With some, the Siamese cat has an unfair reputation as far as one aspect of its personality is concerned. Many people believe the Siamese is an aloof, unfriendly breed. They couldn’t be further from the truth.
Are Siamese cats affectionate? Siamese cats are extremely affectionate creatures who thrive on human interaction and are quite adept at commanding attention. The Siamese cat’s passion for companionship makes it ideal for anyone in search of an affectionate and sociable pet.
Let’s explore the ways in which Siamese cats demonstrate their affection and what you should bear in mind if you’re thinking of becoming a proud owner of one of these cats.
How Siamese Cats Show Affection
Having spent all my life with cats as pets, I have learned to recognize a variety of signs of their affection. Some breeds are more affectionate than others – the Siamese is one of them.
Siamese cats can be quite subtle but you will soon know yours loves you from the following signs.
1. The Purr
A cat purrs when it is content, and when the Siamese cat is purring it is no different. If your cat lies on or next to you in a relaxed manner and emits a purring sound you can be sure it is feeling affectionate towards you.
Siamese cats have all sorts of tones of purr which can be quiet or loud.
If you have more than one cat you will soon notice the different sounds of each of their purrs.
2. Slow Blinking and Your Siamese Cat
You may think your cat is giving you dirty looks as it slowly closes its eyes in your direction but this is a sure sign that it is relaxed and trusts you.
A cat will never close its eyes if it is feeling unhappy or threatened – in that situation, it will keep wide-eyed and focussed.
The polite thing to do in response is slow blink back. This will show your cat you are no threat and in fact, is a good method to calm any cat down.
You may have heard slow-blinks compared to cat kisses and they are a very clear sign of affection – and you won’t pass each other any germs this way!
3. Exposing Its Belly
If your Siamese cat rolls over onto its back in an almost flirtatious fashion, giving you full eye contact and a good view of its tummy, you can be sure this is a sign of absolute trust.
This the most vulnerable position a cat can adopt so if it does this in front of you then it is confident that you mean it no harm.
Bear in mind, this is a display of your cat’s affection towards you not an invitation to give it a belly tickle and if you do so you may find yourself in the vice-like grip of its claws and teeth.
However, if a cat cowers on its back, teeth bared, ears back and claws out, this is not a display of trust but a defensive position. Steer clear!
4. Scenting You
Cats have scent glands on their cheeks and you’ve probably noticed how they gently rub them here, there and everywhere as they pass through your home and garden.
They are depositing happy little messages to make them feel secure and relaxed.
If your Siamese cat rubs its cheeks against you, it is marking you with its scent as a sign of its trust and affection for you.
At the point your Siamese does this you will probably find it is quite receptive to being picked up for a cuddle. It is definitely a sign of an affectionate mood.
5. Head Butting
If you lower your face slowly towards your Siamese cat’s face and it gently bumps its head against you, you can be sure this as a sign of strong affection.
Your cat truly loves you and thinks of the pair of you as members of the same pack. Your Siamese is actually transferring its scent on to you and in a way is taking ownership of you, marking you as part of its territory.
6. The Siamese Cat Tasting You
When cats lick each other it is a form of social bonding. Mother cats lick their young to clean them. We can never know for certain if cats experience emotional feelings such as love, but if your Siamese licks you it is very likely a sign of affection.
Try to tolerate your Siamese licking you as it could be offended if you thwart its attempts to do so. Just enjoy the fact that it is very attached to you – then slip off to wash away the cat spit when your cat isn’t looking.
7. The Siamese cat following you
If your Siamese loves you it will follow you wherever you go. These cats just love human company. Nowhere is sacred – not even the bathroom.
There is no point in closing the door when you go in for a shower (or whatever) as your Siamese will most likely meow urgently to be let in.
It won’t understand why you have separated yourself from it and will start to experience separation anxiety (more about this later).
8. Tell-Tale Tails
People don’t usually pay much attention to cats’ tails unless they wag them in which case we presume they are angry at something.
A Siamese has an expressive, long, slim, strong tail which it almost curls around legs at times. This can most definitely be taken as a sign of affection. If your Siamese leans on you and weaves its tail around you, you’re loved!
Separation Anxiety in Siamese Cats
The affectionate nature of a Siamese cat makes it a perfect family pet. These cats really do love human company. The downside of this is they don’t do well if left alone regularly.
If a Siamese becomes clingy, this may be a sign of insecurity or boredom. The best cure is to give it regular attention through play sessions and to ensure it has ways to amuse itself when you are out.
Siamese cats need a certain amount of attention and will cry for it if they are ignored. In this way, the Siamese is a needy cat. If they are deprived of human interaction they may become destructive out of boredom.
If you are looking for a cat that will cope while you are out all day, the Siamese may not be a good choice. This breed is known to suffer from separation anxiety and this can manifest itself in a number of ways:
- Depression – if a cat becomes depressed this can seriously affect its health. It might become lethargic and inactive, unfit and overweight. This will leave it more susceptible to illness. It will also not be a very satisfying pet in this condition.
- Destructive – a lonely cat may attempt to relieve its boredom by becoming destructive. You could find furniture, carpets, and wallpaper all get scratched and torn.
You should be able to leave a Siamese alone for short spells of time but do make sure you leave it in an environment that is as enriched as possible. Having Siamese cats in pairs is ideal but otherwise, make sure you supply a variety of thing to keep your cat amused in your absence:
- Suitable cat toys such as mice and balls.
- An indoor cat tree (link to read reviews on Amazon)
- Access to a window with a view.
- Background noise such as a radio playing.
- Plenty of room to run around – so leave doors to several rooms open.
Are Male Siamese cats More Affectionate than Females?
Owners say that both Siamese genders are loving in their own way with male cats tending to be more in-your-face affectionate than females.
Most of the time, it’s the way you socialize a kitten that affects how affectionate it becomes – so the more you gently interact with your male or female Siamese cat and the more loving attention you lavish upon it, the more affection you will receive in return.
Are Siamese cats affectionate all the time? – Conclusion
The Siamese is truly affectionate so if you want a cat that shows how much it cares, this is the breed for you. It works both ways and you must reciprocate and ensure your Siamese cat doesn’t experience loneliness or boredom. Your house may suffer otherwise!