Do Siamese Cats Have Sensitive Skin? (& How You Can Help)

Siamese is known for being incredibly social, equally as vocal, and always on the move. Their skin is hypo-allergenic for humans, and there is little research done on if their skin is sensitive. However, their skin will become sensitive if you don’t understand what they need internally to affect their skin externally.

Do Siamese cats have sensitive skin? The answer is yes, and no. No, they do not have excessive skin conditions beyond any other cat breed. However, they do run a higher risk of digestive issues, respiratory conditions, and heart disease. Siamese cats love being outdoors, so the risk of skin conditions and skin sensitivity may arise from too much outdoor exposure or unique factors like not applying feline sunscreen if you walk your Siamese.

Most issues can be prevented by proper knowledge of your pet, the routine of exercise they require, and the appropriate diet to keep the stomach and skin healthy for the Siamese. This guide will teach you what measures can be taken to keep your Siamese at the peak of health without ever having to experience skin sensitivity.

Do Siamese Cats Have Sensitive Skin?

The sensitivity in Siamese can arise like in any breed of a cat if not adequately cared for. There is not a large amount of extensive research that states Siamese suffer from skin sensitivity. However, many studies are covering the most popular issues that do exist in Siamese cats and their risk of having more sensitive tummies than other cats.

Things to keep in mind for maintaining your Siamese’s’ skin health are –

• Weekly to bi-weekly brushings
• Purchasing a rubber or stainless steel brush that has bristles far apart and won’t catch their thin hair or knots painfully.
• Keeping an eye out for founds that could be flea bites or food allergies (we will discuss more in-depth below)
• Kitty Sunscreen – if you love to take your Siamese for walks and they give the pups a run for their money, you’ll need some feline specified SPF. Siamese cats are more prone to skin cancer, possibly because they are outside more frequently than other breeds.
• A balanced diet of 30-40% meat-based, 20-30% carbohydrates, and little to no grain.

We will discuss these areas more in-depth, but beyond skin health is the more common sensitivity in the Siamese’s stomach.

Do Siamese Cats Have Sensitive Stomachs?

The short answer here is yes. Many cats have sensitive stomachs, and it is not uncommon for them to be very picky eaters. You will need to keep an eye on their litter to be sure they don’t have overly runny poop or diarrhea from the food you’ve been serving them. This goes for any feline.

The majority of cats are allergic to lactose, even though they are depicted scarfing down a bowl of milk happily in media. You should avoid serving them too much human food that is not meat-based.

The major takeaway in this section is that Siamese cats are carnivores.

You need to keep this in mind when picking out a diet for them that will cater to their slightly more sensitive stomachs as compared to other felines.

A Siamese’s diet also needs to be well-thought-out to account for their lean body mass and lankier features. They are meant to be thin and athletic, known for their impressive leaping skills, high jumps, and wanting to be out in nature walking with you and the dogs!

This needs to be reflected in their diet. If they have a sensitive stomach and are throwing up too often or have diarrhea, this means they are not absorbing that nutrition. This is where you will see their fur become duller and their overall health deteriorates.

To prevent their skin from being sensitive, lack of energy, and non-absorption of nutrition – you need to find a food that will penetrate and stay in their stomachs. If it’s coming out of either end too fast, they’re not gaining any nutritional value from it, and you need to consult a vet if issues continue.

Do Siamese Cats Shed?

Certainly not as much as other felines, and this is what makes the Siamese an excellent option for those seeking a hypo-allergenic pet.

The Siamese fur is known for being short and silky. There are longer-haired Siamese such as the Seal Points and Chocolate Points which often strut with a voluminous poof. But the majority of Siamese are known for not shedding and low grooming maintenance.

The best advice for how to care for your Siamese’s coat is to brush them at least once a week. They won’t require much more than this if you’re petting them and giving them hand-brushings every day. These little love dates are the precise affection a Siamese needs.

Loving on them will release the dead furs from the places they can’t reach, encouraging the hair follicles to grow new strands. It will also double as bonding time for you and your Siamese, who needs your affection perhaps more than any other cat breed.

The social Siamese are notorious for being loudmouths that will let you know when they need affection. If you work long hours or can’t be home with them enough, give them lots of toys and consider hiring a pet babysitter from time to time.

