The next few years saw more cats imported by a small number of fanciers, and these felines then went on to form the base of the Siamese breeding pool for Britain – modern Siamese cats in the UK today are all descended from around eleven of these ancestors. In 1886, another breeding pair were brought to the UK by Eva Forestier Walker, where their unique pointed coat patterns and unusual shapes captured the attention of all who saw them. The distinctive appearance and personalities made the cats start attractions. While historians have raised some doubt over the validity of the tale, it is nonetheless a testament to the impact and value that Siamese cats were making on humans even back in the 18th and 19th centuries – and their popularity shows no sign of waning.ġ878 saw then-American President Rutherford Hayes take ownership of the very first official Siamese cat in the United States, and this was in the form of a gift, an adorable Siamese named Siam, from the American Consul in Bangkok.įollowing this, the British Consul General purchased a breeding pair in 1884, named Pho and Mia, as a present for his sister – the pair went on to have three adorable kittens, and the family made their show debut at the Crystal Palace show in London in 1885. Upon reading this, Hsinbyushin gave the order to his men that all cats were to be considered treasures, with a value equal to gold, and that any that were found should be rounded up and returned to Burma, where they would be revered as treasures. He discovered the poem for Thai cats, which claimed that these felines were to be considered as rare as gold, and that wealth would be guaranteed to anyone who was able to find a Thai cat. Upon returning to Burma, these soldiers took members of the Siamese royal family captive and stole all royal treasures that remained.Īccording to Thai legend, the Tamra Maew found its way into the hands of Hsinbyushin, the King of Burma. The conclusion of the Burmese-Siamese war saw the sacking of the capital city, Ayutthaya, in 1767, and almost everything was destroyed by the Burmese army. The relevance of the manuscript, and the role that it may have played in the popularity of the Siamese breed, can be seen in its history. The manuscript, which is now found in libraries and archived across the world, featured depictions of Siamese cats, as well as a number of other so-called “heritage” cats of Thailand, with the Konja cat and Korat cat also making appearances. The first known depiction of a Siamese cat was documented in the Tamra Maew – which can be translated as “The Cat-Book Poems” – a collection of ancient manuscripts which have been traced to the Ayutthaya Kingdom, which reigned from 1351 to 1767 AD. Since the 19th century, the Siamese has developed a strong reputation as one of the most popular breeds of the cat across Europe and North America, and this is largely a result of their striking appearance. Siamese cats have a distinctive history they are amongst the first breeds of Asian cats to be distinctly recognized and are known to be one of several varieties of feline that is native to Thailand – a region that was formerly known as Siam, hence the “Siamese” moniker.
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