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The Siamese have been called the aristocrats of the cat world. They are short haired, trim and sleek in appearance. Their eyes are blue and their bodies are cream or fawn colored. In striking contrast the cat's face, ears, paws and tail are dark. These darker parts are known as "points." To the untrained observer they all look somewhat alike but there are in reality three distinct types of Siamese—seal point, chocolate point, and blue point. The seal point, with the greatest contrast between body and the points, is the most widely known. However, cats with the chocolate and bluish colored points are being shown more and more. The Magnans raise all three types, striving at all times by wise and selective breeding to improve the strain of each.

ONE WOULD think from the quality of their cats and the recognition they have received at shows that the Magnans are Siamese breeders of long standing. Actually, not too long ago seal point could have been a place in the Bering Sea for all Eloise knew and if you said "cat," Frank would probably have replied "scat!"

Their first real introduction to the Siamese came about four years ago when they moved to El Sobrante near some people who had one. Eloise, especially, was attracted by their appearance and behavior. One day she made a casual remark to this effect to another neighbor, who volunteered, "You want a Siamese? I know one that's going to be given away."

Eloise thought this was wonderful. Frank wasn't so sure but like most considerate husbands he gave in with a grudging "Well, I suppose, if you want it—."

His wife's delight turned to dismay when she saw her new cat. She couldn't think of a word to say in defense when Frank's reaction to Queenie was, "The saddest, scraggliest, scrawniest beat-up excuse for a cat I ever saw!" At the time, however, since their neighbor was obviously so pleased at being helpful, Eloise somehow managed a polite "Thank you" for the gift and Queenie joined the household on the same level as a number of loved but otherwise undistinguished pets the Magnans had owned in the past.

ONE DAY the Magnans happened to see an advertisement of a cat show in nearby Oakland and out of curiosity they attended. Although Queenie looked much better now that she was finally receiving proper care they could see a world of difference between their little pet and the prize-winning Siamese in the show. Right then and there they knew they had to own a really fine Siamese. It was "love at first sight" when they found Blue Bamboo, a beautiful pedigreed blue point female from the cattery of Mrs. Harold Chambers of Downey, California.

When the time came for Blue Bamboo to mate they took her to Mrs. Susie Schmidt's Encore Cattery in Richmond. Mrs. Schmidt praised Blue Bamboo highly and advised them to show her. This was an entirely new thought to the Magnans, who were willing to concede that their opinion of her might possibly be prejudiced. Mrs. Schmidt, however, pointed out their pet's particularly good qualities—the well-shaped body and dainty paws, long whip tail, fine color and lovely eyes—and knowing her background of experience in these matters they decided to take her advice.

It was in October of 1953 that they rather timorously entered Blue Bamboo in a cat show held in Sacramento. Much to their delight she won two red ribbons, taking second only to the famed Ta-Lee Ho's Ena. Later that month in Petaluma she won the blue ribbon first prize in the novice class and the coveted best Siamese novice award. (A cat is classed as a novice until it has won a blue ribbon.)

"I shed tears of joy on that one," Eloise confesses, "and Frank nearly burst with pride. Imagine our sweetie taking best over thirty-two wonderful cats."

WHILE PARTICIPATING in the shows is exciting and stimulating it is the day-to-day companionship of their cats that means the most to the Magnans. Mrs. Magnan maintains, "Once you've had a Siamese you'll never be without one," and Siamese owners everywhere agree. Cats are widely noted for their independence of spirit and indifference to human beings; Siamese not only enjoy but seek out the company of their owners. They are extremely active and agile and the adult cats are just as eager to play as the kittens. With their gay spirits, mischievous sense of humor and flair for the dramatic they make the most entertaining of pets.

"We get more laughs from their monkeyshines than we do from television," Frank says. "They put on a regular circus for us every evening."

Siamese cats are often compared to dogs. It is true that they can be taught tricks, trained to a leash, and are useful as watch animals. One of their favorite games is retrieving and they will delightedly bring objects back to their owner until his arm tires from throwing them.

