Siamese have fascinated folks around the world since they were first officially exported from Thailand (then known as Siam) in the late 1800s.

Their sleek lines, striking color contrast, finely chiseled aristocratic heads, deep blue almond eyes, and short silky coats make them living art.

Combine this beauty with acute intelligence, an inquisitive personality, and a loving nature, and you have the essence of the Siamese cat.

Seal points, still the best-known variety, were the first to arrive. With their seal brown, almost black, extremities and their pale fawn bodies, they were sensational.

The Siamese is a study in length. From the start, the breed standard has called for a long, wedge-shaped head and elongated body lines.

The muscular, tubular body is supported by long legs and graced by a long neck and tail. The short, close-lying coat accentuates the long lines perfectly.

The outstanding feature of the breed is their deep-blue almond eyes (an eye's width apart) which are set at a slant. If you have been able to resist all the other attributes of this breed, the eyes will captivate you: they radiate intelligence and emotion.

This ancient breed, perhaps the oldest of all our cats, is able to communicate like no other -- the Siamese voice is legendary. They speak both with their voice and with their body.

Siamese are the quintessential "people" cat, for they love to be in your lap, on your bed, at your table -- and in your heart!