# New Siamese Kitten **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 18, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632 "2014-02-18T17:11:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/21 "2014-02-20T08:07:16Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Funny but in all my years in Thailand, I can count the number of times I’ve seen a Siamese cat here on one hand, and I think I could still do it if you lopped off four of my fingers. Early on I asked about Siamese cats and was told yes, they’re here, but damned if you can ever see them. Supposedly they’re expensive and so kept indoors, but even then I think I’ve seen only one that I can recall. I don’t know where the colorpoint (which is heat-sensitive pigmentation - the cooler parts turn color; as they age and the heart slows down, more area cools) genes came from, but I give absolutely no credence to the idea that Siamese are from Siam (Thailand), or that Himalayans are from the mountains. And what about the Sphinx? Where did that one come from 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/22 "2014-02-20T08:20:49Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > And what about the Sphinx? Where did that one come from 😃 It’s a riddle. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/23 "2014-02-21T00:52:36Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > … I give absolutely no credence to the idea that Siamese are from Siam (Thailand) … [But they are](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siamese_cat#History): **“The pointed cat known in the West as ‘Siamese’, recognized for its distinctive markings, is one of several breeds of cats from Siam described and illustrated in manuscripts called ‘Tamra Maew’ (Cat Poems), estimated to have been written from the 14th to the 18th century. In 1878, U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes received the first documented Siamese to reach the United States, a cat named ‘Siam’ sent by the American Consul in Bangkok. In 1884, the British Consul-General in Bangkok, Edward Blencowe Gould (1847–1916), brought a breeding pair of the cats, Pho and Mia, back to Britain as a gift for his sister, Lilian Jane Gould (who, married in 1895 as Lilian Jane Veley, went on to co-found the Siamese Cat Club in 1901).”** ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/24 "2014-02-21T01:37:16Z")
I’ll be damned - there IS at least one documented case of Truth in Advertising! Astounding. ---
**Author:** ![rootedwomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3be4f8/32.png) [@rootedwomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rootedwomon)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/25 "2014-02-21T23:53:54Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > I don’t know where the colorpoint (which is heat-sensitive pigmentation - the cooler parts turn color; as they age and the heart slows down, more area cools) genes came from, but I give absolutely no credence to the idea that Siamese are from Siam (Thailand), or that Himalayans are from the mountains. And what about the Sphinx? Where did that one come from 😃 Well, one of the things that has been most consistent in our research on Siamese cats is that they came from Siam (now Thailand) originally. Apparently, they were the cats that guarded temples (although how one would have managed this feat and what it looked like pragmatically, I cannot begin to picture). The unsubstantiated rumor is that there were 4 cats on each pillar of the king’s 4 poster bed who would attack intruders (:dubious:). At any rate, I’ve found dates about when they were introduced to England, and by whom, so I think that part is pretty much true–not that it matters because “baby girl” is as cute as a button and that’s all that counts! hee heee!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/26 "2014-02-22T00:46:26Z")
> [@rootedwomon](#): > > Apparently, they were the cats that guarded temples (although how one would have managed this feat and what it looked like pragmatically, I cannot begin to picture). That’s a new one on me. > [@rootedwomon](#): > > The unsubstantiated rumor is that there were 4 cats on each pillar of the king’s 4 poster bed who would attack intruders (:dubious:). That’s _really_ a new one on me. Although I admit to not having paid much attention to local cat lore. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/27 "2014-02-22T21:08:16Z")
I’ve heard “cats guarding temple” on either Siamese of Burmese - I’m still working out just how a 10 pound cat would be an effective guard. And perched on a bedpost? Maybe while the king was looking… ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/28 "2014-02-23T00:51:46Z")
Siamese cats? How does being conjoined at the hip with your twin qualify you to guard a temple? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/29 "2014-02-23T00:56:27Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Siamese cats? How does being conjoined at the hip with your twin qualify you to guard a temple? It works pretty well for the Cerberus triplets. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/30 "2014-02-23T01:39:39Z")
> [@rootedwomon](#): > > LOL, yeah, we thought about that. But my wife wants a dog so at the end of the month, we’re expecting a lab puppy! That ought to be enough playmates, I think! 😃 I’m not much of a dog person, but isn’t this a bad idea if you’re worried about not being here? My understanding is that, while people do it, it’s not really appropriate to get a dog if the house is going to regularly be empty. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/31 "2014-02-23T02:35:05Z")
wtf no pics for a _couple of weeks_???😕 :mad: that’s a long time to wait 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/32 "2014-02-23T05:27:33Z")
Be sure to kitten proof and hide all chewable power cords. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/33 "2014-02-23T05:52:41Z")
