Seychellois cats are a new breed that is very similar to the Siamese cat. They are not widely recognized and are uncommon outside of the United Kingdom and Europe. Their history dates back to Great Britain, where Patricia Turner tried to recreate a breed she read about by crossing Siamese with a tortie and a white Persian.
Breed Overview
Height:
8–10 inches
Weight:
4–11 pounds
Lifespan:
8–12 years
Colors:
White base with tortie and tabby color points
Suitable for:
Cat-loving families with children and dogs who can provide them with constant attention.
Temperament:
Intelligent, outgoing. social
Initially, these cats were not recognized as a distinct breed but were registered as experimental cats of unknown color. Breeders eventually met the requirements to present the TICA show’s breed in 1983. At the FIFe show, the Seychellois were recognized as a breed on their own. The Seychellois are an intelligent, social, and mischievous breed, but their loving personalities make them the perfect pet. They quickly form bonds with their owners and will not want to leave your side.
Seychellois Cat Characteristics
Energy
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A high-energy cat needs a lot of physical and mental stimulation to keep healthy and happy, while a low-energy cat needs minimal physical activity, but still needs mental stimulation. When choosing a cat, It’s important to ensure their energy levels match your lifestyle.
Trainability
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Cats that are easy-to-train are more willing and skilled at quickly learning prompts and actions with minimal training. Harder-to-train cats are usually more stubborn or aloof and require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
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Certain cat breeds are more prone to various genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every cat in those breeds will have these issues, but they do have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Lifespan
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Due to their size or potential genetic health issues of a specific breed, some cats have shorter lifespans than others. Proper nutrition, exercise, mental stimulation, and hygiene also play an important role in your cat’s lifespan and quality of life.
Sociability
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Some cat breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other cats and animals. Cats that are more social have a tendency to rub up on strangers for scratches or jump on laps for cuddles, while cats that are less social shy away, hide, are more cautious, and even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed or gender, it’s important to socialize your cat and expose them to many different situations.
These beautiful kittens have strong personalities. They tend to be outgoing and enjoy being around people. You will experience their fun and playful nature even after they’re grown cats. Make sure you can offer them enough mental stimulation to avoid boredom.
When you bring a Seychellois kitten into your home, be ready to have a comfy bed, treats, toys, and high-quality kitten food so they feel right at home. Keep reading their full care guide to know what type of exercise, grooming, and diet they need to grow into happy and healthy cats.
Temperament & Intelligence of Seychellois Cats
The Seychellois Cat is incredibly similar to the Siamese breed. They are intelligent, outgoing, social, and can even be very vocal. They love to communicate and rely hugely on human companionship. They have a curious nature, enjoy exploring outdoor areas, and do well in houses with gardens. They are extroverted cats but can be wary of strangers.
This breed is typically easy to train. They can be easily trained to use a litterbox, scratching post, and feeding bowl, but they may object when sleeping in their bed because they prefer to be with their owners. You will enjoy playing with this cat as they are very active and can easily learn new tricks.
These cats are great for families as they love attention and companionship and develop loving bonds with their human family. They will love to curl up on your lap, at your feet, or alongside you on the sofa, lapping up all the affection and cuddles. They can easily be trained using toys, and if you have active children who love to play, your Seychellois will appreciate that too.
They would be ideal for a family with someone in the household regularly since these cats don’t like to be left alone. Once you have developed a bond with your Seychellois, they will love you unconditionally and show you endless affection and loyalty.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
Seychellois cats typically get along well with children, other cats, and cat-friendly dogs. It’s best to introduce new pets when they are young, but with patience, you can slowly introduce your Seychellois to your current pet, and they will get along when they feel safe and comfortable.
As a Siamese breed, the Seychellois cat requires a diet high in animal protein, low in fat, adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals, and plenty of water. Seychellois cats, like other cats, are obligate carnivores who must obtain their proteins from meat. Adult Siamese cats require 5–6 grams of protein per kilo of body weight. Protein is also a source of energy for these active cats.
Cat food should contain a source of protein from real meat and food filled with animal by-products and synthetic proteins should be avoided.
Siamese cats require a small amount of fat in their diet to aid in the production of certain reproductive hormones, brain and nerve function, metabolism, and vitamin absorption. One gram of fat contains approximately nine calories, making it a concentrated energy source for cats.
Avoid products containing grains, vegetable starch, and sugar when selecting cat food. Carbohydrates are mostly used as cheap fillers to make up for a lack of high-quality animal proteins.
This breed is not picky about drinking water as long as their bowls are cleaned regularly. Siamese cats require approximately 50 milliliters of water per day for every kilo of body weight.
