What Are Siamese Flame-Point Cats? [FAQ & Pictures]

Intrigued by Siamese cats' allure? Their unique origins and stylish allure have mesmerized us for years. Yet, have you stumbled upon the uncommon Siamese Flame-Point variant?

Don't worry, we have done the research to bring you every detail about this extraordinary coloration.

Flame point Siamese cats are a rare treat to behold. A gem of the Siamese breed, their coats are a luxurious cream or off-white, adorned with vivid reddish points.

It's a sight that's not common, but guess what? This dazzling coloring can pop up in a variety of breeds, and even in domestic cats with no specific breed lineage.

Ever pondered the role of genetics in defining a cat's color? We're here to satisfy your curiosity.

In this piece, we unravel the genetic secrets behind flame point coloring. We've got answers to all the questions stirring in your mind.

So, why wait? Keep scrolling and unveil the mystic beauty of these magnificent feline pals.

What Creates The Colorpoint Pattern?

The color of a cat's coat is the result of the pigmentation of the individual hairs. The pigment molecule involved is called melanin and it's produced at the base of the growing hair.

Without melanin, we get light colors, such as white or cream in the coat. The lack of melanin in the eye creates blue eyes.

When the body produces melanin, it uses an enzyme called tyrosinase. Colorpoint cats have a mutated version of the enzyme which is sensitive to heat.

When it's too warm, the mutated tyrosinase in colorpoints simply won't work, preventing the production of melanin.

The cat's paws, face, ears, and tail are cooler because they are further away from the core of the body.

The reduced temperature allows the mutated enzyme to effectively participate in the creation of pigments, resulting in darker fur in those areas.

Interesting fact: Colorpoint cats are born entirely white (or light-colored). While the kittens are inside the mother cat's womb, even the extremities of their bodies are securely surrounded by warmth.

The maternal body heat renders the tyrosinase useless, so the kittens cannot produce pigment and remain white in the womb.

Once the kittens are born, their body begins to produce melanin in the cooler areas, so that within a few weeks, they begin to show a distinct colorpoint pattern.

Colorpoint is a recessive gene. Two-pointed cats (such as two Siamese) will always produce pointed kittens.

Pointed kittens can also be born in a litter if both parents carry the colorpoint gene, even if the parents themselves are not pointed.

The Siamese Flame-Point Variant

Flame point cats have a colorpoint pattern but the color of their points is red, or rather orange. 

Genetically, they are red tabby cats with two copies of the colorpoint gene. Had it not been for the suppression of melanin production, they would have been red tabby cats.

Red is not a recessive trait, so it cannot be “carried.” Like other red tabby cats, flame point cats always have at least one red or tortoiseshell parent.

With many flame point cats, the tabby pattern is visible in the rings on their tail and the distinct "M" shaped mark on their forehead, typical of tabby cats.

Flame-point or red-point cats have many fans. The combination of the reddish face and blue eyes is unique and adorable!

Read more: All About Tabby Cats

What Does A Flame Point Siamese Look Like?

All Siamese cats share the colorpoint coat pattern and have blue eyes. The Siamese breed has always been a relatively slender, elegant cat.

The show standard calls for this breed to have a long body with long legs, large ears, and a wedge-shaped head type.

Over the years, cats bred towards this show standard have gradually become more extreme in type, and are sometimes known as "modern" Siamese cats.

Some lines of pedigreed Siamese cats, sometimes known as “Traditional” or “Old-Style” Siamese, have a more moderate type with somewhat rounder heads and bodies.

As for the color of the points, not all associations accept flame points as an allowed color in Siamese show standards. 

In the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the Siamese breed only includes cats in the original four colors: seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac.

Flame points, tortie points, and lynx points are considered to be part of the Colorpoint Shorthair breed in CFA. The International Cat Association (TICA) on the other hand, allows for flame/red points.

Their breed standard allows points to be of any color, as long as they are clearly marked and distinct from the background color.

How Common Is The Flame Point Color?

Flame point is an uncommon color in cats. After all, the flame point is a specific variation of the recessive colorpoint trait, which in itself is not common.

As mentioned, some registries and clubs, such as the Cat Fanciers’ Association, don’t recognize flame point cats as Siamese.

In CFA, these cats are known as Colorpoint Shorthairs, while in TICA they are considered Siamese. Whether or not the color is allowed, these cats tend to be less common than other colors of Siamese.

Flame Point is not exclusive to the Siamese breed!