At 8 weeks, few power cords are in danger. Wouldn’t hurt to spray them with anti-cat sprays. Much more effective if cat learns “that hurts” than “displeases humans”. They can’t be trusted when your back is turned. Cat is not allowed on food prep surfaces. WHILE I WAS FILLING HER BOWL - 4’ AWAY! she hops onto the table and starts watching the street. She’s getting blatant about it. Rubber bands, however should not even exist in a kitten’s world - they will bounce around when swatted and be quite chewy. Lengths of string under a foot also qualify for banishment. ---
**Author:** ![MrsBear99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@MrsBear99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrsBear99)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/34 "2014-02-24T02:24:52Z")
I am in rescue and am generally not in favor of any breeding, let alone backyard breeding, but I am not here to pick fights. 😉 Just a note regarding litter…clumping is great for older kittens and cats, but I would use regular clay or newspaper pellet litter until 5-6 months or so. Smaller kittens can inhale/ingest the small granules of clumping litter so it’s best to avoid that possibility. You should have two litter boxes, as cats often like to pee in one and poop in the other. Scoop at least daily. Agree on the rubber bands and string, and watch ribbon on gifts and dental floss in waste baskets. Have fun with your new kitten! I’m sure it’s adorable! ---
**Author:** ![kbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kbear)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/35 "2014-02-24T10:19:07Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > The best plaything for a small kitten is another kitten. When I was growing up, everyone in my family, and I mean everyone, had siamese cats. I own a bengal now but I still miss my smart, talkative, cross-eyed siamese. Over the span of about 25-30 years I have to say that the nicest cats in the family were the ones who had a buddy. The few who were only kitties were not very nice cats. I don’t know if that is a siamese thing or not…just my experience. ---
**Author:** ![rootedwomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3be4f8/32.png) [@rootedwomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rootedwomon)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/36 "2014-02-26T05:22:57Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > I’m not much of a dog person, but isn’t this a bad idea if you’re worried about not being here? My understanding is that, while people do it, it’s not really appropriate to get a dog if the house is going to regularly be empty. I don’t think it’ll be a problem, really. The puppy will be coming towards the end of April. My Partner is the dog person so I’m going to let her ‘ride point’ on this one. Also, she drives a school bus, so the house will pretty much only be empty of humans for a couple of hours in the a.m. and a couple/three hours in the afternoon. I’ve got several friends who have dogs (sometimes two) and they all work as well, and leave the pups at home. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rootedwomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3be4f8/32.png) [@rootedwomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rootedwomon)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/37 "2014-02-26T05:27:24Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > wtf no pics for a _couple of weeks_???😕 > > :mad: > > that’s a long time to wait > > 😛 Will send pics tomorrow (if I can figure out this system). We went out to see our 'lil cutie over the weekend and now she has a name: Drea (DRAY-uh). There’s supposed to be an accent over the A. Anyhow, we pick her up this coming Saturday (Mar. 1). Can’t wait! ---
**Author:** ![rootedwomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3be4f8/32.png) [@rootedwomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rootedwomon)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/38 "2014-02-26T05:29:54Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Be sure to kitten proof and hide all chewable power cords. Workin’ on it! We also plan to put orange peels in the places we don’t want her to be. Will probably take Friday off to work on the house a bit more…Any other kitten planning advice? ---
**Author:** ![rootedwomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3be4f8/32.png) [@rootedwomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rootedwomon)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/39 "2014-02-26T05:43:32Z")
> [@MrsBear99](#): > > I am in rescue and am generally not in favor of any breeding, let alone backyard breeding, but I am not here to pick fights. 😉 > > Just a note regarding litter…clumping is great for older kittens and cats, but I would use regular clay or newspaper pellet litter until 5-6 months or so. Smaller kittens can inhale/ingest the small granules of clumping litter so it’s best to avoid that possibility. You should have two litter boxes, as cats often like to pee in one and poop in the other. Scoop at least daily. Agree on the rubber bands and string, and watch ribbon on gifts and dental floss in waste baskets. > > Have fun with your new kitten! I’m sure it’s adorable! Good points about the rubber bands, litter, etc. Interesting about the litter though: The nurse at the local vet told me she and her mom actually FOUND a kitten 'round Xmas–someone had left it in a mailbox can you believe it? Anyway, she said she used the newspaper pellets and that it was a huge mistake–a godawful mess and she changed to clumping. Drea is coming from a home that’s already got her on Tidy Cat though. Dental floss!:smack: Duh! Good tip! ---
**Author:** ![rootedwomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3be4f8/32.png) [@rootedwomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rootedwomon)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632/40 "2014-02-27T04:12:14Z")
I’ve been reading that something called “Bitter Apple Spray” is another taste cats don’t like. Any ideas as to where to buy something like that? Anyone else have experiences w/ that? RW [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-siamese-kitten/681632.md?page=3)