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Flame Point Siamese Cat (Colorpoint Shorthairs and Red Points)

Posted in: Cat Breeds - Last Updated: May 12, 2022 - Author: Rebekah Carter
Posted in Cat Breeds 
Last Updated: May 9, 2022  
Author:  Rebekah Carter
Flame point siamese

The Flame Point Siamese cat is one of the most popular, sought-after, and interesting cats in the Siamese world. 

Known for sharing many of the most endearing traits of the standard Siamese, the Flame Point Siamese combines a playful and active personality, with a stunning appearance. 

The Flame Point Siamese breed isn’t always as easy to find as some of the other Siamese cat breed variations in the world, like the Lynx Point Siamese

However, they are dotted around the world, in loving households from the US to the UK.

Here’s everything you might need to know about the Flame Point Siamese cat, if you’re planning on adopting one of your own.

What is a Flame Point Siamese Cat?

A Flame Point Siamese cat is a variation of a Siamese cat, crossed with a red or orange tabby, usually an American or British shorthair. 

The resulting appearance is a Siamese feline with mostly white or cream fur, combined with strips of orange and red. 

Compared to a lot of other cat breeds, the Flame Point is a relatively new addition to the feline world, first introduced in 1930 in the UK. 

Ever since, the Flame Point Siamese has remained a very rare cat, as there are only a handful of breeders specializing in creating this unique mix. 

Flame Point Siamese cats are primarily popular due to their unique color patterns and coats. Combining the personality of a tabby and a Siamese also leads to interesting results, with many owners swearing their Flame Point Siamese is more loving than any other pet. 

Notably, if you’re looking for a formally recognized Siamese Flame Point for your adoption, it’s worth noting you’ll struggle to get any documentation. 

Although you can get official documents showing your cat’s Siamese background, the Flame Point Siamese isn’t fully recognized by a lot of cat associations at this point.

Just to note, you may hear varied names for this breed. The Australian Cat Federation actually calls these cats Red Points and Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) doesn't even include cats with red coloring in the Siamese breed, classifying them instead as ColorPoint Shorthairs.

Yep, confusing!

Flame point siamese price

Flame Point Siamese vs Traditional Siamese Cats

Flame point Siamese cats were developed in England from native tabbies, an American shorthair breed, and this also included recent imports of blue point or seal point siamese cats from America.

It’s important for the Siamese to be purebred to get this resulting cat. 

In 1906, the Cat Fanciers’ Association declared that the purebred Siamese cat breed was an independent breed. 

A standard Siamese cat generally has a cream or white coloring with points on its faces, tails, ears, and feet. 

The “points” are usually colored in dark shades, like chocolate brown, or grey. 

Some cat registries in America do acknowledge these cats as Siamese

With a Flame Point Siamese, the “points” on your cat will be red or orange in color. They usually retain their cream or white bodies, and piercing blue eyes, often associated with the Siamese. 

Aside from a difference in looks, Flame Point Siamese cats have a lot of similarities to the standard Siamese. 

Most Siamese cats are known for their outgoing and active personalities. They bond fiercely with their humans and get along well with other animals in a lot of cases. 

Since American Shorthairs are also quite loving cats, you can usually expect to get the best of both worlds with a Flame Point Siamese. 

Many owners believe the tabby side of their Flame Point leads to a funny, adaptable, and endearing personality. 

However, similar to most Siamese cats, it’s worth noting the Flame Point generally has a high demand for attention and exercise. 

They’re less likely to be suited to families who don’t have a lot of time to devote to cuddles and play.

red points

Siamese Flame Point: Appearance

The appearance of the Flame Point Siamese is one of its most endearing qualities, and one of the reasons why these rare cats have so sought after. 

Typically, the flame point will have a white or cream coloring, though there may be very pale strips of orange throughout the fur. 

Their ears, face, and paws will all feature orange and red elements. 

Interestingly, as kittens, Flame Point Siamese cats generally look exactly the same as their traditional cousins. 

They’ll be entirely cream-colored, as the colored points don’t start to develop until later. 

They generally develop stunning orange coloring, chocolate points, orange points, blue points, and lilac points.

These individual points also continue to darken as the Flame Point Siamese gets older.

In some cases, the points on your cat will also change in color intensity depending on the temperature. 

The hotter the environment, the lighter the color is likely to be. 

This means your Flame Point Siamese might have softer orange paws in summer, and darker paws in winter.

How do males and females differ?

In some breeds of cats, it’s common to see owners who believe the cat’s gender has a significant impact on their behavior, appearance, and personality. 

