Patterns in the Domesticated Cat – Part 3: The Pointed Patterns
June 25, 2026
The Pointed Gene and Its Variation
Pat Jacobberger, CFA Judge Emeritus
The Siamese cat is one of the most easily recognized breeds of cat primarily because of its characteristic pointed pattern. However, when people think they are looking at a Siamese cat, they may, in fact, be looking at an entirely different breed or even a non-pedigreed cat. The confusion arises because the Siamese gene (which causes the pattern) has been introduced into many gene pools, including the gene pool at large. Another confounding issue is that we use the term “Siamese” to identify a pattern, a gene and a breed of pedigreed cat!
The pointed pattern, also known as the “colorpoint,” “Siamese,” “and “Himalayan” patterns, is a distinctive pattern created by the Siamese gene. The Siamese gene, which is thermally sensitive, causes color and pattern to be deposited at the coolest parts of the cat’s body – at the extremes. As a result, the face, ears, feet, and tail have color and pattern while the body of the cat is cream or white. As a pointed patterned cat grows older, the body color darkens usually because there is an overall decrease of blood flow to the animal’s skin.
Cats with pointed patterns can have any color and any pattern at the “points.” However, eye color is genetically linked to the Siamese gene, so all cats with the pointed pattern have blue eyes. This does not mean that all cats with blue eyes have because of the Siamese gene. Blue eyes occur in a variety of patterns in cats.
Modifiers of the Siamese gene can produce variations on a pointed patterned cat. The Siamese gene causes extreme contrast (dark points and a light body). The Burmese gene, associated with Burmese cat and the European Burmese cat, reduces this contrast. A more uniform color across the body is evident, with less-defined, warmer-toned points particularly in light-colored individuals. When kittens in litters influenced by the Burmese gene are first born, the points can often be clearly seen in all the offspring.
Note: Geneticists refer to these variants as “modifiers” or “alleles” of the color gene, and not genes unto themselves. However, the concept is the same. The cat’s pattern is modified by Burmese colorpoint restriction allele, the Siamese colorpoint restriction allele, or both!
When kittens are born from parents carrying a Siamese gene and a Burmese gene, they can display a pattern referred to as “mink,” which is common in the Tonkinese. The mink pattern shows an intermediate, warmer, and lighter color than a pedigreed Burmese, but in the correct light, one can still see the points in the mink pattern.
Some specific breeds of pedigreed cats which are defined by a pointed pattern include:
- Balinese
- Birman – pointed pattern with white feet
- Burmese and European Burmese – Burmese gene
- Colorpoint Shorthair
- Himalayan Persian
- Javanese
- Ragdoll – all three patterns are either pointed or a variation of the pointed pattern (pointed and white, mitted)
- Siamese
- Tonkinese – Burmese and Siamese genes
Knowing the variations of this fascinating gene may prevent you from erroneously complimenting the proud owners of, say, a Tonkinese or a Balinese, on their beautiful “Siamese”!
