Can a Black Cat Be Part Siamese?

I met a Siamese cat breeder once who tried to sell me a black cat and told me that the cat was Siamese. I did not buy the cat because I was looking for a seal point siamese cat. It got me to wondering how that could even happen. Can a black cat be part siamese?

The technical answer is that yes, a black cat can be part Siamese.

A black cat can be part Siamese when the mother or father is a full bred Siamese and mates with a black cat instead of another pure bred.

But then once in a while an anomaly can happen when two pure bred Siamese can have a black kitten.

Although this is very rare, it can happen because of the recessive gene the Siamese has. The warring Himalayan gene prevents the darker pigmentation from coming through, so this leaves the kitten with the traditional Siamese point coat. But if that darker pigmentation does come through, the kitten will be black.

Can a Siamese cat be different colors?

A Seal Point Siamese looks like a cat wearing a slowly appearing tuxedo that does not completely appear.  Siamese kittens most often are born with a white or cream coat. They start to develop darker colors as they age.   This color may appear on their face, legs, and tail.

The determination of a Siamese cat follows the “point system”.  The point coat system, that is.  A point color coat occurs when an animal’s body is much lighter than its extremities – such as the face, legs, and tail.

In reality, this Asian beauty comes in four official shades and variations.  According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association, there are four recognized point colors.  They are seal point, chocolate point, blue point, and lilac point.

While these are the primary accepted colors, the Siamese is not a cat content to be this predictable. Other accepted color combos include Fawn, Caramel, Cinnamon, Red, Tabby, Tortie, and Cream.

Then there are the “honorary” members of the club, such as the Flame Point Siamese. She sports a light reddish-orange point, pink paw pads, and nose. This is a cat cross-bred with a mate in possession of the orange gene.

But the Siamese is the most distinctive. Movies like Lady and the Tramp portray the Siamese with dark brown points on her ears, tail, arms, and legs.

How about stripes? Is that a possible Siamese color too? Find out by reading this article about whether Siamese cats can have stripes.

Cats are not the only mammal to wear the point colored pattern. This hip style is also found in dogs, horses, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even your pet rat. It is also common in many fabrics worn by the human species – especially on women’s sweaters in the fall. Point colored cashmere is my personal favorite.

But I digress. Back to cats. Other physical characteristics include her pointy ears, elongated neck, and persistent deep meow.

Can a Siamese cat be black and white?

Yes, it is possible for a Siamese cat to be black and white. This occurs when a purebred Siamese cat mates with a cat with zero percent Siamese genetics.  Because the colorpoint gene is recessive, the kittens will usually wind up black, or black and white. But again, this poor guy wouldn’t pass the bouncer at the Siamese Cat country club.

He can still be proud of his lineage, and may also carry some other distinguishing traits of the Siamese. If you’re trying to figure out if your baby is part Siamese, here are a few physical characteristics to look for:

What is a black cat that looks Siamese?

“All tall and lean with them broad shoulders, sweeeet lips, I knew that I had died and gone to chocolate heaven.”  Never heard this classic by Ronny Jordan? Okay, no worries.  But if this line describes the cat you see, you’re looking at the Oriental (aka Foreign Shorthair). 

The defining difference? Siamese cats have a light-colored body with dark points at the extremities. The Oriental can be any color and a variety of patterns.

Once upon a time, a Siamese cat-lover became bored with the traditional point coat.  They wanted the Siamese personality in a solid coat.  So they used a combination of Siamese, Russian Blues, Abyssinians, and domestic shorthairs. And this cool cat was born!

Characteristics:

In contrast to the Siamese who will interact with everyone, the Oriental bonds for life to one person. And he’s only somewhat talkative. So if you’re not the type for constant conversation, he might be your perfect partner. 

Why can a black cat be part Siamese?

I’m now speaking on a philosophical level.  Now that we’ve discussed HOW a black cat can be part Siamese, let’s talk about why people decide to crossbreed. Is this a good thing?  Or should we let nature take its course? It’s a similar question to the ethical dilemma of designer babies. Here are some of the considerations:

Benefits:

Health & Longevity: Certain diseases and abnormalities are specific to certain breeds.  Crossbreeding gives the cat only a 50/50 chance of inheriting the malady.  Even with two animals of the same species, breeders can select only the healthiest moms and dads. This is a key factor prospective pet parents look for in a breeder.  

Unique Personality: You will get the best of the characteristics of each breed. Cross a Siamese with a Russian Blue, and you’ll get a vocal cat who will bond to you for life.  He’ll be one part refined, one part ridiculous!

Purebred Potential: Reclaiming the purity of the breed only takes a couple of cycles. 

Drawbacks:

Not Purebred: If you’re a fan of the Siamese, crossbreeding will only give around half of the breed’s characteristics. 

It’s a Gamble: You will also be dealing with the less desired characteristics of each breed.  Cross a Siamese with a Tabby and you could wind up with a very talkative Tabby. 

Adopt-don’t-Shop: Unfortunately, crossbreeding is one reason people choose a breeder. This leaves another animal at the shelter who needs a home. For another reason to adopt, see Benefits Reason One.  These guys are pre-crossbred and you didn’t have to pay a cent!

In my opinion, crossbreeding is wonderful when it happens in nature. This practice delivers so many unique furry souls into the world. I like the gamble – I can’t wait to see the prodigy of a Siamese and a Turkish Van. Look at my stunning blue eye. And also my green one! Here’s to enjoying all the randomness of nature. Cheers. 

Want to immerse yourself more in the captivating world of Siamese cats? I’ve got all the information you need from their distinct color points to their fun personalities: Siamese Cats: Unique Features and Personality