Exercise 🐈
Fun cat exercises are a great way to bond with your Seychellois while keeping their minds sharp and bodies strong. Spending 10 to 15 minutes a day with your cat for any type of physical activity should suffice.
Kittens are naturally very active and easily get enough exercise on their own. There are numerous enjoyable ways to engage your cat in exercise and play. Scratching posts or cat trees are known to be the best playthings for them. Otherwise, toys and hide-and-seek are fun too.
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Training 🧶
Because the Siamese breed is highly intelligent, Seychellois are simple to train. You can teach them simple tricks using clicker training, which will help mental stimulation and strengthen your bond.
These cats are susceptible to periodontal disease, so regular brushing can help keep their teeth and gums healthy. You can clean them at home with a vet-approved toothpaste or send them for regular dental cleaning with your vet.
Because this breed of cat is relatively new, the potential diseases are still being researched. In general, pedigree breeds use a much smaller gene pool for breeding than domestic cats, putting them at a higher risk of developing inherited disorders.
The Siamese breed is prone to certain health conditions, which the Seychellois cat may be susceptible to.
Minor Conditions
Dental disease
Serious Conditions
Progressive retinal atrophy
Cancer
Obesity
Amyloidosis
Serious Conditions:
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is an inherited disease in which the eyes are genetically programmed to become blind over time. The disease manifests itself in most affected cats between the ages of 1–2 years. Night blindness is the first symptom, followed by total blindness in 2–4 years.
Cancer is the leading cause of death among senior cats. A Siamese is predisposed to certain cancer types, some at a younger age. Lymphoma, also known as lymphosarcoma, is a type of cancer that is more common in Siamese than in other breeds.
Obesity causes a surprising amount of deaths and ailments in cats. Excess weight significantly contributes to the development of arthritis, diabetes, and other life-threatening diseases. Understanding your cat’s eating habits is critical so that you can manage their food intake. The average cat prefers to eat 10-15 times daily, taking only a few nibbles at a time. Exercise and play are excellent additions to healthy weight balance.
Amyloidosis is caused by a protein compound that can cause disease by abnormally accumulating inside tissues and organs. This protein buildup clogs the organs and causes them to fail. There is no effective treatment, but diet and medication can help affected organs.
Siamese cats are prone to asthma, which causes inflammation and narrowing of the small airways in the lungs.
Minor Conditions:
The modern Siamese cat, with its wedge-shaped head, may be more prone to respiratory and dental problems than other cats, and some may have crossed eyes or a kinked tail on occasion. The medical term for crossed eyes is convergent strabismus and is considered normal among Siamese.
Dental disease is another concern for Seychellois cats. Dental disease begins with food residue, which hardens into tartar and accumulates on the visible parts of the teeth, eventually leading to gum and tooth root infections.
While the large majority of cats prefer to be alone, some Siamese can develop unhealthy and extreme attachments to their owners. When their human companions aren’t around, they can become anxious or bored, which can lead to destructive behaviors.
If you have questions about these conditions and how to care for a Seychellois cat, a telehealth service like PangoVet may be able to help.
There are no obvious differences between female and male Seychellois cats in terms of appearance or temperament, but females are typically smaller and appear more delicate.
Unspayed females may become clingy and vocal when in heat, and an unneutered male can become territorial and aggressive. Otherwise, their loving, affectionate, and playful personalities are the same, whether male or female.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Seychellois Cat
1. Seychellois Cats Do Not Like to Be Ignored
This breed loves being with people and thrives on human companionship. They love to be the center of attention and do not like to be ignored.
2. Their Name Is Linked to the Seychelle Islands
Patricia Turner, a British breeder, discovered travel journals in which explorers of the Seychelles Islands mentioned coming across a breed of cat with a white pattern on its fur coat. Patricia then set out to create a cat breed based on the traits described in those journals, which successfully resulted in a cross between the tortie Persian and Siamese.
3. The Piebald Gene Determines the White Patches on Their Coat
Seychellois cats with all white hold a 10 rating. The most common degrees of white in Seychellois cats are eight and nine, though seven is also sometimes recognized.
Image By: Jaroslaw Kurek, Shutterstock
Final Thoughts
The Seychellois cat is a fairly new and rare breed but is remarkably similar to the Siamese cat. They are loved for their unique and regal looks and people-loving tendencies. They will make great pets for families with kids and pets and are typically easy to care for. Because they can form an exceptional bond with their human companion and tend to enjoy spending most of their time with their owner, they are prone to separation anxiety, so it’s best if someone is home with this cat regularly.
Whether you choose a male or a female, you will be gifted with the same loving traits, and as long as they are fed a well-balanced, quality diet and looked after, they can spend many years curled up on your lap or at your feet.
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe.
Seychellois Kittens