With a Flame Point Siamese, your male cat will likely be significantly larger than the female.

Some males will weigh up to 5 pounds more than the standard female. 

From a personality perspective, some owners believe males are more likely to be laid back and relaxed, while females can be a little bit more temperamental.

ColorPoint Shorthairs: Characteristics

Beautiful, rare, and often quite expensive, the wonderful Flame Point Siamese has captured the hearts of cat lovers around the world. 

However, before you dive into purchasing or adopting one of your own, it’s important to determine whether this kind of cat is really well-suited to you.

  • Energy: Most forms of Siamese cats are generally more energetic than your average tabby. However, the Flame Point Siamese is likely to be a decent blend of energetic and relaxed. You’ll need to play with them regularly, but they’ll be happy to lounge around too.
  • Training: Extremely intelligent, like their traditional Siamese cousins, a Flame Point should be relatively easy to train for things like litter tray use. However, they can be stubborn at times too, and prone to getting distracted.
  • Health: There aren’t any specific issues linked directly to the Flame Point Siamese cat, but they can suffer from a number of common health conditions associated with all cats, including retinal atrophy, and arthritis. 
  • Lifespan: A Flame Point Siamese can live for a decent amount of time, usually between 15 and 20 years. However, it’s all dependent on how much you care for your cat, and whether they have any ailments along the way.
  • Sociability: Flame Points love being around people and other pets. They’re highly affectionate and like a lot of attention, so it’s important to make sure you’re around as much as possible. These cats are great for families.

Flame Point Siamese: Price

The exact price you’ll pay to purchase or adopt any cat will depend on a number of factors, including where you find your groomer, whether you have any documentation about the cat’s heritage, and so on. 

Ideally, you’ll want to look for a groomer who will give your cat their vaccinations and a chip before you take them home. 

Since they’re a lot more difficult to find than the traditional Siamese, a Flame Point Siamese is also far more expensive. 

You’re less likely to find one of these cats in a shelter – though it is possible. 

Depending on the appearance of your cat, and whether the parents are show cats, you can pay anything from $500 to $2000 for a Flame Point Siamese. 

As always, when you’re purchasing a kitten, it’s important to do as much research as possible into the breeder, and the background of the cat, so you know what you’re getting into.

Red Point Siamese: Personality

A beautiful cat is great, but you also want to know you’re going to have a cat that’s affectionate, loving, and playful. 

Fortunately, you can definitely expect all of this and more from a Flame Point Siamese.

Many Siamese cats are known for being friendlier than the standard cat breed, and they’re also more likely to follow you around the house. 

These furry friends are fiercely loyal and form extremely strong bonds with their owners.

While they may not always want to sit on your lap, they’ll appreciate being as close to you as possible, as often as they can. 

Indeed, many Flame Point Siamese cats, like other Siamese, could end up suffering from separation anxiety if you’re away for too long.

Flame Point Siamese cats require a lot of attention and exercise, so they’re unlikely to appeal to homeowners who need to be out at work a lot. 

It’s also worth noting that these cats share the characteristic of the traditional Siamese of being extremely talkative. 

This feline friend will be keen to tell you all about her day, and she may even spend hours having conversations with herself. 

They love a good "meow"!

Because they’re quite intelligent, Flame Point Siamese cats can sense your mood and alter behavior accordingly. 

They’ll also follow simple commands in most cases but can often end up getting distracted in many circumstances too. 

Are Red Points Good for Families?

Flame Point Siamese cats could actually be the perfect pet for a family. The intense desire these kitties have for company and cuddles makes them ideal for kids who want to spend a lot of time playing and petting their furry friend. 

They’re also extremely affectionate, so you don’t have to worry about a stand-offish or aloof attitude for the most part. 

Depending on the balance of American Shorthair and Siamese in your feline friend, you could find your cat likes to spend all their time running around, or most of their time cuddling. 

Do They Get Along with Other Pets?

A lot of Siamese cat breeds are well-known for getting along well with other pets. 

Specifically, these cats will usually like having other cats around to play and cuddle with, provided you introduce your two cats as carefully as possible. 

Flame Point Siamese cats are friendly with other animals too, such as dogs, though they may attempt to exert their dominance from time to time. 

They like to know they rule the roost in most households, so you might see the occasional territory dispute.

Like most cats, these felines also have a relatively high prey drive, which means they’re less likely to get along with any rodents or bunnies in your household. 

However, in some circumstances, they could be taught to live peacefully with virtually any animal.

siamese flame point breed

Flame Point Siamese: Things to Know

It’s important to remember that every cat is different, and your feline friend is sure to have its own distinct personality traits and quirks to consider.

