Korat

The Korat (pronunciation- ‘ko-RAHT’) is a domestic cat originating in Thailand known for its unique bluish-gray short coat which has a distinct silvery gloss. Closely related to the Siamese cat, Korats are characterized by a sturdy, compact body with large green eyes, long whiskers, and a heart-shaped face.

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History

The Korats have probably been indirectly mentioned in a book related to cats which dates back to the Ayudhya period of Thailand (1350-1767). Locally known as the ‘good luck cat’, these cats were given (and not sold until recently) as gifts usually in pairs.

In 1889 and 1896, when the korats were first taken to England as ‘Blue Siamese’, they couldn’t gain recognition by the judges at the cat shows, since it failed to correspond to their breed standard of Siamese cats. The korats, hence, disappeared from England by 1901.

In 1959, the first pair of korats that appeared in America was imported by Mrs. Jean Johnson. She was gifted the pair of Korats after the retirement of her husband from Foreign Service in Thailand.

Variations

Despite there being no attempt of out-crossing the breed, there have been certain color variations due to some recessive color genes carried by the korats when they were first imported from Thailand. There are two unique variants, with their individual identity based on their coloration:

• Thai Lilacs: The solid lilac cats with a hint of the silvery shimmering coats characteristic to the original korats.
• Thai Blue Points: Shows the color-point pattern typically seen in the blue point Siamese cats.

Although direct descendants of the korats, the two variants are not known by the same name as the term ‘korat’ only applies to the bluecats from Thailand.

Temperament and Personality

Korats bond strongly with its owners, including children, and loves to cuddle and be around them. These cats are very playful but are still gentle with smaller kids. Korats are known to be dominant and demand constant companionship and attention from the owners. Due to their dominant behavior, they might not get along with other dominant pets in the house. Early socialization would save a Korat owner a lot of future headaches.

Although they are quiet by nature, they are good at expressing themselves using their body language. They are confident and highly intelligent, although may get easily startled by loud noises or sudden movements. With a keen sense of smell, hearing and vision, they can find out almost anything ‘hidden’ from them – from food, to escaping insects.

Care

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Training

Being quite ready to please their masters, korats are easy to train, adapting themselves readily to simple trainings like fetching a ball. It is recommended to be gentle with your pet during training, with a loud ‘no’ or a single clap usually being enough as negative incentives. Do not forget to give them occasional treats when they do something good.

Feeding

They are not picky eaters, and do not usually require any special diet plans. With their naturally lean appearance, they do well on nutritionally balanced, high-quality cat food. Raw and fresh foods, such as egg yolks and grated cheese, may also be added to their diet after consulting a vet dietician. Like other cats, korats may also occasionally crave grass. Chopped spinach or powdered alfalfa may be mixed with their food as a substitute.

Differences: Russian Blue Vs. Chartreux Vs. Korat Cats

Know how you would differentiate when you adopt one from the breeders:

	Russian Blue Cat	Chartreux	Korat Cat
Coat	Double with dense undercoat	Double medium length, with light undercoat	Single, almost without undercoat
Head structure	Wedge-shaped	Shape that makes them look like smiling	Heart-shaped
Body type	Normal to slim built with straight lines	Large and muscular built	Stocky built with rounded lines
Eye color	Emerald green	Orange to copper	Peridot green (yellowish side)
Body color	Grayish blue with a lighter hue	Grayish blue with breaks like sheepskin	Metallic blue with a darker shade
Country of origin	Russia	France	Thailand

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Interesting Facts

• A native from Thailand won a big lottery after he choose his pet Korat’s show entry number for the lottery ticket.
• The korat cat is considered one of the purest breeds of today, resembling its wild ancestors from the Malay Peninsula.
• These cats have never been bred with other cat breeds because of the beliefs the local Thailand people have for them.