Siamese cat - Shamuneko (English spelling) Siamese cat

A breed of the domestic cat Felis catus , which belongs to the Felidae family of the Carnivora order of the Mammalia class. It is a typical short-haired breed, with a slender and long body, tail, and limbs, and is full of grace and beauty. Its hind legs are slightly longer than its front legs. Its face is V-shaped, its eyes are almond-shaped with slits, in the so-called Oriental style, and its ears are large and wide at the base. Its fur is short and dense, and lies close to its body. The extremities of its body, such as its face, ears, tail, and toes, are darker in color. These areas are called Siamese cat spots, or points, and are a distinctive feature of Siamese cats. Newborn kittens are completely white, but when they reach the age of 6 to 12 months, the points begin to appear. It is highly intelligent, and is said to be the most affectionate of all cats for its owners.

[Etsuo Narushima]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

哺乳(ほにゅう)綱食肉目ネコ科の動物であるイエネコFelis catusの1品種。代表的な短毛種で、体、尾、四肢ともにほっそりとして細長く、気品にあふれ美しい。後肢は前肢に比べわずかに長めである。顔はV字形、目は切れ上がったアーモンド形のいわゆる東洋風で、耳は大きく根元が幅広い。被毛は短く密生し、体にぴったりと寝ている。顔、耳、尾、足先といった体の末端は色が濃くなっている。この部分をシャムネコ斑(はん)、あるいはポイントとよび、シャムネコの特徴となっている。生まれたばかりの子ネコは全身が白いが、6～12か月齢になるとポイントが現れてくる。知能は高く、飼い主に対する愛情の深さもネコのなかではいちばんといわれている。

［成島悦雄］

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