Eloise works several different shifts, yet her cats never make a mistake in their timing. They start watching out the window for her five or ten minutes before her return and when she comes in the door she is welcomed with glad cries of joy. Some people, incidentally, find the cry of the Siamese cat objectionable. To one who understands them, however, their "conversation" is fascinating.

"They really do talk to you," Eloise says earnestly, "and they have a wide range of topics and tones. Each cat is different and each one is fun."

In addition to the happiness they find in their hobby the Magnans have reason to believe it has been beneficial to Eloise's health. Several years ago she was suffering severely from crippling arthritis. Her doctor believes it was her all-consuming interest in her cats that made it possible for her to overcome the threat of invalidism.

Both Eloise and Frank have had other hobbies but never one providing the sheer enjoyment and emotional satisfaction they receive from their cats. Collecting inanimate objects lacks appeal for them now that they have known the warmth of living and playing with these loving little creatures. Besides pleasure, and profit too, the hobby has led them to creative activity, that of decorating the cages in which they exhibit their cats. In the last five shows in which they have participated they have won four special awards for their clever and artistic decorations. They point out however that this is only background; the cats themselves are the stars of the show.

Whenever Siamese are on display they draw an admiring crowd. Their regal elegance, by the way, is their birthright. The cats came originally not only from Siam, but from the royal palace there in Bangkok where they were regarded as sacred. It was many generations before they were allowed out of the country at all. Yet their popularity which was once based on their rarity continues to grow as people learn to admire them for their unique individuality as well as their beauty.

IF YOU, like so many other discriminating would-be owners, decide you want a Siamese the Magnans cannot advise too strongly that you get a good specimen right from the beginning, not just a cat with Siamese coloring. This is true if you want to raise Siamese, show your cat, or merely possess a pet of which you can be truly proud. Go direct to a reputable breeder who takes pride in his stock and who is known to be reliable. Note the condition of the cattery and the general health of the cats.

A male cat makes a fine house pet, but only if he is neutered, so if you are thinking of starting a cattery you will probably want to get a female, or queen as she is called. The Magnans suggest that you choose a kitten around four months of age. The younger the kitten the more difficult it is to tell what it will be like when full grown, especially in Siamese, as the kittens are born pure white.

A good quality cat will have well defined points all of the same shade. The cat should be dainty rather than stocky in build with slim legs and small feet. The hind legs should be a trifle higher than the front legs. Eye color is of prime importance. Look for a deep, clear blue. The eyes should be almond-shaped.

"Guard against round eyes, kinked tails, or cats with round, flat faces," Mr. Magnan warns.

ONCE YOU have selected your cat you will want to know the best way to care for it. The Magnans recommend "The Siamese Cat Book," by Vera M. Nelson for specialized information, and "Cats and All About Them," by Dr. and Mrs. L. H. Fairchild as a valuable reference for all-around care.

There are three national organizations maintaining records on registered cats. Among other forms and information they will be glad to supply, they can tell you about cat clubs in your locality if you care to join one. They are:

American Cat Association, Mrs. Stanley Gibson, secretary-treasurer, 1710 Wesley Avenue, Evanston, Illinois.

Cat Fanciers' Association, Mrs. Myrtle K. Shipe, secretary, 20615 Patton Court, Detroit 28, Michigan.

Cat Fanciers Federation, Mrs. Ralph A. Wilkinson, secretary, 1250 Bedford Street, Stamford, Connecticut.

Your pet's former owner will tell you about its accustomed diet and you will not want to make any sudden changes. (Frank made up a helpful list of instructions and advice which he had mimeographed to give to each of the Magnans' new customers.) There is one thing the Magnans would like to stress in regard to feeding, however, and it is this: Contrary to popular belief, milk is not an adequate food for cats in itself. Use milk as a liquid in addition to, but not in place of, solid food. Fish is fine on occasion, either canned or fresh if it is boneless, but the point to remember is that cats are carnivorous and meat should form the foundation of their diet. Horse meat is used a great deal because it is inexpensive but any lean meat is good. Heart, liver and kidney make welcome variants. All meat should be ground or chopped very fine. There are many products canned especially for cats as well as kibbled cat food and cereal type foods. A good diet is varied and balanced. Of course all foods are served at room temperature, never refrigerator-cold. And your pet must have access to fresh water at all times.