There are also other recognized breeds that allow flame point (redpoint) as a color option, such as Ragdoll, Himalayan, Siberian (Neva Masquerade), Devon Rex, and many other breeds.

Flame point cats also appear from time to time in shelters and rescues. Most of these cats are not closely related to any particular breed but share the flame point color.

What Other Colors Do Siamese Cats Come In?

While professional cat associations across the globe do not agree on the status of the flame point color within the Siamese breed, they are in agreement on other colors that official Siamese cats can have. 

These colors are:

Seal Points

The most traditional variation is the seal point Siamese. This cat has dark, almost inky, brown points with a cream-colored body. The color of the points is reminiscent of the color of a seal, hence the name.

Chocolate Points

While also brown, chocolate point Siamese cats have lighter extremities and white bodies.

While seal points are a darker, oily brown that almost verges on black, chocolate points have more noticeable highlights and variations of shades in their extremities.

Blue Points

Bluepoint Siamese cats have a whitish-colored body with a bit of a steel blue tint. Their points are a steel greyish-blue.

Lilac Points

Where chocolate points seem to be a softer version of the seal points, lilac points can be seen as the softer version of the blue points.

Lilac Point Siamese cats still have an off-white body but their points are an even softer grey, with a pinkish tint.

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What Other Breeds Come In Flame Point?

Aside from Siamese, there are other breeds of cats that can have flame point coloring.

Some of the most well-known ones are Persian, Himalayan, Colorpoint Shorthair, and Ragdoll. Keep in mind, though, that flame point simply refers to a cat's fur coloration.

It is possible to have a cat with flame point coloring that isn't any of these breeds but instead is simply a domestic cat, either shorthaired or longhaired.

Two popular breeds that support the flame point pattern are -

Flame Point Persian or Himalayan

Flame Point Persians are also considered to be Himalayan cats – a variety that was originally created by combining Siamese and Persian cats.

These cats are similar to Siamese in that they have cream-colored bodies with flame point coloring highlighting their extremities.

However, they are otherwise identical to Persian cats in build and facial shape.

Flame Point Ragdoll

A flame point ragdoll has an off-white body with reddish markings on the head, tail, and legs. Ragdoll cats often have white markings on their paws and faces, as well. 

Ragdolls are somewhat similar in appearance to the Himalayans because of their long fur.

How Long Does Flame Point Siamese Live?

Flame Point Siamese cats have a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years, which is the standard life expectancy of the Siamese cat breed, or any cat for that matter.

Since the term flame point refers to coloring and coat pattern, and not breed, it does not have an impact on feline life expectancy.

Are Flame Point Siamese Cats Mean?

Siamese cats are affectionate, social, and relatively high-energy. 

Because they enjoy playing and can be persistent to get what they want, their assertive and dominant personality is sometimes misunderstood as mean or aggressive. 

Siamese cats are very intelligent, so they quickly learn how to get what they want from their owners. Remember that your cat is always paying attention and learning from what you do.

Use positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors, and make sure not to reinforce negative behaviors.

Flame points are one color variation of the Siamese breed. While each individual cat has its own personality, the color of a cat does not have an impact on personality traits.

Flame point Siamese cats have the same personality traits as other color variations of the Siamese breed.

Choosing a Humane Flame Point Siamese Breeder

Before choosing to purchase a cat of any breed from a breeder, you should learn as much as you can about the breeder’s household and cattery, how the cats are kept, and how the kittens are raised. 

While there are many reputable and humane breeders, not all breeders are responsible and dedicated to their cats’ welfare.

Take a look at our article “Breeding Cats: What Cat Owners Need to Know” to learn more about cat breeding and what to look for when choosing a humane breeder.

Reputable breeders may have price differences between kittens, but should not charge significantly more money for a specific color because it is “rare.” 

In terms of behavior, health, and personality, flame point Siamese kittens are similar to other Siamese kittens.

While flame point Siamese cats should be purebred, some people breed unregistered pointed cats that are not really any particular breed and misrepresent them as "Siamese."

If you are looking for a specific breed of cat, be sure that the breeder you purchase from provides sufficient documentation to prove the breed of the cat’s parents.

The flame point coloring also appears in non-pedigreed domestic longhaired and shorthaired cats.

If you are interested in adopting a flame point domestic shorthair or longhair, and none are available at your local shelter, you can try searching for flame point cats on a reputable online matching service such as Petfinder.

At any given time, there are usually a large number of flame-point cats in shelters and rescues needing homes.

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