History
The Korat (named after a province of Thailand) is also known as the Si-Sawat (due to it's fur being the colour of sawat fruit seeds). Its ancestors are wild jungle Thailand cats and it was first recorded in a book of poems called the Smud Khoi of Cats which was produced in 1350 to 1767. The Korat was considered to be a symbol of good fortune and a gift of a pair of Korats to a bride was thought to guarantee a lucky marriage! The breed was introduced to the US in 1959 and was recognised as an official breed in 1965. It was recognised in Britain in 1972 and remains to this day a rare breed in the western world.
Description
The Korat is a medium sized and compact cat with a lithe and supple body. It has a heart shaped face with a short nose and large ears. This breed is known as the cat with five hearts - three are seen on the head. (A straight on view, looking down on the top of the head and the third over the nose). The other two hearts are the shape of the muscular chest when the cat is sitting and of course the heart inside the cat! As the Korat matures the shape of the hearts on the head become more obvious. The Korat has arresting eyes - the newborn has blue eyes which change to amber with a green hue around the pupil during adolescence. The mature cat's eyes are a luminous green. The ears have rounded tips with a large flare at the base which give the cat a very alert expression.
The body is semi-cobby and tapers at the waist. It appears to be a light weight but when picked up is surprisingly heavy and firm. The bulk is carried at the front of the cat with well developed and muscular shoulders, a short and heavy neck and a broad chest.
Size
6-10lbs (3-5kg)
Coat
The Korats coat is often compared to the Russian Blue with its short haired blue tinged coat but it is unique and not matched by any other breed. The hair roots are dark blue which darken and then become silver tipped at the ends. This gives it a beautiful shimmering effect. The Thais describe this as "rain-cloud grey" and the shimmering effect as "sea foam".
Temperament
The Korat is known to be a gentle animal that prefers to move softly and dislikes sudden loud or harsh noises. In fact they are known to have extraordinary senses - hearing, sight and scent.
They bond very closely to their owners and are exceptional as lap cats! They enjoy a good game but are also known to be gentle and tolerant of children. However their acute sense of hearing means they may not tolerate very young noisy children!
They are in intelligent breed which adapts well to training. They are highly sociable and do best with constant companionship (either human or other animals). They can also be chatty and have a loud and demanding voice when they want attention.
Health
This is a breed that has evolved over the centuries through natural selection and as such is considered to be strong and healthy. Like any breed, keeping them indoors will improve their life expectancy and general health.
Possible Genetic Disorders
The breed has been associated with Gangliosidosis which is a neurological defect which appears in kittens. However this can be avoided by breeders using DNA testing before breeding and so is now rarely seen.
Best Suited
For people willing to keep their cats indoors and those able to provide a high level of companionship. Suitable for people who are away at work during the day as long as other feline companionship is provided.
Not Suited
For families with young noisy children or for people who are unable to provide the companionship this breed needs.
Recommended Reading
Korat Cats by Julie Murray
