, occasional cancers in middle to late life, and breed-line amyloidosis. Reputable breeders screen parents for known heritable conditions. Ask insurers about cover for hereditary conditions and ask whether asthma is covered as a chronic condition or only acute episodes. Lifetime cost is mid range for a pedigree cat, with food and parasite control being unremarkable, but dental and chronic condition costs adding up over the breed’s long lifespan. Plan on $250 to $450 a month all-in.