The Siamese cat combines the grace of the panther, the fleetness of the deer, the softness of down, the strength of the tiger, the affection of the dog and the courage of the lion...they are a continual study in symmetry, grace and elegance." Marge Naples, This is the Siamese Cat, 2nd edition 1978.The Siamese is the parent breed for the Siamese Breed Group which includes the Balinese (truly a long haired Siamese), and the Oriental Shorthair and Longhair which share the same body type, but come with a different "paint job". Siamese are graceful, lively, long, slender, strong, muscular, demanding, talkative, and very intelligent. They are very social and people oriented. They must have people around to thrive.