What is the traditional Thai name for the Siamese cat?

Wichianmat is the traditional Thai name for the Siamese cat.

The name Wichianmat is associated with the pointed domestic cat traditionally known in Thailand. In Thailand, the breed is also called wichien-maat or wichianmat, while “Siamese” reflects the former Western name for Thailand, Siam.

Historical Thai cat manuscripts, including the Tamra Maew tradition, depict and describe several auspicious cat types. Siamese cats were associated with royal and temple settings in popular accounts, although modern retellings sometimes exaggerate the exclusivity of that history.

The Siamese breed is recognized for a pale body, darker points on the face, ears, legs, and tail, and blue eyes. Its color pattern is temperature-sensitive: cooler body extremities develop darker pigment. Modern show Siamese cats generally have a more slender form than traditional-type Siamese cats.