FOR A stronger, healthier and better looking cat the Magnans advise the daily addition of vitamin A, C, and D. They use Tri-Vi-Sol, three drops for each cat. Brewers yeast tablets provide essential vitamin B1. Give one tablet daily. Elo-Yse cats consider the tablets a treat and eagerly chew them up like candy. If they did not, they would receive them crushed in their food.

An adequate, vitamin-enriched diet is important for any cat; it is an absolute necessity for a show cat. No amount of grooming can take the place of nutrition which guarantees a rich, lustrous coat, shining eyes, and an air of vigor and alertness. Also, a few minutes spent brushing a cat daily is better than hours of grooming just before a show. The Magnans use a shampoo massage brush with hard rubber bristles to loosen the dead hair and then, believe it or not, they vacuum the cats, using the straight open pipe on their cleaner.

"Our cats love it," Eloise says, "just as they enjoy any attention. But if the vacuuming frightened them I would omit it, of course."

The daily brushing is important not only because it keeps them sleek and attractive but because it eliminates a lot of loose hair in their coats which they can swallow as they wash themselves and which can make them ill.

An occasional gentle cleansing of the inside of the ears with a cotton swab dipped in olive oil is in order. A loved, well fed, daily brushed cat really needs no other attention.

"Unless," Eloise adds, "she chases her ball into the fireplace like Wing Thai did once. She came out looking like Little Black Sambo and had to have a bath. But we use water only in such emergencies and then take extra precautions against chilling."

"Another thing to look out for," Frank says, "is that your cat doesn't chew and swallow pieces of plastic or rubber toys while teething. This happens around four to six months of age and they do need to chew. It's safest, and it really helps, to give them a bone."

A Siamese queen often begins to "call," or show her readiness to mate, at an early age but it is best to wait until she is at least ten months old, preferably a year, for a healthier mother and stronger kittens. Before you select the mate the Magnans advise you to analyze your cat's shortcomings as impartially as possible, then look for a stud cat strong in the qualities where she is weak. Supposing, for example, your queen has a tail that is a trifle short. (The tail that can be turned back to the cat's shoulder blades is considered ideal.) You would choose as a mate for her a cat with an especially long tail. The same is true of eye color, shape of head, color of points or any other feature you wish to improve in the kittens which you can expect sixty-three to sixty-five days from the time of mating. Four or five kittens is an average litter although as many as eight have been reported and a single kitten is not unknown.

PROBABLY, LIKE the Magnans, you won't feel the need for a cattery for awhile, but as you build up your stock the day will probably come as it did to them.

"It got to such a point," Eloise recalls, "that we could hardly move for cats. We had seventeen living in the house with us at one time. It was either build a new house for them, or for us. We flipped a coin, and they won."

"Not really new, though," Frank explains. "Fortunately for the budget I had an old pigeon pen I was able to convert at very little cost. I put in wire partitions to make four separate rooms."

To further illustrate his ingenuity, he utilized an old brooder thermostat to maintain the temperature at seventy degrees day and night. This even warm temperature is important for Siamese, as cold causes their coats to get heavy and coarse. Each room in the cattery has its separate runway where the cats can exercise out in the sunshine and each has its own climbing facilities and scratching post. Even with such comfortable quarters the Magnans use the cattery only for the overflow, alternating the cats who stay in the house so that they all get the individual love and companionship that make them such delightful pets.

The one exception is the stud cat Encore Gizelle of Elo-Yse, who has his own specially constructed quarters in the cattery. Keeping a stud cat is hardly a responsibility for a novice breeder but it is almost a necessity when the cattery includes as many queens as the Magnans have. Of course, the stud fees are a source of profit too, varying from $15 to $75 according to whether or not papers are to be given and also according to the status that the cat has achieved as a result of his show appearances.

