The unusual beauty with the silver-blue fur and the emerald-green eyes comes from the tradition after the 14th century, because cats of this species were already described in the literature of this period. Cats are generally said to bring happiness and positive energy into the home.
According to legend, the Korat cat is one of the most auspicious. For a long time, she was venerated in Thailand as a messenger of happiness. And one thing is certain: if you bring a cat of this rare breed into your own four walls, you will certainly experience many happy moments. And if you keep a few things in mind about the needs and care of this breed, the Korat cat will be very happy in your home too.
History of the Breed
According to tradition, the Korat cat was discovered in Amour Pimai in the province of Korat in Thailand. The first records of the Korat can be found in “The Cat Book of Poems” or in the “Smud Khoi of Cats”. These were produced during the Ayudhyha period of Siamese history (1350-1767). The book depicts the seventeen “lucky cats” of Thailand, including the Korat cat. The work is currently in the Thai National Library. In Thai culture, the Korat was considered a messenger of happiness for its future owner. She was said to bring wealth and health into the home. It should also be a good omen for those who were planning to start a new life.
The Korat cat was often given as a present at weddings. It should bring happiness, fertility, and abundance to the newlywed couple. Another interesting tradition with regard to the Korat is that you generally don’t buy them yourself, but get a pair of this breed as a gift. The Korat cat found its way into American society in 1959 when cat lover Jean Johnson received a pair of Korat cats from a friend in Bangkok, Thailand. At the time, Jean had already spent three years with her husband in Thailand. At first, however, she was more interested in Siamese cats.
When she became aware of Korat cats, from then on she was more interested in the blue-gray lucky charms on four paws. Jean found, however, that Korats were predominantly represented in the better-off sections of Thai society – representatives of the nobility, high-ranking officials, and the like. They too gave each other the feline guarantee of abundance. In 1954, Jean and her husband left Thailand to continue working in Southeast Asia. Five years later, when she and her husband were living in the USA again, Jean received a message from her Thai friend that two Korat cats were on their way from Thailand to her and her husband in the USA. They were named Nara and Dara. The couple welcomed the addition of the feline family and “encouraged” their cats to mate. However, to avoid inbreeding, Jean crossed the Korats with their own Siamese Bluepoint cats.
Eventually, she withdrew all cats with Siamese traits from the breeding program, creating the first American Korat cat family. More and more Korats followed from Thailand to the USA, and in 1966 the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) accepted the Korat in competitions. Since then it has enjoyed increasing popularity in competitions.
Appearance
In Thailand, the characteristic color of the fur is described as rain cloud gray. The individual hair has a light blue color at the hair root and darkens towards the shaft in a slate gray-blue color. The tip of the hair is colored silver. This gives the appearance of the Korat cat a phosphor-like effect with a radiant glow. The color of the coat seems to absorb light and lets the cat shine in a mysterious “halo effect”. According to the breeding criteria, variations in color and length or size of the cat are not allowed. The crossing is also not permitted. In the ideal case of breeding, the fur of the Korat cat is blue-silver and has no markings. The fur is short and lies close to the body. The Korat cat barely sheds any hair, making it good company for people with cat hair allergies.
Other characteristic features are the large, round, bright green eyes and the heart-shaped head. On closer inspection there are even four heart-shaped appearances: the first heart is, as described, in the shape of the head, the second, if you look at the head of the cat, the third heart is in the shape of its nose, the fourth in the chest area. The heart shape on the chest becomes visible when the cat is sitting. Korats look as if they don’t weigh too much, but are surprisingly powerful. Their weight is also higher than their appearance suggests. The body of the Korat cat is somewhat stocky overall and slightly tapered at the waist. The neck is relatively short and connects to the broad chest. The Korat’s shoulders are slightly wider than their chests. As is the case with many kittens, the Korat cat is born with blue eyes. These only turn into a light amber tone in the course of growth. When the cat is fully grown, they take on a glowing green-gold tone. The eyes of the beautiful Korat cat are also large and expressive. Their ears are high on the head and give the cat an alert and lively expression.
Korat Cat Temperament
Cats of this breed have exceptionally fine sensory perception – especially when it comes to sight, hearing, and smell. They are very people-oriented, so they can build up an intense connection with their human roommates. By nature, the Korat cat is very social and loves company. She also appreciates being cuddled and likes to sit as close as possible to her people. She also loves to play and likes things to be action-packed. The person at the side of a Korat should therefore devote himself a lot to playing together and offer his beloved cat stimulation through toys and the like. The Korat cat is also characterized by a high level of intelligence and exceptionally good intuition. When dealing with children, representatives of this breed are very gentle. Also, remember to offer your Korat cat a multi-tiered scratching post so that it can really let off steam.
The feline fur creatures fit in very well in families. However, the future home of the Korat cat should not be too lively because Korats are very scared. The children who live in the same household with a Korat should not be too rough around them either. The cuddly Korat cat is very frightened when it is confronted with loud noises or unexpected movements in the environment. She loves to be in the center of attention and likes to climb into her owner’s lap to show him her affection and receive cuddles. She remembers which tactics lead to her human roommate rewarding her with cuddles and food. As lovable as the Korat cat is, this calculating behavior makes us smile when we see through it. The Korat cat is less communicative than a Siamese cat. If something arouses her displeasure or if she is not doing well, she will still give it an acoustical expression. She can get along well with other cats and other pets in general, such as dogs, but may react a little jealous if another animal gets more attention in her presence. A Korat cat can also tend to be dominant towards other cats. Basically, however, it is very much in the sense of the Korats if you take two cats into your home.
Care Tips
Cats of this breed lose relatively little hair. Unless they’re shedding their winter fur. Basically, Korats require little grooming. However, your Korat cat will really enjoy it if you groom it with the brush once a week – or more frequently as you wish. Due to the fact that Korats have very little hair, they are well suited for those who are allergic to cat hair. You should have the Korat cat’s teeth cleaned regularly. If necessary, you can clean the ears with a special ear lotion. Regular visits to the vet are also important.
Korat Cat Diet
Before purchasing an animal, it is fundamentally important to find out all about a balanced and appropriate diet. You should ask the former owner or breeder about the nutrition of your Korat cat. He will be happy to provide you with expert information. Among other things, the correct amount of food – which is based on criteria such as the cat’s age, weight, and urge to move around – is important, as well as adhering to the usual times and the appropriate storage and temperature of the cat food. Regarding the ideal amount of feed, you are correct with the rule of thumb 70 kcal per kg of body weight.
Choosing the Right Breeder
If you are thinking of offering one of these lovable and beautiful creatures a new home with you, we recommend in an animal welfare sense that you first exhaust the adoption resources. Because even pure-bred Korats end up in emergency shelters and animal rescue stations. Admitting a Korat cat from the shelter is preferable to buying it. But of course, there are also reputable breeders who can be recommended, from whom you can purchase a Korat cat. When the cat comes to your home from the breeder, it should already be vaccinated, dewormed, chipped and health checked.
By and large, this breed is in very good health. It can only be susceptible to genetic diseases. An incurable and fatal disease that can affect the Korat is gangliosidosis. When buying a Korat, you should therefore definitely have the breeder certify that your future cat has tested negative for gangliosidosis.
We hope that your Korat cat will settle in well with you, stay healthy and be happy together for a very long time.
