Need a cat that'll run your household? The Siamese will fill the bill

They aren't necessarily the most popular cat breed — that spot is held by ragdolls or Persians, depending on which list you look at — but Siamese, nicknamed "meezers" by their fans, are arguably the world's most recognizable cats. Vivid blue eyes, striking pointed coats (pale body with dark points on face, paws, ears and tail), rasping voices and a superior manner make them unforgettable.

The slinky cats date to the 14th century in Thailand, then known as Siam. But they didn't come to the attention of Westerners in a big way until the last quarter of the 19th century, the era that saw the commencement of cat shows and the rise of the pedigreed pet.

The first-known Siamese in the United States was a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes and First Lady Lucy Hayes from the American consul in Bangkok in 1879. They made their U.K. debut in 1884, gaining the moniker "royal cat of Siam."

Early Siamese were more solid, with rounder heads than today's runway-model sleek specimens. The old-style cats are now considered a separate breed, the Thai, by the International Cat Association (TICA) and the World Cat Federation. In their homeland, where they are still found, they're called wichien-maat, which translates as "moon diamond," and are considered to bring good luck.

Siamese kittens are born white and start to develop points a few weeks later. The classic colors are seal point, chocolate point, blue point and lilac point. Siamese are limited to those colors and to a short coat, but the breed has been used as a jumping-off point to create new breeds with distinctive traits.

They include the Oriental — described as a "nonpointed" Siamese — which can be shorthair or longhair and comes in hundreds of combinations of colors and patterns, and the colorpoint shorthair, which comes in 16 point colors. Others are the Balinese, a pointed cat with long hair; the snowshoe, a white-pawed cat created by crossing seal-point Siamese with American shorthairs; the Tonkinese, created by crossing Siamese and Burmese; and the Havana brown, the result of planned breedings between Siamese cats and domestic black cats. Other breeds with Siamese ancestry include the Himalayan, ocicat, Javanese and Savannah.

"Siamese are one of the oldest and most famous breeds of cats," says Heather Lorimer, an associate professor of genetics at Youngstown State University and TICA genetics committee chair. "Many breeders wanted to incorporate some of their elegance, grace and intelligence into other breeds. Some wanted the svelte and elongated body type, longer head, larger ears or straighter profile.

"The single most sought-after trait, however, is their distinctive coloration," Lorimer said. "Many people wanted their breeds to include creamy colored bodies, dark extremities and those glorious blue eyes. Even Himalayan Persians, which have the opposite body type and head structure, got their pointed color through outcrossing to Siamese."

Personality is another factor. It's one of the reasons Siamese have been used in the creation of different breeds, says TICA judge and Siamese and Oriental shorthair breeder Toni Jones. "Siamese cats are extremely outgoing and smart, and that is a trait many breeders want."

Chatty, curious, smart and loving, Siamese are known for their desire to be with their people and to run the household. They love to talk and will carry on conversations in a loud, hoarse voice. Expect them to be interested in everything going on around them. Siamese make it their business to open cabinets, turn on faucets or otherwise participate in household activities.

They are also known for being one of the cat breeds willing to walk on leash — so they can go exploring, of course. They play fetch and enjoy learning tricks. So if you want an opinionated cat who wants to be involved in everything you do, the Siamese is for you.