Did you know that Siamese kitten color only develops after
a kitten is born?
The Siamese kitten color you see when you come to pick out a kitten from a breeder is a far cry from the way this breed begins life. In fact, all Siamese kittens are born white.
All Siamese are born with a gene that produces partial albinism. However, a genetic mutation of this gene restricts coloring to the cat's extremities, including the facial mask, legs and tail. This mutation affects the enzymes that produce pigment in the fur, but the amount of pigment these enzymes produce is greatly affected by temperature.
Temperatures of 98 degrees Fahrenheit or greater cause the enzymes to produce almost no discernible coloring in the hair shafts on the cat's main body. However, the cat's extremities are generally cooler than the body, so the enzymes do produce coloring in these areas.
Combine this heat sensitive enzymatic action with other modifying genes, and the results are the various color point patterns seen in Siamese cats.
So, why are Siamese kittens born white? The temperature inside the womb exceeds 98 degrees Fahrenheit, so color production is retarded. The enzymes don't become fully operational until the kittens are a bit older. This means that while experienced breeders can make an educated guess at the color outcome of a breeding, they won't be able to tell for sure which color a kitten will be until approximately a week after birth.
Blue Eyes
Blue eyes are also the norm for Siamese kittens. While many breeds are initially born with blue eyes that darken later on, the partial albinism gene found in the Siamese causes the eyes to remain blue. The color you see is actually the result of light being reflected back from the retina.
About Siamese Kitten Color
Siamese kittens come in four standard colors according to the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) breed standard. The recognized colors are: Seal Point, Blue Point, Chocolate Point, and Lilac Point. The Flame Point, Lynx Point, and Tortie points are not accepted Traditional Siamese colors according to the CFA, though they are accepted Siamese colors in some cat organizations. Red, Lynx and Tortie points are also sometimes known as Color Point Shorthairs.
Seal Point
Seal point Siamese are the original color type first exported from Siam. The color points are a rich dark brown that appears almost black. The brown fades into cream on the rest of the body. Seal Points tend to darken with age.
Chocolate Point
Chocolate points take their name from the milk chocolate coloring found on the legs, tail, face and ears. This coloration tends to develop more slowly than others.
Blue Point
Blue point Siamese carry slate-blue points on a light bluish-white body. This gives them a somewhat silvery appearance. The nose and foot pads are also colored blue-gray.
Lilac Point
The Lilac point Siamese is a very delicate, yet interesting color combination. The points are pinkish-gray, laid against a white body color. The nose and foot pads are also lavender pink. Lilacs tend to stay very light, even as they age.
Flame or Red Point
Flame points are the result of hybridizing the red gene with the Siamese color point gene to produce the traditional Siamese pattern with points that vary from cream to red.
As far as classifications for showing are concerned, flames are classed as solid points.
Lynx Point
Lynx points were achieved by hybridizing tabby genetics with the Siamese to produce cats with cream colored bodies and tabby-marked points, including the tabby's signature "M" on the forehead.
Lynx points come in these point colors:
- Seal-lynx point
- Chocolate-lynx point
- Blue-lynx point
- Lilac-lynx point
- Red-lynx point
- Cream-lynx point
Tortie
The tortie is basically a Siamese with parti-colored points flecked with shades of red and cream. Because this pattern is a sex-linked mutation, torties, or cream points as they are also known, are always females.
Just as the lynx points, torties follow the four basic Siamese color divisions.
- Seal-tortie point
- Chocolate-tortie point
- Blue-cream point
- Lilac-cream point