What are some genetic traits of traditional Siamese cats?
Genetics The “pointing” gene creates the distinct color pattern that distinguishes the Siamese breed. This gene is recessive: two pointed parents will always produce pointed kittens. The Siamese kitten is pure white at birth – the gene that produces the “points” on the face, paws, and tail is heat sensitive, and the point color gradually develops on the cooler parts of the body. In some breeding lines, and in warmer climates, the point color may not fully develop until the cat is over a year old. Older cats have a darker body color than young cats and kittens, though there is still a marked contrast between the body color and the point color. The Seal Point Siamese is genetically a black cat, but the pointing gene causes the color to manifest almost exclusively on the points. As the cat matures, the creamy body color will usually give way to a light shade of the point color, particularly with seal and blue points. (For this reason, seal and blue point Siamese have relatively short care
