Facts of the Oriental and Siamese cat breed
The Siamese cat is a fascinating breed with a rich history that stretches back centuries. Originally from Thailand,which was known as Siam until 1939. The Siamese cat was considered a sacred animal and was revered as the guard of Buddhist temples. Only nobles and wealthy people were able to afford to have such a breed in their homes, and taking Siamese cats out of the country was considered a crime.It wasn't until the late 1880s, when the King of Siam presented purebred Siamese kittens to the Queen of England, that the breed started to gain popularity outside of Thailand. The Queen of England was particularly fond of the breed and even used Siamese cats to guard her possessions.
In England, Siamese cats were admired for their unique appearance but were not recognized as a distinct breed. It wasn't until American breeders got their hands on these cats in the 1950s that the breed started to take off. These American breeders were able to refine the Siamese cat's distinctive body shape and develop new coat colors, which ultimately led to the creation of the Oriental cat breed. It was only in 1977 that they received official recognition and a standard in the United States. After the recognition of the Siamese and breeding systems, the Oriental cat was officially recognized as an breed. The selection work of the breeders was able to create solid colors. The name "foreign shorthair" was given to the first solid color Siamese cats, which are now known as Orientals.