In this article
View 8 More +The Flame Point Siamese Cat (also known as Red Point Siamese) is a color variation that typically results from crosses with other breeds and is often recognized within the Oriental cat group, rather than a direct variation of the traditional Siamese breed. Some cat associations recognize this color variation, while others do not. The International Cat Association (TICA) accepts the red point coloration in Oriental Shorthair cats (and in their Traditional Siamese standard, which is distinct from their main Siamese standard). However, the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) does not recognize it as part of the Siamese breed but does accept it within the Oriental cat group.
Breed Overview
Height:
8-12 inches
Weight:
9–14 pounds
Lifespan:
15–20 years
Colors:
Flame point
Suitable for:
Families and companionship, with or without other pets
Temperament:
Dignified, caring, intelligent
These cats love attention and will reciprocate that attention by climbing and sitting on you constantly.
Flame Point Siamese Cat Characteristics
Flame Point Siamese Kittens
Flame Point Siamese cats are less common among traditionally bred Siamese, as they fall outside of standard Siamese color recognition for major associations, but they are not extremely rare in the broader cat population. Finding a kitten will be a bit of a challenge! The best way to find one of these red point gems is to look for a reputable breeder, usually connected with a cat breed association, like TICA or CFA. However, depending on the status of the parents, Flame Point Siamese kittens might cost a pretty penny. But paying a high price for a healthy, looked-after kitten is better than paying a lower price for a kitten that might have genetic issues or other illnesses.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Flame Point Siamese Cat
The Flame Point Siamese cat is known for being a little more friendly than other cats and is often considered doglike because they tend to follow you around the house. It likes to be with people and can suffer separation anxiety if you go away for too long. It’s also very active and fast. One of the most interesting things about it is that it is a very vocal cat that regularly carries on entire conversations with itself.
The Flame Point Siamese is also very intelligent and can sense your mood and alter its behavior accordingly. It can follow simple commands and will often try to exert control over any other animals you have in the house, including dogs.
Are These Cats Good for Families? 👪
The Flame Point Siamese is a highly social cat that can be the perfect family pet. With its constant vocalizations and intense desire for company and pets, it’s beloved by many. It’s well suited to children and the elderly and is self-sufficient if a family member is nearby.
Does This Cat Get Along With Other Pets?
Yes, the Flame Point Siamese cat is reported to be one of the friendliest cats. It usually adapts well to living with other cats, even later in life, when many other breeds are too set in their ways to allow a new family member.
Things to Know When Owning a Flame Point Siamese
In this section, we’ll list a few things you should consider before purchasing a Flame Point Siamese Cat.
Food & Diet Requirements 🐡
Cats are carnivores, so they require a diet high in protein. We recommend a food brand and recipe that contains at least 25% protein and has at least one whole meat, like chicken, beef, turkey, or tuna listed in the ingredients, preferably as the first ingredient.
Wet cat food can add moisture to the diet and help if your cat suffers from constipation or dandruff. Dry cat food can help remove plaque and tartar from your pet’s teeth, though brushing and professional dental cleanings are often more effective for dental health. Dry food is also the way to go if your cat has loose stools or diarrhea after eating the wet food.
Exercise 🐈
The Flame Point Siamese is an active cat that loves to explore. Larger homes are better, but you can supply plenty of places to investigate by placing boxes, shelves, and other platforms around your home. There are several commercial cat condos you can choose from to give your cat more places to explore.
The best way to encourage your cat to get the activity it needs is to take a few minutes and play a game with them. The laser penlight is a controversial way to get your cat running through the house. If you decide to use it, always end laser pointer play with a physical toy your cat can “catch” to prevent frustration.
Training 🧶
Cats are notoriously difficult to train, but the Flame Point Siamese is known for following simple commands. You can try training your cat the same way you would train your dog, with plenty of positive reinforcement and treats. With patience, your Flame Point Siamese can learn commands like sit, here, roll over, and many more
Grooming ✂️
Grooming your Flame Point Siamese is extremely easy. It will only require you to occasionally comb the hair to keep the shedding and hairballs down, and nail trimming to keep your furniture and curtains intact.
Health and Conditions 🏥
Let’s look at some of the most common ailments that a Flame Point Siamese may face.
