Can I Tell How Old My Siamese Cat Is By The Shade Of Her Fur?

Question

6 mos. ago we adopted a BEAUTIFUL chocolate Siamese cat. We received a health certificate that stated that her approximate age was 3 yrs. old. Having grown up with Siamese cats i was surprised that they thought she was only three because she is quite dark in color and my history with the breed indicated that they tend to get darker as they get older. Realistically i want to trust the vet .. lol .. but she's just seems quite dark for 3 yrs. (We are from cold weather MA/ME. climate and i believe she was an outdoor cat previously and wonder partly if the exposure to the cold could account for her darkness at this age?)

Thanks to all for any insights.

Answer 1

Yes, they do darken with age, but just how dark is controlled by genetics.  I have a 14 year old chocolate female (a foster cat) who's coat is as ivory colored as can be.  And I've had some young ones (seal points) who are quite dark.  So it's really not a good indicator to judge their age by the darkness/lightness of their coat.  Many Siamese will also "darken up" during the winter months, but it's subtle, and they'' return to their normal color during the summer months when that darker coat is shed out.

Vets look at teeth, eyes, and body condition to age cats.  While it's always a bit of a guess, they can tell if they're a young adult (less that a year or a year and a half), in the age range of say 3-5, or an older adult.  If the vet thinks her approximate age was 3, then you can probably safely say she's in the 3-5 year age range.  It's always a mystery how old they are, and what their background is.  

Answer 2

I have a longhaired siamese.  I got her when she was 12 (from a shelter) and now she is 14.  Her fur is not dark.  Since she is from a shelter, and really very active like a young cat, I asked the vet if she really would estimate her age that high (12-14).  The vet looked at her eyes with a light and estimated that yes, she was in the geriatric stages of life.  Her teeth are also pretty good (I just had them cleaned though).  The vet did not say anything about fur color being an indicator of age.  Her name (the cat) is Lizi, and she has black "boots" and a black mask and tail, but the rest is cream.  Not dark either - light or medium I'd say.  

I try to keep her real healthy and active.  She's little, just 7 lbs.  You can link to her picture and and article I wrote about wellness (prepare to ooh and aah at her photo)  at : http://buzz.prevention.com/community/138...

Answer 3

Having had siamese cats, I've never heard that they darken with age.

Some siamese cats will turn light or dark by seasons, but this usually

occurs in colder climates. I have a male siamese who is almost white,

and the color has never changed as he is now almost three years old.

I've seen a few mixed breed kittens with siamese linage that were both

golden and silver as kittens, then turned black at around three months old.