What color are Siamese cats born? - briefly
Siamese cats are born pure white due to a temperature-sensitive gene that prevents pigment from developing in their fur at birth. As they grow older and the ambient temperature increases, the pigment begins to form, resulting in the distinctive darker points on their ears, face, paws, and tail.
What color are Siamese cats born? - in detail
Siamese cats, renowned for their distinctive appearance, are not born with the darker points on their ears, paws, tail, and face that they are famous for. Instead, these cats are born with a creamy-white or light beige coat color, often described as an ivory or pale fawn hue. This initial coloration is due to the temperature-sensitive nature of the enzyme tyrosinase, which is responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives cats their darker colors. In Siamese cats, this enzyme is sensitive to heat and becomes inactive at higher temperatures.
Newborn Siamese kittens typically exhibit a uniform light coat because their body temperature is regulated by their mother. As they grow older and their bodies produce more of their own heat, the areas where heat is concentrated—such as the ears, paws, tail, and face—begin to darken due to the increased activity of tyrosinase in those regions. This temperature-dependent pigmentation process results in the striking contrast between the lighter body color and the darker points that Siamese cats are known for. The exact shade of these darker points can vary depending on the specific genetic makeup of the cat, but they generally range from a warm brown to a deep seal or chocolate color.