A Royal cat
 
The earliest known record of the Korat, then named Ma-Laid, appears in The Cat-Book of Poems or Smud Khoi of Cats, produced in 1350-1767. On the first Papyrus paper made by hand. This book presents the seventeen good luck cats of Siam (named Thailand in 1939) and is presently located at Bangkok's National Library. It is described like this: The cat has a body color like Dok Lao* The hairs are smooth, with roots like clouds and tips like silver The eyes shine like dewdrops on the lotus leaf. *(Translation: Dok means flower, and lao is an herb, like lemongrass, with silver-tipped flowers).
The korat is a natural race, as so named by a king of Siam, Rama V. Descent from Ampur Pimai, the Korat province in Thailand, where they are breed in the royal cattery since 1350. It is still living in it's natural habitat. In it's native country its now days known as Si-Sawat for it's color. The cat is named after a Sawat, a nut from a uneatable ornamental plant witch looks like a chestnut in shape, but with a different color. "Si" means color and "Sawat" is a mixture between grey and light green. Grey or Blue as we call it for the fur and green for the eyes. The Korat has the same color as the Sawat nut and can never exist in a different color.

There are many traditions about the Korat, one of the good luck cats of Siam. It was given to a young married royal couple on there wedding day as a sign for a happy and long lasting  marriage. one of the legends tells that the silvery fur stands for wealth for a salesman, rain for a farmer and a happy marriage and home for the bride.
The fact that this elegant and beautiful cat only was destine for the royal family and high Siamese officials, explains its rare appearance outside the borders of this country. The Korat is as a good luck cat of Thailand long preserved by the Thai people and it was at first only possible to give her as a present to people wordy of such a present. Nevertheless a few foreign people (among a British ambassador) where honored with such a royal gift. And that's the reason  that on a British show in 1896 this race was represent. In this time the korat was mistaken for a blue Siamese cat. The first acquaintance came in 1959 when American breeder, Jean Johnson of Cedar Glen Cattery in Oregon, imported 2 Korats into the United States.

Character

Strong points:

Beautiful
Quiet
Affectionate
Clever
Not destructive
A korat gets on well with other animals

Week points:

Demanding,  they want to be in the center of attention.

The korat loves to be stroked and likes to play a bit more rough. They are always disposed for little games, you have to make time for that. They jump very high after a toy when you throw it in the air and they bring it right back so you can throw it again. If they find it is time to play they lay a toy by your feet. You can not leave a Korat alone for a long time, it's really a social animal. If you are frequently away for longer times it's advisable to have two cats, it is not necessary to have two Korats because a korat gets along well with other races.
A Korat loves warmth, because they have no lower fur they are more sensitive to cold. They search for nice warm places to sleep and groom. The korat loves quiet, kind people and has a deep relation with its owner. This characteristic is common to all eastern cats.

Breeding 

In the Netherlands are no active breeders, there are some owners of Korats who breed once a year. In our surrounding countries Germany, Belgium and England there are. The females are very good mothers. Normally a nest consist of 3 tot 4 kittens. A grown female weighs about 3 kilo and a male 3,5 - 4 kilo so it's not a big cat. Already from birth the kittens have the same color as their parents. On the other hand they often have amber colored eyes. Sometimes you have to wait 2 or 3 years till the eyes have reached the right nuance of sparkling green. Because it's a shielded race the kittens are only  handed over with a strict contract (that forbids every crossbreeding with another race).


Gangliosidose ( GM, GM1 en GM2 ):
If you decide to buy a Korat-kitten, make sure you get a statement of the breeder that both of the parents are GM free.
This is very important, especially if you want to breed Korats or only like to have a single litter.


Care

The "beauty-care" of the Korat is very simple, because the Korat looses only a few hairs.
From time to time some strokes with the brush are surely enough. Let them shine with a chamois or silk cloth.


Standard (CFA)

Fur:
No lower fur; short and fine, shiny and smooth hairs (this is the reason that the korat can also be suitable for some people with an allergy for cats) Extra short on the outside of the ears, the snout and the feet.

Body:
Of medium size; muscled. Slightly stocky with a light rounded back. Low on the feet; the forelegs slightly lower than the hind legs. Small oval feet.

Nut:
Heart shape, snout not to long, strong chin and jaws. The forehead is flat and broad. The nose is quite short, slightly mounted and shows a small stop.

Ears:
Medium size en round, very high on the scull and broad on the base. A light colored down (fur) on the inside of the ear Schell.

Eyes:
Big and brilliant, distant from each other. They are bright green. The open eyes are beautiful round, but when they are closed, lightly oblique.

Tail:
Medium size with a round tip.

Color:
Silver grey. The tipping of the hair tips causes a silver shine over the whole body, this mainly behind the ears, the snout and the feet. White hairs, spots or tabby-markings are not allowed. Nose mirror dark blue or lavender. Pillows of the feet are dark blue or lavender with a pink shine.



Top