History of the Korat:
The Korat is one of the oldest natural cat breeds in the world. Originating in Thailand, the breed gets its name from the province of Cao Nguyen Khorat. In Thailand, the breed is known as Si-Sawat which means "good fortune" or "prosperity".
The Korat is featured in the Cat-Book Poems, a book dating back to 1350-1767 which is held in the National Gallery of Bankok. The breed is highly valued and as such, it was never sold. Very few cats were exported.
They first appeared in Europe in 1896 under the name "blue Siamese" at the Holland House Show in London. The cat was apparently entered by Mr. Spearman who had just returned from Siam.
In 1959 Jean Johnson of Cedar Glen Cattery imported a pair of Korat cats by the name of Nara and Darra to the United States. At the time, it was extremely difficult to obtain Korats and permission was sought from the King of Thailand for Jean to acquire these cats, who were the progeny of two cats Jean had owned while living in Thailand several years earlier.
While the Korat can now be found in many countries worldwide, it still remains a relatively rare breed of cat.
Appearance of the Korat:
The Korat is a medium sized cat with a muscular body. The legs are shorter than the hind legs, and the feet are small and oval shaped. The tail is medium, broad at the base and tapering to a rounded tip. Despite their medium size, they are surprisingly heavy when picked up.
The head is heart shaped, with large, round, green eyes and ears that are set high on the head. Nose length is in proportion to the face with a slight stop.
The silver-blue coat is short, sleek and lies close to the body. The hair is lighter at the roots and the tip of each hair should have a shimmering silver sheen.
Males are larger than females.
Personality of the Korat:
The Korat is an extremely affectionate breed of cat who bonds closely to their human companions. They do not like to be left alone for long periods of time.
They are intelligent, playful, inquisitive, but can also be shy, reserved and cautious. They get along with older children.
It is said that Korats have an exceptional sense of hearing and scent.
We are looking for photos of Korats to add to the article. If you can help, please email us.
Korat images courtesy of The Pet Collective