Originally, the Siamese cat that we all know, was reserved exclusively for royalty in Siam, then the possession of a Siamese cat by any other was punishable by death and export was strictly forbidden.
The original trait of a Siamese was noted by a distinct kink in the joint third from the end of the tail, from that genetic marker grew the legend that is was gods gift as a useful trusted place to store the royal ring. That in turn characterised the Siamese breed into perpetuity.
Eventually, A Siamese breeding pair was gifted by the king of Siam to the Consul of Gt. Britain in 1884 who was said to have sworn to prevent any possibility of cross-breeding with others - which of course went the way of all political promises and they were exhibited at the Alexander Palace in London.
By 1902 there was established a Siamese Cat Fancy which was incorporated into the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy with the breed number of 24.
The breed no. was originally specified as a blue eyed, pale coated short-hair with distinctive dark brown points to the face and extremities with the distinctive crook to the tail - this crook was held to be the mark of a genuine thoroughbred cat with no cross breeding, it was held in esteem along with several other distinguishing traits that do not involve the tail - but the most impressive being the cats high level of intelligence and loud voice. Noted as conversationalists, they are not pets, they are companions.
As time passed, so breeders began to vary the specification of the standard and began the course of disliking the kink, to which the breeders responded by trying to selectively breed it out. It has taken over forty years and as yet is only marginally successful because any moment of carelessness meant the re-appearance of the kink, much to the annoyance of the purists who are determined to eliminate it along with the smooth sleek lines of a pure bred original Siamese Seal Point 24 that was noted for its beautiful lines
It was during these attempt to modify the distinctive tail kink and pricked ears that I decided to bow out of show breeding, for (my) ethical reasons, believing that what we had to begin with was defined perfection in any breed, so I wanted no part of it.
So, the crooked tail and moderately canted pricked ears are not ‘defects’ in my eyes, they are the genuine article proven by the inability to eradicate it.
To most people’s delight, an original Siamese is now regarded as defective and fit only for a pet. That is the cat that most people - including me - find to be most appealing, yet are often given away or abandoned, which brings me to where I am now, a rescuer of ‘unloved’ original Siamese in all their glory - kinky tail and all.