How to Adopt a Siamese in the United States | PetzLover

Where can you adopt a Siamese in the US?

• Siamese breed rescues. Groups such as Austin Siamese Rescue in Texas specialize in Siamese and Siamese-mix cats. Many keep cats in foster homes, so the foster can tell you how the cat behaves day to day.
• Shelters and animal control. Pointed cats arrive as strays and surrenders and are often listed as Siamese or Siamese mix.
• Breeders placing retired cats. Petful notes catteries rehome retired breeding adults, typically for $100 to $400.
• Owners listing a cat for adoption, usually with an application and a fee.

You can search Siamese cats for adoption on PetzLover by location and save the search to get alerts when a new cat is listed near you.

Should you adopt a Siamese from a breed rescue or a shelter?

Austin Siamese Rescue states plainly that it cannot guarantee any cat is a full-breed Siamese unless a breeder or previous owner confirmed it, and that cats from shelters, strays or feral colonies may show Siamese features such as color points without being Siamese. That is true of shelter cats everywhere. A pointed mix can still have the chatty, sociable nature you want, so meet the cat rather than relying on the label.

What does the Siamese adoption process involve?

1. Read the rescue's rules and fees, then submit an application for the cat you like.
2. Give a veterinarian reference. Austin Siamese Rescue says it checks that adopters have a history of caring properly for pets.
3. Take a phone interview about your home, schedule and other pets.
4. Expect a home visit in some cases; Austin Siamese Rescue, for example, may require one for homes with dogs or more than seven animals.
5. Meet the cat, ideally more than once, and ask the foster how talkative it is and how it copes alone.
6. Sign the adoption contract and pay the fee. Expect terms such as indoor living, no declawing and returning the cat to the rescue if you cannot keep it.

Austin Siamese Rescue says its process takes 7 to 14 days, asks that resident cats test negative for feline leukemia, and generally places kittens under 6 months in pairs or with another playful pet, because they can become bored or lonely alone.

How much does it cost to adopt a Siamese?

Austin Siamese Rescue's fee includes spay or neuter, FVRCP and rabies vaccines, a microchip, and flea, ear mite and worm treatment. Ask any shelter or rescue what its fee covers so you can compare like with like.

Which Siamese traits should you plan for?

• Voice. CFA describes a large repertoire of vocalizations and an insistent streak.
• Company. VCA notes that Siamese often prefer another cat and that some over-groom when left alone.
• Activity. PetMD suggests daily play, interactive toys and even harness walks.
• Health. CFA names progressive retinal atrophy and liver amyloidosis, and PetMD adds asthma and dental disease. Ask whether the cat has had an rdAc DNA test and how it sees at night.
• Age. VCA gives a lifespan of 12 to 15 years, and PetMD says many live longer, so a 7-year-old can still have years ahead.

How do you help an adopted Siamese settle in?

• Start in one quiet room with litter, food, water, a bed and a scratching post, then open up the house as the cat relaxes.
• Talk to the cat and play every day; VCA calls the breed extremely active.
• Put away wool, string and hair ties. VCA and PetMD note that young Siamese are prone to sucking or eating fabric.
• Book a vet visit in the first week or two and bring the rescue's records.
• Introduce other cats and dogs slowly, as PetMD advises for the breed.
• Keep the cat indoors, or use a secure catio or harness, and make sure the microchip is registered to you.

If you are considering a cat from a private owner instead, read how to take in a rehomed Siamese or how to get a free Siamese safely. If you want a kitten with known parents, see how to buy a Siamese kitten. Rescuers and owners can read how to list a Siamese for adoption.