The Seal point siamese CAT - the royal cat of siam

The beauty of the Seal Point Siamese cat is breathtaking. A cat of great style and elegance with its strong, noble head, large widely flared ears, beautifully short and sleek coat, and wonderful contrast between the rich warm seal brown points and warm creamy fawn body. A siamese should never be small and lightweight – it should be graceful and beautifully balanced, but very firm and muscular, always feeling heavier than it looks.

Until the 1930’s nearly all siamese were seal points. The few blues and chocolates which appeared in litters were considered poor seals, and not desirable. They were certainly not bred from, and there were no classes at shows for them.

Although there are many legends surrounding the siamese cat, the actual origin is unknown. The most popular legend appears to be that they were cats of the Royal Palaces and Temples of Siam. The very best ones would have had a kinked tail on which the princesses would hang their rings for safekeeping whilst bathing, and a squint in their eyes so that they could better guard these valuables. The deep blue eyes were considered a gift from the Gods.

It is not known exactly when they were first brought to Britain but they started to appear in cat shows in the 1870’s. The first Champion was a seal point called Wankee born in 1895. Other early cats were Kew Prince of Siam, Tiam O’Shian who was imported in 1885, and his descendants Prince Vudighi born in 1906 (who can be traced back to Wankee),and his son Bobolinko born in 1916. Bigobois and Litabois were litter brothers sired by Bobolinko in 1918. A seal point grandson of Litabois was Champion Bonzo born in 1924. Bonzo sired 67 of the 207 entries at the Siamese Cat Club Show in 1927, including the male champion winner Simzo.

Mrs Greta Hindley brought a young female seal point with her when she returned from Malaya in 1921, her name was Puteh (meaning white) and she had a very pale coat. This was the beginning of the famous Prestwick line. Her first litter was sired by Ch Mon Dek, but later Ch Simzo was bought from Miss Dixon. Ch Prestwick Perak, Ch Prestwick Mata Biru & Ch Prestwick Penglima-Pertama were some of the cats which followed. In the days when litters of kittens were entered at shows for awards Prestwick Pit-a-Pat won with her litter of seal points at the Siamese Cat Club Show in 1931. Ch Simzo was the grandsire of Ch Angus Silky born in 1932. His son Oriental Silky Boy is behind many famous seal point lines of the 1930’s and 1940’s.

During the second world war little breeding took place and there were no shows. After the war interest was rejuvenated and type improved. During the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s many beautiful seal points were bred. There have been some outstanding stud cats; boys who had the ability to pass on their stunning good looks to their offspring. Of course the boys cannot do it all on their own, and we have also seen queens who have had the same ability, but there is a limit to how many kittens a queen will bear, which means that the effect is less noticeable.

Over the years type has gradually evolved into what we now see on the show bench. It is impossible to name every cat, and apologies are extended to any not mentioned, but some of the famous seal point stud cats from the past who have had a great influence on today’s siamese are Ch Sabukia Sirroco  and his son Gr Ch Kaloke Pharoah; Ch Killdown Vanguard and his son Ch Beaumaris Unknown Ajax; Ch Longacres Jeremy, his son Gr Ch Killdown Beauregard, his son Gr Ch Penyrallt Picasso, his son Gr Ch Amberseal Electo, his son Gr Ch Okesha Star Galaxy and his son Ch Fistra Knight Rider; another of Beauregard’s sons Gr Ch Kaloke Kuna who himself is behind many of Mrs Mary Key’s Kaloke seal points today; Ch Lovinamist Cavalier (grandson of Beauregard), his sons Gr Ch Lovinamist Talisman and Gr Ch Lovinamist Limelight; Gr Ch Frenchelle Coeur Delion, his son Gr Ch Baranduin Wayfarer and his son Gr Ch Dalibigny Deta; Gr Ch Seadog Pacal and his sons Gr Ch Caliganza Cascade and Gr Ch Reynards Tarka; Tarka’s son Ch Arasian Fearless; Gr Ch Sislinki Topal, his sons Gr Ch Sislinki Topsun and Ch Sislinki Telstar, and his son Ch Penenden Tobias.

More recently, Gr Ch Fistra Stringfellow and Gr Ch Fistra Marco Polo; UK Gr Ch Shermese Stringalong; Ch Mianja John John; Ch Émigré Renegade;Rantipole Visigoth (not titled but the sire of numerous stunning offspring); Gr Ch Swanky Sonofagun, his son Gr Ch Swanky Simpson and his son Imperial Gr Ch Shermese Almost Armani; UK Gr Ch Moonswift Affaire Ducoeur (great grandson of Renegade and great, great grandson of John John), and his sons Gr Ch Foxtwist Limited Edition and Gr Ch Foxtwist Free Spirit; Limited Edition’s son UK Imperial Gr Ch Mylynn Montoya; Gr Ch Mylynn Master of Disguise; Gr Ch Swanky Sorcerers Apprentice, his son Gr Ch Sinfonia Monte Verdi, his son Ch Drestothril Dapper Harry and his son Ch Drestothril Dreadnought. Gr Ch Heatherbec Al Fayed and his son Imperial Gr Ch Richdale Lone Ranger.

Sadly the number of seal points being bred has dwindled in recent years, but a few of the above mentioned cats, and some of their descendants are still at stud and siring beautiful kittens.

The above information is taken from the archives of the SPSCC.