Although
there have been many theories about the origin of the Siamese, it is now
quite certain that it was a well loved variety in the ancient Siamese city
of Ayudha. Ayudha was founded in 1350 and was Siam's capital until
fire destroyed the city during the Burmese invasion in 1767. In the
National Library, in the present day capital of Bangkok, there are manuscripts
from Ayudha that provide a record of native cats, describing them as having
black tails, feet and ears with a white body and blue eyes which reflect
a reddish glow at night because it is part albino. The Siamese Cats
eyes are a brilliant sapphire blue. The original cats in Siam lived
in temples where they were closely guarded to keep the breed pure.
So highly were they regarded that there ownership is said to have been
restricted to members of the Royal family. Only if a man was promoted
to a knight or nobleman could he possess that cat with, as they believed,
"special powers." These beautiful cats first appeared in Australia in the
1890's, and today is one of the most popular
pedigree breeds.