These creatures need your time and attention, or they will become depressed. The Siamese cat often does well with another feline or a twin Siamese (as we learned from Lady and the Tramp). This is no joke, and it is proven that the stimulation from another playmate or twin sibling can be incredibly useful in the emotional and physical health of your Siamese baby.

Temperature Affecting Siamese Skin

Something you may not know about Siamese is that they come out completely white. And blind!

Their skin is not known to be more sensitive during this time, but equally as sensitive as any blind kitten that just emerged from the womb. They are delicate creatures, and if you’re considering breeding them, extensive research needs to be done to prevent genetic diseases and fatalities.

During the Siamese’s rich history which originates in fourteenth-century Thailand (at the time known as – The Kingdom of Siam), these felines were considered sacred.

The color of a creamy white was sacred as well to this culture, which is a reason they named the feline after their revered city and home.

The reason as Siamese comes out of the womb white and then later grows it’s well-known brown features, is quite scientific. The reason is due to temperature and that the womb keeps an enzyme in their skin from becoming active.

Once born, the Siamese are exposed to a climate for the first time that is under one hundred degrees Fahrenheit. It won’t be visible, but this immediately begins the process of pigmentation coming to life in their fur because this enzyme can no longer be sustained in the cooler temperature.

Within the first couple of months, you’ll see your Siamese coat completely change, coming to life with dark brown features, or perhaps some blue, grey, or lilac tones. These are other variants of Siamese cats so unless you know the mother and father’s genetic codes, you may not be sure what type of Siamese you have on your hands until their true coating begins to emerge.

Other Factors of Their Sensitivity

Since the Siamese have a unique jaw and face shape, this changes their dental structure and leads to more oral health issues than in many other feline breeds.

You’ll need to find a brand that they actually chew as this can result in other issues. The Siamese are known for scarfing down their food without chewing because of these jaw hinderances.

You could be giving them a too grainy diet. Again, Siamese cats are carnivores, so they need meat! Things you want to avoid giving Siamese are:

• High grain foods (which will say wheat, barley, grains, etc.).
• High vegetable foods (which will say peas, potatoes, carrots)

A little bit of these two are alright but the bulk of their diet for a healthy shape and to maintain their lean form is a protein and carbohydrate-based diet.

Food which should be avoided entirely as cats are allergic to them and it could result in a parasite or worse, death, include:

• Raw meat
• Egg whites (raw)
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Raisins
• Onions

It could also be that you’re combining too many food brands and not giving one a chance to do its job right. Try to stick to under three brands for dry food, wet food, and treats. Keeping them all within one brand is recommended as it will keep their belly-chemicals more at balance.

Too many brands in use will upset your Siamese’s stomach and in turn, affect their nutrient absorption, which in turn affects their skin.

Everything is related in their little bodies (diet, exercise, grooming, oral health, etc.) so you’ll need to filter this information through to your specific breed, situation, and knowledge of your particular Siamese cat.

Signs That Your Siamese has Sensitivity

Some warning signs to look out for are if you feel a knot, scratch, or see inflammation and redness on your cat’s skin.

This could be any of the following:

• Flea bites, bug bites, parasites, etc. (In which case you need to consult your vet for the proper parasite and flea treatment to prevent issues from becoming fatal). Look out for scratching and if they seem to be itchy in one specific area.
• Allergies to their food – this is very common in animals and can result in red spots or bumps around their faces, ears, and bodies. You can try to switch for a grain-free brand of food (remember – the meat should be ingredient one or two on the list, low on fillers, little to no grain). But if you feel the issue could be too dangerous to wait, it’s always safer to take them to a professional to confirm it’s just a simple allergy and not something more serious.
• Being lethargic – of course, all cats are more lethargic than humans. However, Siamese cats are very athletic and should be following you from room to room. If they seem lazy, tired, or aren’t moving enough, you may want to see if there’s something internal that is affecting their productivity.
• Refusing to eat food – this is never a good sign, and by day two, you should take them to the vet to check everything is alright. Moreover, most vets believe that you should avoid giving a wheat-rich diet to your Siamese, which may be the reason for their runny stomach or other digestive issues.

Signs That It’s a Stomach Issue

The last issues were more skin-based, but these next warning signs are to help you keep a lookout for things that are less visible to the naked eye and could be happening internally.

