Breed History

The Siamese cat originated in South East Asia; they are said to be descended from temple cats in Siam – now Thailand.  In Thailand they are called Wichien-maat meaning Moon Diamond.  One of the best known legends is that the kink that used to be common in the Siamese tail was used to keep safe the rings of the royal princesses of Siam.

The first pair of Siamese cats was brought to Britain in 1884 by the British Consul-General in Bangkok – Edward Blencowe Gould.  He gave the two cats Pho and Mia as a present to his sister Lilian Jane Veley.  By the end of the nineteenth centaury the breed was well established in Britain.  The first standard of points was written in Britain in 1892.

During the 1950’s and 60’s, the breed was developed more towards the modern, svelte type, and the various colour points were gradually introduced and accepted.

Although it is certain that self coloured kittens were produced in these early Siamese breeding programmes, it was not until the 1970’s that the Orientals began to be recognised in their own right, and accepted at shows.  The Havana was the starting point, sometimes known as the Chestnut Brown Foreign, and through various crossings with Siamese, the dilute form – the Foreign Lilac.  The first Oriental Shorthair to be awarded Grand Champion status was in 1979.