Gizelle, sired by Mrs. Schmidt's All Western double champion Hollywood Phar-Lapp of Norcliff, already has six points toward the required ten to make him a champion. It was in San Jose that the Magnans first showed him and he won thirteen ribbons, rosettes and trophies in a variety of classifications including best novice, and best blue point Siamese, best Siamese, and best foreign short hair among the males.

Another outstanding animal in the Magnan cattery is Wing Sing, seal point queen bred to Sha Lin's Pra Ping Thai, All Western double champion owned by Mrs. Miriam Williams of San Francisco. While Wing has yet to be shown, two of her kittens took honors at the All-Breed kitten show held recently in Marin County. Bo-Thai won, the gold loving cup awarded to the best senior kitten, and among other ribbons a blue one for best seal point. His litter brother, Sen-Say-Shun, came in second in this class.

SHOWING YOUR cats is not only exciting and fun, it is also the best possible way to attract customers. Many people who come to see, stay to buy. As one woman put it as she picked out the graceful Elo-Yse kitten that was to be her own, "I came, I saw, I was conquered!"

This also happens to people who are passing by, see your road sign, and stop "just to look." Frank advises, "Don't just scribble 'Siamese cats for sale' on a blackboard." The Magnans's sign has both permanency and dignity. It is constructed of red wood and is attractively lettered "Pedigreed Siamese—Kittens," with part of the background painted silver. Their sign is attached to their mailbox, but Frank thinks it would even be better to have your name right on your sign so a closer connection would be made. Business cards are a necessity as you receive so many casual inquiries that lead to later sales.

"Our cats are our best advertisements," the Magnans say. This is true not only because of their quality but because registered cats always carry the name of the cattery where they were bred, even after they have been sold.

Occasionally, if they find themselves with a surplus of kittens they run a classified advertisement in a nearby city newspaper. (El Sobrante is close to Richmond, Oakland, and Berkeley as well as adjacent smaller communities.) Frank points out that the Christmas season is a natural for selling kittens as gifts, and it would be wise to run an advertisement at this time, possibly showing a picture of one of your Siamese. He recalls that the first Christmas they were in business they had a full dozen kittens on hand. They wondered if they would sell them all, then found that they could have sold twice that many in the Christmas rush.

"But can you guess what my cat-happy wife wanted for Christmas?" he asks.

Eloise says defensively, "Now you know my life wasn't complete without a chocolate point! And wasn't it nice of Santa Claus to bring me one!"

WHEN ASKED about the selling-price of their cats the Magnans explain that each cat is priced individually. The cat's pedigree, markings, strength, show potentialities and even his personality influence the price, which will range from $15 to $100. There will be a wide variation even among kittens of the same litter. If they have a kitten which seems to them to have a flaw they will sell it cheaply as a pet rather than give papers on it and charge much more. This is in line with their sincere concern to maintain the prestige and standards of the pure bred Siamese.

Also, they are very particular that the cats they sell receive good homes.

"I had a woman here recently," Eloise recalls, "who was only looking for a money making proposition. She didn't ask how to care for the cat, only wanted to know how many litters she could have in a year."

Needless to say, the woman didn't get cat at all, at least from the Elo-Yse cattery. There definitely is profit to be made in raising Siamese, but not by someone who lowers the standards and defeats his own purpose. Siamese, especially, being such sensitive, affectionate little creatures, require love and attention.

"Not that you could ever give them as much as they give you," Eloise says. "Their loyalty is unsurpassed and they seem to sense your every mood, entertaining you when you're bored, comforting you when you're blue."

Men as well as women respond to the Siamese. Several of their customers have been bachelors and lots of husbands buy them as gifts for their wives when in reality they want them for themselves. A typical male attitude is that of the man who flatly announced that he had a phobia about cats when his wife dragged him protestingly along with her to pick out a cat. About a month later he came back alone for another one, which happens often.