The Siamese cat is a “natural” breed meaning that it wasn’t developed by breeding other breeds together to create it. It was found in nature. However, several other breeds of cat have been derived from this natural breed.
- The Balinese is derived from the Siamese. Essentially this cat is a long haired version of the Siamese. As such, the CFA recognizes only the four main point colors, but other Cat Associations recognize a broader variety of points.
- The Tonkinese is a cross between the Burmese and the Siamese. Originally the Burmese breed was typically cross bred with the Siamese. However, the Burmese tends to be a solid color cat with a heavier body type than the Wedgie Siamese. Tonkinese cats have points on their body, though their base body color tends to be darker than that of the Siamese. These cats are also much more sedentary than the average Siamese.
- The Colorpoint Shorthair. This breed is essentially a Siamese cat with the points being outside the range of “recognized” colors on the points.
- The Himalayan. This breed was derived originally from a cross between a Persian and a Siamese. It typically has the cobby body and full fur coat of a Persian but the point colors of a Siamese. Once the point colors were set, the Himalayan was bred back with the Persian until today’s breed standard was acheived.
- The Oriental Shorthair is any Siamese style cat without the points. It can be a solid color cat but with the long lithe body that the Siamese is known for.
- The Ocicat was orginally a cross between the Siamese and the Abyssinian.
- Javenese is a longhaired version of the Oriental Shorthair.
- The Snowshoe is a cross between the Siamese and a bi-color American Shorthair. These cats usually have a heavier body and white feet.