Five Things to Know About Lilac Point Siamese Cat

An exotic cat breed, the Siamese has captivated cat fanciers for decades. Surrounded by mystical tales of serving as the royal guard, the former temple cat still commands respect and attention in its native Thailand. Equally adored in the west, particularly the Lilac Point Siamese cat has garnered an impressive amount of public interest.

A single look at the lovely variety will tell you why? The light shade of points exudes innocence and class. But that is not all; let us take a closer look to grasp the reasons behind the popularity of the lovely cat.

Breed Overview

A native of Thailand, the Siamese cat was introduced to the western world in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. One of the earliest known pedigree cats, the original feline still found in Thailand, carries the same point pattern but a different body type. The cat we know as Siamese today is the product of the tireless efforts of breeders, selectively breeding to create different types of Siamese cats with varying body shapes, eye colors, and features.

Appearance

The original Siamese is known as apple-head and is not included in the breed registries. However, the ones recognized by these registries are known for their wedge-shaped head, tapering lines, long angular and slender bodies, and longer hind limbs. Available in a variety of colors and patterns, only the solid-pointed Siamese are recognized in the Seal Point, Blue Point, Red Point, Chocolate Point, Lynx Point, and lilac colors.

Personality

Like other Siamese cats, Lilac Point Siamese is a very social cat that craves loads of attention and company. It is curious, inquisitive, and smart. This means potential owners should commit themselves to considerable mental stimulation, physical activity, and companionship. Leaving them without company can result in serious emotional distress.

Life of the party, these cats love to mingle, enjoy the company of other pets, and can even be taught several tricks. However, a little heads up for those who value quiet, these are very vocal cats making sounds similar to a child.

Suitability

Lilac Point cats are very demanding, so they are only suitable for pet parents who are up for the job. It is better to bring two Siamese cats at home to keep each other company. But they still need your individual attention, and bringing them into a home that does not offer them would be cruel.

Although social, they may not do very well in environments where they have to compete for your affection. So, a family with small kids is not an ideal place for these kitties.

Things Special About the Lilac Point Siamese Cat

A Siamese is many things, simultaneously charming the fanciers with the regality of its stature and an unusually child-like persona. But there is something extra special about the Lilac Point Siamese. An unfamiliar mind would ask, what could it possibly be? Well, let us find out.

1. Lilac Point Siamese Cat is Rare

If you are familiar with cats, you would know that the color most associated with the Siamese is seal-point. That is to say that it is in this color that you will find the overwhelming majority of this breed.

Lilac point is a light color on an already light cat, thanks to its temperature-sensitive albinism. And the rarest when it comes to the coat colors recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association. While not entirely something no one has ever seen, the Lilac Point is rare enough to make it harder to find.

Some would even go on to say that you would not find one in a shelter but will have to meticulously look into various specialist breeder listings until you find one.

2. Lilac Point is a Dilution of the Chocolate Point

Dilution is the term used to describe lesser pigmentation from a color gene than full color. Only a cat receiving the color dilution allele from both parents could develop a diluted coat coloration. Say, if a cat had one full color and one dilution allele, the appearance would be of full color.

So, the Lilac Point, the much-appreciated coat coloration among the Siamese, is a genetic dilution of the brown color. It is the lightest of coats in the breed, where the soft pinkish-grey of the points contrast elegantly against the glacial white of the remainder of the cat. Because of this appearance, the Lilac Points came to be known as the Frost Points.

3. Lilac Point Was the Last Color to Be Recognized

 It is such a lovely color; we bet many would be surprised that cat registries were initially unwilling to accept it. Since the original Siamese were indeed sealing points, it was hard for many to believe any other color could be worthy. Suggesting inferiority, specimens with coat colors deviating from the standard were rejected.

But as it turned out, the newer colorations simply resulted from genetic mutations. It has since been known that the lilac point is only formed whenever a cat receives a recessive blue color allele from both its parents. Luckily, the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) came around in 1955, allowing the color in its registries.

4. Lilac Point Siamese Are Often Confused With Blue Points

To the untrained eye, it can be difficult to differentiate between the lilac point and Blue Point Siamese. If you think about it, it is only fair to assume that the two share the same color; only one cat failed to match the same degree of pigmentation as the other. Confused? Let us explain.

Technically the blue coat color is what any person would perceive as grey, a color dilution from black. Therefore, it is basically a softer shade of a seal point to an untrained eye. Similarly, lilac is a dilution of the brown. Just as black is a more intense color than brown, the blue point is darker than the lilac.

Hence lies the confusion. Because an unfamiliar person might assume the blue point Siamese to simply have developed more pigmentation than the lilac point. While in reality, these are two different coat colors altogether.

5. Lilac Points May Need More Maintenance than Other Siamese Cats

No need to freak out, these cats only need more upkeep to maintain their adorable frost points intact. All the Siamese cats have a very dim semblance of coloration on the whites of their coat, managing to create a shade on the torso sometimes.

So, when the lilac shade produces a pale effect on the white coat, a snow-like effect is produced. And it needs maintenance in terms of showers, dry baths, and grooming. Lighter the cat, the harder the work. Thankfully, Siamese cats have short coat that is not very demanding otherwise. A little more effort than needed for its counterparts will give amazing results.

Final Word: Lilac Point Siamese Cat

Lilac point Siamese cats are also called the Frost Points owing to the glacial whites and soft grey points. These are the color dilutes of chocolate brown, the last to be recognized by CFA, and often confused with the blue point Siamese. Thanks to the “frosty” color, they need more cleaning than their fellow Siamese.