- Arthritis
- Hip Dysplasia
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Pica
Cats can get arthritis in their bones and joints as humans can, which can be just as painful. Arthritis usually starts later in age, but some injuries can bring it on a little sooner. Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis, but lowering the cat’s weight and providing anti-inflammatory medication may help relieve the pain.
Hip dysplasia is an abnormality of the hip joint where the ball and socket do not move smoothly, causing the joint to break down over time, affecting the cat’s ability to bear weight on the leg. Persian cats have a higher incidence of the disease, which is made worse by their high activity level. Obesity can also increase the rate at which the disease progresses.
Retinal atrophy is a condition that affects the retina, where the light is processed before traveling to the brain. With retinal atrophy, the light-sensitive cells of the eye, the rods and cones, can no longer function correctly, resulting in vision loss. Signs include dilated pupils and behavioral changes. Getting your cat from a reputable breeder is essential to avoid this disease.
Pica is a term for a condition where your cat is prone to eating inedible materials. Eating inedible things can lead to obstructions and other problems with the digestive system. Doctors are unsure why cats and dogs exhibit this pica behavior, but think it could be due to boredom or diet. If you notice your cat eating something that it shouldn’t, try to play with it so you can safely hide the item. If the activity persists, you may need a vet or a training class.
Male vs Female
The female Flame Point Siamese cat tends to be more temperamental and spends more time prowling her territory, while the male is more laid back and prefers lounging in a ray of sunlight. The males also tend to be a little larger in height and weight than the females and can often weigh up to 5 pounds more.
3 Little-Known Facts About The Flame Point Siamese Cat
1. These Cats are Very Rare to Find
These Cats are a distinct color pattern, but are not a “rare color” of the traditional Siamese breed by most major associations. It’s incredibly difficult to achieve the red flame color and even more difficult to breed out the tabby lines.
2. They Did Not Breed Red Point Cats Until the 1930s
In the 1930s, several breeders worked for years to perfect the breed, and it took several attempts.
3. 75% of all Flame Point Siamese Cats are Male
This is due to the red color gene being located on the X chromosome, a phenomenon known as X-linked inheritance. It’s a known genetic fact, but it’s interesting to point out that most Flame Point Siamese cats are male.
Final Thoughts
We hope you have enjoyed reading about this distinct red point coloration often found in Oriental-type cats, and that it has helped answer any questions you had when you began reading. If you have found some interesting facts, please share this guide to the Flame Point (red) Siamese cat with your cat-loving friends!
Related Reads:
- Interesting Facts About Seal Point Siamese Cats (With Pictures)
- Seal Point Siamese: Pictures, Info, Origin & More
Featured Image Credit: Kolganova Daria, Shutterstock
16 Responses
Hi. We adopted a brother and sister. The male is a flame point and his sister is a calico. She has the tabby striped face. Their names are George and Gracie. George has been the friendlier of the two from the beginning. He got his name due to his level of curiosity. He constantly is in the middle of trouble. We don’t need entertainment with George around. Gracie is our “princess”. We also have a 75lb German Shepherd/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix pup named Max who will actually intervene when George bullies Gracie. They are our three kids. We have rescued all of our “children”. Each one has given us a special kind of love. Every time we lose one of our “kids”, we are losing a family member. They are so much a part of who we are, I can’t imagine a life without them. Please adopt an animal if you can! You will be so blessed for opening your home and heart!
Hi Lisa, thanks for sharing your story. Your kids sound gorgeous and thankfully very loved too. Please consider enrolling them in our Cat of the Week contest: https://www.catster.com/submit-your-cat/ 🙂
I have a rescue Flame Pointed and as I was watching the video I so many of the same characteristics ..He loves water and the sink thing like the one in the video and has no issue when my grand babys put him in the pool with them lol! I live on a lake and have to catch him a fresh perch every day and he eats the whole thing only a wet spot left other than a spot on the nose of mine, you could not tell the two apart. Dude is his nameand he is his 15 lbs of love and affection..
Palma, thank you for sharing your happy and lucky cat's story! Please consider submitting a high-quality photo of Dude to our Cat of the Week contest: https://www.catster.com/submit-your-cat/ ????
Hi you’re definitely looking after your cat very well and he sounds like a lovely boy. I’d be very careful about him eating fish every day as cats are obligate carnivores and must eat meat every day to stay healthy. I used to feed my previous cats fish every weekend and they developed hyperthyroidism at the age of 10. I was told by my vet recently that cats shouldn’t be fed fish as it causes issues long term. Fish can be an occasional treat but not his meal.