However, the more you know about the nature of the Flame Point Siamese before you begin your adoption, the more prepared you can be.

Always research and source an ethical breeder with a good and long reputation. 

This will ensure the kittens will have documentation of all their vaccinations and exams, and will likely be registered, which means they’re registered with and recognized by a cat association (such as, The International Cat Association).

Here are some points to consider before you begin your search.

Food and Diet Needs

The good news for anyone planning on getting a Flame Point Siamese is you won’t necessarily need to spend a fortune on specialist cat foods. 

Instead, you should be focused simply on giving your cat a high-quality diet, with real meat protein as the number one ingredient. 

It’s up to you to determine whether you want to feed your cat wet food or dry food, or a combination of both. 

However, if you choose to go dry food only, you will need to ensure your cat is getting the right amount of moisture on a daily basis. Ensuring your cat always has a fresh bowl of water available or a cat fountain is essential for any feline.

Exercise

All cats will need at least some amount of exercise. Your cat needs to run around, play, and generally stretch its muscles to stay happy and healthy. 

A Flame Point Siamese is particularly likely to want to spend as much time as possible playing with you and your family. 

These cats are active, and they love exploring.

Siamese cats are naturally curious, so you can expect them to spend a lot of time trying to burrow into places they’re not supposed to be or climbing up or jumping on top of various pieces of furniture.

 It’s worth making sure you have a good cat scratching post in place, with high areas where your cat can survey their kingdom.

Set aside a decent amount of time each day to play with your cat so you can nurture their mind, exercise their bodies, and create stronger bonds.

Training

As we noted above, Flame Point Siamese cats are extremely intelligent. Although cats can be very difficult to train, no matter the breed, these cats are well-known for being able to follow some basic commands. 

If you start early with the training and offer plenty of positive reinforcement and treats, you may even be able to teach your cat how to sit. 

For the most part, however, you should at least be able to teach your cat where to go to the bathroom, where to sleep, and some other important commands to make life as simple as possible.

Grooming

Flame Point Siamese cats usually have short hair, which means you shouldn’t need to invest a lot of time in grooming. 

Kitty baths aren’t necessary as your kitty will take care of that themselves. However, it is worth taking some time to look after your cat’s coat whenever you can.

A little brushing on a weekly basis will help to keep hairballs and shedding to a minimum, while offering you a great bonding session with your kitty. 

Additionally, it’s a good idea to keep on top on some regular claw trimming to protect your furniture.

Health Issues 

Notably, Flame Point Siamese cats aren’t usually associated with any specific health ailments, like other breeds of cats. 

However, they could be exposed to a number of common health problems from their American Shorthair and Siamese parents. 

Arthritis, hip dysplasia, and feline hyperesthesia are some of the main concerns for most Flame Point Siamese cats. 

Arthritis will make it difficult for your kitty to move around properly and could mean they need to get regular medication to help manage the pain. 

Hip dysplasia causes the joint of the hip to break down over time, which can lead to significant problems with movement.

Other conditions you may notice in your Flame Point Siamese include retinal atrophy, a condition that affects the inside of the eye. When retinal atrophy takes place, this can lead to vision loss. 

Common symptoms include dilated pupils and an inability to balance and move properly.

PICA is another condition a Flame Point Siamese might experience, which involves them eating materials and foods not intended for consumption, like wood, or carpet. 

Of course, if your cat eats something it shouldn’t, it could just be being naughty.

Flame Point Siamese? The Verdict

There’s no one-size-fits-all guide to choosing the perfect cat for any household. 

A Flame Point Siamese cat is an extremely popular and sought-after version of the Siamese cat, offering families a wonderfully playful and loving companion. 

If you have a busy household with plenty of people who can be around to offer this kitty attention and exercise, then this could be the cat for you. 

On the other hand, if you spend a lot of time out of the house, and you’re looking for a cat that can entertain itself, a Flame Point might not be the right choice.

And, finally, do just remember that this cat breed also may not be ideal for apartments, as it is very vocal. 

Picture credit: The pictures in this breed description are of a cat called 'Pistachio' ('Pistu' for short). You can follow him and his outdoor adventures (because these Flame Points love to be outside!) on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/pistuthekitty/.

About the author

Rebekah Carter is a dedicated animal lover. Her Savannah cat, Roscoe, has a lot of attitude, while her Maine Coon, Dukino, is full of love. When not writing, she’s looking after her cats and researching ways to help them live their best possible life. Her passion for animals and natural skill for writing led her to pursue pet blogging.

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