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.

8 Final Thoughts What Are Siamese Cats?īefore we take a closer look at Siamese Calico mixes, it is worth taking the time to ensure that we understand the complex beings that are Siamese kitties.

Tabby siamese mix kitten