Thanks for your comment, Dee Dee. It's important to clarify that while an association exists, a direct cause-and-effect relationship hasn't been proven. Many cats consume fish their entire lives without developing hyperthyroidism. The condition is likely influenced by a combination of genetics, diet, and environmental factors. It's true that fish can have varying iodine content, and the thyroid is highly sensitive to iodine balance. Additionally, some seafood (and can linings) may contain chemicals like PBDEs (flame retardants) or BPA, which could potentially disrupt thyroid function.
I am a first time foster parent, and it looks like I’m going to be an immediate ‘foster fail’. The very first pet. I remember growing up was a Siamese cat, and one of my earliest pet memories was with my mother, teaching me how to gently caress his head. I have been wanting to have Siamese cats for 30 years, but I always adopt through shelters. And I have never seen a Siamese cat available for adoption. I have two, white, flame point males and they are the sweetest things ever. Came to me at 2 pounds each and I don’t think I’m gonna be able to give them up. They love cuddling, playing and purring.
Hi Claranne Jones, thanks for sharing your story, your kitties sound so cute. Avoiding foster failure is quite a challenge, they silently pounce right into our homes. Please consider sending their pictures to participate in our cat of the week photo contest: https://www.catster.com/submit-your-cat/ Have a nice day!
We are owned by a female flamepoint cat who was birthed by a barn cat (not Siamese). We adopted her and her brother, a lilac point male who was wonderful but unfortunately died of a blood clot last year. We had no idea how rare female flame points were until we read this article. She looks exactly like the photos though she is not a purebread! People exclaim about her colour. She gives us love every day!
Hi Denise Hubl, thanks for sharing your story, your Flame Point sounds gorgeous. Please consider sending us a picture for our cat of the week contest: https://www.catster.com/submit-your-cat/
We love to hear stories about our readers and their cats making each other happy. Have a great day!
Thank you so much for the wonderful information! I’ve had my little guy, Prints Charming (completely suits him) for almost a year now and he brings me so much joy. I recently underwent several operations due to cancer so I got him to ease the emotional trauma and it was the best decision I could have made. He is a great companion and is always by my side. He talks a lot and it’s just so adorable to hear him, he is friendly towards everyone but there’s no denying who his main squeeze is (ME) as he is very protective and has to be close to me or touching me most all of the time. I appreciate all the information on how to care for him! If you’re considering one of these little guys, do it!!! You will not regret it
Hi Rebecca Lee, so happy to hear you enjoyed our post, your Prints Charming sounds gorgeous! Please consider sending us his picture we have a Cat of the Week contest! You can use this link ???? https://www.catster.com/submit-your-cat/ Best wishes and thank you very much for your warning comment, cats are healers for sure!
I loved your article about Flame Point Siamese cats. I got my little one at the end of September this year. He was only a week and a half old, mama cat rejected him and he would not latch onto a surrogate mama. Litter mates would push him aside. He only weighed .09 oz. at the time. I spent the next 2 months bottle feeding round the clock. At 3 months old he is at 3 and a half lbs. Everything with him is progressing normally. In the beginning there was concerns he would not survive. He has a fighting spirit and a very spicy attitude about him. He gets along great with my German Shepherd and my 15 year old female cat. He loves meeting new people and car rides. When he wants to go on a road trip, he packs himself in his carrier. At such a young age when I got him, he was not strong enough to move around. Nowadays he does more flying around the house than anything. He is a joy to have in my life! His name is Spice
Hey Chris, thank you so much for sharing Spice’s rescue story! He sounds like a bundle of cuteness! sound amazing! Please consider sending us their pic for our cat of the week contest! You can use this link https://www.catster.com/submit-your-cat/. We are happy to hear he brings joy to your life. ????Thanks for reading us!
Well now I picked this kitten up out of town paid 10$ for him had no idea he was a flame point Siamese. He is the sweetest boy just came from the vet who told us about how rare he is. We knew he was special all personality and loving. Enjoyed your article explained a lot. Thanks
Hi Steven and Cathy Gavel, thanks for your comment and for reading us, we are happy to hear you enjoyed the post. So lucky you got a loving flame point in your family. If you would like to share his picture you can do it at: https://www.catster.com/submit-your-cat/, we have a weekly photo contest!