Siamese Cat: Breed Guide for UK Owners
The Siamese is a loud, sociable, clever cat that wants to be involved in everything you do and does badly left alone all day. The short coat needs little grooming, but the breed suits people who are home a lot, or a household with two cats.
Prices and figures checked September 2026.
| Origin | Siam (Thailand); first brought to Britain in 1884 |
| Weight | Males about 4.5 to 7kg, females about 3.5 to 5.5kg (GCCF) |
| Life expectancy | About 12 years at birth in UK vet records; many reach their late teens |
| Temperament | Outgoing, vocal, attention-seeking |
| Grooming | A weekly brush |
| Kitten price | Most UK adverts £300 to £700, September 2026 |
| Registered by | GCCF (32 colours and patterns), TICA, FIFe |
Are Siamese cats vocal?
Yes, very: the GCCF describes the Siamese as outgoing and "extremely noisy", and most talk to their owners all day with a loud, low, raspy yowl.
A Siamese will tell you it is hungry, bored, lonely or has an opinion, and early mornings are a favourite time. A bored or lonely Siamese gets louder, so play and company help, but you cannot train the voice out. If you live in a flat with thin walls, or want a quiet cat, choose another breed. Meeting an adult Siamese before you buy is the best way to find out whether you can live with the noise.
Are Siamese cats friendly?
Yes, Siamese are extremely people-focused: they follow you around, greet you at the door and often attach most strongly to one person in the house.
Many learn to fetch, come when called and walk on a harness, and they pick up clicker training quickly. They do not cope well with being left: the GCCF says they do not tolerate long periods alone. Left all day without company, a Siamese can become anxious and destructive, over-groom or stop using the litter tray.
Do Siamese cats get along with other cats?
Usually, yes, and a second cat is the best fix for a Siamese that is alone during the day; the GCCF says keeping two Siamese together helps.
Another Siamese or an equally sociable breed makes the easiest companion. A shy, solitary cat may find a Siamese's attention too much. Introduce any new cat slowly over a week or two. Most Siamese also get on with a calm dog.
Do Siamese cats change colour?
Yes. Siamese kittens are born pale and their points darken with age, because the pigment gene only produces colour in the cooler parts of the body.
That is why the ears, face, legs and tail are darker. A Siamese kept somewhere cold can darken over the body, and fur that regrows after a clip, or after a winter, can come back darker. The same gene colours Ragdolls and Birmans. The GCCF recognises 32 colours and point patterns, including seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream, plus tabby and tortie points.
Do Siamese cats shed?
Only lightly: the short, fine coat lies close to the body and needs no more than a weekly brush with a rubber mitt or soft brush.
The thin coat is also why a Siamese seeks out radiators, laps and duvets in winter. A warm bed away from draughts helps. See the cat bed guide for heated and self-warming options.
Are Siamese cats hypoallergenic?
No. Siamese produce the Fel d 1 allergen like other cats; lighter shedding may mean less hair around, but it does not stop allergic reactions.
How long do Siamese cats live?
A Siamese born in the UK has a life expectancy of about 12 years, according to a 2024 Royal Veterinary College study, and many live into their late teens.
The VetCompass figure is an average that includes cats that died young; the same study recorded Siamese living past 21. An earlier VetCompass study put the breed's median lifespan at about 14 years.
Siamese health problems
The GCCF lists the conditions linked to the breed: mediastinal lymphoma and intestinal tumours, chronic coughing and asthma, a tendency to vomit, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hip dysplasia, systemic amyloidosis and some rare inherited storage diseases.
- PRA causes gradual blindness. The Animal Welfare Committee names Siamese among the breeds affected, and a DNA test is available, so ask whether the parents were tested.
- Asthma shows as coughing or wheezing episodes. It is managed with medication rather than cured.
- Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system. See a vet about weight loss, vomiting or breathing changes.
Get lifetime pet insurance while the cat is young, because asthma needs lifelong treatment and cancer care is expensive (is cat insurance worth it?). The common cat health problems guide covers symptoms to watch for.
What a Siamese costs in the UK
Most Siamese kittens advertised on Pets4Homes on 28 September 2026 were priced between £300 and £700. Registered kittens from health-tested parents and rarer colours cost more. Adult Siamese are also rehomed through breed club welfare schemes and general rescues, and an adult's temperament and volume are already known; see adopting a rescue cat.
See the kitten with its mother at the breeder's home, check the registration, and expect kittens to stay until 12 to 13 weeks. In England, kittens must be bought directly from the breeder or a rescue (gov.uk guidance). An active indoor Siamese also needs a tall cat tree, puzzle feeders and daily play.