Some things to look out for are:

• Fast weight-loss
• Chronically soft stool
• If they’ve been throwing up for many days in a row (not just a hairball)
• Sickness and seemingly unable to move around in their usually busy-body way
• No appetite/refusing to eat. Always a bad sign and simply not the cat way.
• Uninterested in water consumption
• Crying for help or blatantly seeming uncomfortable. Like a baby, they will cry to tell you something is wrong. It’s up to you to know if they’re begging for food or if it’s something more serious.

If they throw up only once every couple of months or don’t seem overly in a struggle, this is normal. Cats do excessive grooming with their tongue, and basically, all of it gets swallowed. A hairball from time to time is nothing to alarm you but keep an eye out for if issues continue.

Best Cat Foods For Sensitive Skin:

Some tips on food that will help your Siamese have the happiest belly and in turn – healthier skin and fur coat include:

1. Bonito Flakes 

These little snacks are an excellent option for your Siamese because they’re just meat.

Simple and very fishy, this is packed full of antioxidants and fish oils that are suitable for human heart health and Siamese heart health alike.

These are actually for humans and animals, with over 350 reviews in which many are using this product solely for their cat. Many are opting for a more raw diet for their beloved pets because they are tired of all the fillers/byproducts in popular animal foods.

This product was found through a discussion forum where Siamese owners were attempting to find a snack that they’re Siamese would chew. Many Siamese owners agreed, yes they devour things whole. But this is a meat-based product that will give them protein, and they’ll have to chew!

Cat-Man-Doo has some excellent bonito flakes that you can sprinkle on top of your cat’s food. Check those out here.

2. Feline Greenies Roasted Chicken for Dental Health 

This is a wonderful option for your Siamese because every flavor comes in a meat variety such as salmon, tuna, or chicken. It also is suitable for their dental health, which is essential as the Siamese is known to require more oral upkeep than other felines or they can develop issues.

This is the trade-off for their fur being so much easier to groom than other breeds I suppose. These treats are natural which means it’s a better fit for your cat instead of something overly processed.

The positive reward and reinforcement will be healthy for them and for fun. Don’t overdo it with any treats, under five a day is the recommended.

I recommend trying out these roasted chicken treats. They also have other flavors like beef, salmon, ocean fish, and tuna which cats love.

3. Homemade Cat Food 

Many cat owners are hopping on the bandwagon of preparing homemade cat food.

If you want to go more natural and be utterly sure of what your pet is consuming, you can give them a raw diet after considerable research has been done.

Intermittently include something human-based that is prepared meat with no seasoning. Siamese will love a bite of your turkey, salmon or chicken.

Always be sure the food is cooked thoroughly to avoid salmonella poisoning or parasites. Also, be sure if you give them cooked fish that there are no bones in the dish.

To make your own food at home, you can follow this simple recipe:

Ingredients:

• A simple recipe for homemade food you can prepare is:
• A ½ pound of ground meat – chicken, turkey, or beef is fine
• One large hard-boiled egg
• Five teaspoons olive oil
• 1 cup chicken stock

Steps:

1. Mash all together then heat this on a skillet. Bring to a boil of low-medium heat and cook until the stock absorbs into the dish and it expands. It will appear browned and cooked. You can taste this too as it’s all human and cat ingredients.
2. Allow this to cool completely then put it in the food processor until it is meat mash.
3. Store in an airtight container and store for 3-4 days.

Blue Buffalo and other grain-free brands are also well-rated and recommended. Find what your Siamese prefers the most and what balance puts that pip in their step and shine in their fur!

Final Tips For Treating Sensitivity In Siamese Cats

If you’re Siamese is showing sensitivity beyond reason, it is always best to take them to a professional. Better safe than sorry to have your veterinary clinic take a look and be sure it’s nothing more serious.

Another tip is not to begin a raw or homemade diet without extensive research. It sounds simple enough, but improperly prepared food could be fatal for your little partner. You want to be sure that whether you’re making the food yourself or buying it from the store – that you understand the ingredient in it and how they affect your breed of feline.

Understanding how to prevent stomach and skin sensitivity in your Siamese is imperative to be the thoughtful and loving owner that we already know you are. You’ve read this far – so put that much love and care into everything you do with your fur-child and they’ll be the luckiest Siam out there!