Do All Siamese Cats Have Blue Eyes?

Do all Siamese cats have blue eyes? Thanks to their unique features, it is easy to recognize a Siamese cat. All Siamese cats have blue eyes and four-point coat color variations. 

Siamese cats can have seal, cream, blue, and lilac coats, even though they are born with a white coat. The one common thing across all Siamese is that they always have blue eyes. But do not assume that all blue-eyed cats are Siamese.

This blue eyes variant is because of the recessive albinism gene in the Siamese cat breed. Let’s explain this to understand why all Siamese cats have blue eyes.

Why do all Siamese cats have blue eyes?

Have you ever heard of the Himalayan gene? Well, it is present in the Siamese cat breed and responsible for the blue eye color. It is a type of albinism gene that is sensitive to external factors such as temperature.

Like humans, cats have two Iris membranes in the eye. These are Stroma and Epithelium – and, they have pigment cells that dictate the eye color. Yet, Siamese cats do not have these pigment cells because of the albinism gene.

Siamese cats do not have eye color. But Isaac Newton’s Rayleigh Scattering theory can explain this. The blue color has the shortest wavelength, according to Isaac. Thus, it scatters more than any other color. It explains why the sky appears blue and Siamese cats have blue eyes. It is the predominant color for the human eye.

With environment change, Siamese cat eyes may reflect a different color into the eyes.

The male and female Siamese cat must have the recessive gene to breed a blue eyes kitten.

Are all blue-eyed cats Siamese?

Siamese cats are popular for their beautiful blue eyes and temperament. It is possible for other cat breeds to have the same eye color. Plenty of other cat breeds have blue eyes.

They may include:

Note that the blue eyes in other cat breeds are not because of the inhibitor albinism gene in Siamese cats. Now, let’s look into each one of these breeds.

Balinese Cats

Balinese cats have deep blue eyes and originated from Indonesia. The medium-sized cat has a white body, while others have color points around the ears, eyes, and face. Unlike Siamese cats, Balinese cats have a long coat. They are very affectionate, intelligent, and playful.

Himalayan Cats

Some Himalayan cats have blue eyes too. Others will present copper or green eye color with a wide variety of coat colors. I have had friends with the Himalayan-Persian cats. It is exciting to see how affectionate these cats are.

The long coat colors can vary from chocolate to seal, from Lilac to cinnamon color.

Birman

This is one of Europe’s 1960s cat breeds with blue eyes and a wide range of coat colors. It is possible to come across a Birman cat with a blue seal or chocolate coat. The Birman cat breed has distinctive white limbs. It is sometimes referred to as the Sacred Cat of Burma.

Javanese Cats

The Javanese cat is a Siamese breed variety, bred from a pure-bred Siamese cat and a Balinese Cat. In most cases, the Javanese cat will have blue eyes, but others have green eyes. This breed is agile and can be more vocal than the Siamese Breed.

Ragdolls

With semi-short hair, the blue-eyed Ragdoll is a friendly breed. It comes from the USA in the 1960s and is docile. A Ragdoll makes an excellent cat for people who want to bond, hold or cuddle with their kitties.

Do Siamese cats see at night?

Cats have excellent night vision, well, at least most of them. Siamese cats can see at night but may not get a clear sight of shapes. The recessive albinism gene in Siamese cats also affects the night vision.

This membrane allows more light into the cat’s eyes, resulting in excellent vision in the dark. Unfortunately, Siamese cats do not have this membrane. Siamese cats may see movement, but not as object shapes.

This does not stop a Siamese cat from exploring at night. Most Siamese cats will not go to sleep until their owner goes to bed as well. And it is not rare to hear them exploring in the house when everyone else is asleep.

Why do Siamese cats have crossed eyes?

Siamese cats are both popular and unique. I’ve owned Siamese cats with distinct features such as crossed eyes. The albinism gene is also responsible for the crossed eye feature. Note that not all Siamese cats have crossed eyes. Modern breeders have corrected this defective eye structure.

Siamese cats with crossed eyes are trying to see.

All traditional Siamese cats have crossed eyes. Over the years, breeders have eliminated this defective feature. Modern Siamese cats have bright blue eyes that are almost perfect. Sometimes I get lost in all my three Siamese cats’ gazes.

And it is not the eyes. Traditional Siamese cats used to have crooked tails. This takes us to the Siamese cat’s cultural history.

Siamese cat cultural history

The Siamese cats originated from Siam, now Thailand. Wealthy and royal families owned Siamese cats. There are several legends about Siamese cats and their unique features. The history of the Siamese cat dates from the 1800s. All Siamese cats, as I stated above, had crossed eyes and progressed to the kinked tails.

One legend states that the Siamese cats would guard the King’s Goblet. They would do so by wrapping their tails around the base. Over time, crooked tails became permanent and passed on to the offsprings. Another Siam legend suggests that the cats would guard the Princess’s ring. They would hold it on their tails and never lose the latter. Well, this would explain the Siamese cat’s loyalty to their favorite human.

But most of the legends are myths. The albinism recessive gene causes the crossed eye and crooked tails in Siamese cats. Modern Siamese cats may not have either of these defects but will always have blue eyes.

Conclusion

All Siamese cats have blue eyes, including some half-Siamese cats. Siamese cats have a recessive albinism gene that leads to a lack of the pigmented iris eye membranes. This gene must be present in both the mother and father for a cat to have Siamese blue eyes. The recessive albinism gene may not affect eyesight. But it can alter the eye structure, night vision, and cause crooked tails. Despite the defective albinism gene, Siamese cats make excellent companions for cat lovers. Siamese cats follow their owners everywhere and demand attention whenever they need it.

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