© 2000 originally appeared on Cyber Cats and Dogs Site November 2000
The Korat is considered to be the ‘good luck cat’ of Thailand. Tradition says that a pair was often given to a young bride to ensure a good and prosperous mar
riage. The Thais often gave Korats as gifts to people who were esteemed.
History
The earliest known picture of a Korat, or Si-Sawat (see-sah-what), as they are commonly known, is to be found in the ancient book of paintings and verses known as The Cat-Book Poems. A high-ranking monk, Somdej Phra Buddhacharn Buddhasarmahathera, was commissioned by King Rama V (1869-1910) to copy The Cat-Book Poems on special Khoi paper. King Rama V is purported to have named the breed when he remarked, "What a pretty cat—where is it from?" and was told "Korat". The original Cat-Book Poems is known as the Smud Khoi of Cats, it hangs in a high glass case in the Minor Arts Room of Bangkok’s National Museum. It is believed by the Fine Arts Department, a division of Thailand’s Ministry of Education, to have been produced some time during the Ayudhya Period of Siamese History (1350-1767). Early books were folded, not bound like the more recent version, known as The Book of the Cat, also in the National Museum, which is apparently a twentieth century version of the cats and their accompanying verses. This shows seventeen cats, whose ownership brings good fortune
and six with boding of the very reverse. Among the Good Luck cats is the Korat. Korats are now found in all provinces in Thailand and are generally referred to as Si-Sawat. The first pair of Korats were imported into the United States by Cedar Glen Cattery in Oregon. They obtained a brother and sister - Nara and Darra on June 12, 1959. Korats were given championship status in 1966.
Description
The Korat has a color that is unique to no other cat in the cat fancy. It is described as silver-tipped blue and has a shimmering effect. The Thais describe the color as ‘rain-cloud gray’ and the silvering effect as ‘sea foam’. The Korat is single-coated, with short close lying hair that does not shed or fly out from the body when petted. This makes the breed a possible choice for those with allergies. The roots of the hair are a light silver-blue, gradually increasing in shade until they reach the tips which are silver. The silvering effect is much more prominent in the areas where the hair is shorter, like the paws and the muzzle. The Korat comes in only one color—silver-tipped blue. No other color is accepted. Another unique feature of the Korat is its head shape. The Korat is said to have a heart-shaped face. In fact five hearts can be found on the Korat. Three of these hearts are found on the head, the first can be traced around the head when you look straight on at the cat’s face. The second is found when looking down over the top of the head and the third is the cat’s nose. The fourth heart is found in the muscular area of the chest when the cat is sitting. The fifth is often overlooked and is the cats own heart. As the cat matures the heart shapes become more pronounced. The eyes are large, expressive, luminous, alert and always observant. The eye color in a mature cat is peridot green(likened to the color of new rice in historical descriptions), which takes two to four years to develop. Kittens have an amber to golden-green eye color which gradually changes as they mature, often there is a green ring around the pupil. Korats have a distinctive eyebrow ridge across the top of the eyes that further accentuates the heart-shape face and the ear set is a continuation of this heart-shape.
The ears have rounded tips, with a large flare at the base. They give the Korat a very "alert" expression, complementing the heart shape, and not sitting too low or too high on the head. Although the Korat is defined as a foreign type cat the body is semi-cobby, with a tapering at the waist. The Korat has surprising weight for its size—tending to heft like an upholstered brick. The breed is very muscular the bulk of the weight carried by the front though rounded, well developed, muscular shoulders. The neck is fairly short and heavy, connecting to a broad chest, with the shoulders somewhat wider than the chest. Although The Korat as the look of tremendous strength and power, it is still a very graceful and agile cat. Even the kittens seem to possess this strength. More so than any other breed the Korat has changed very little from the original. Looking at pictures from history and looking at Korats of today there is no mistaking that they are indeed one and the same.
Living with a Korat
Korats are very sociable and gregarious in nature. They are also quite devoted and loyal, tending to bond with their chosen person or animal. They also like to be "top cat" and in a household with other breeds will tend to elevate themselves to that position. When Korats were introduced into my household(I already had Burmese)the Korats just sort of wandered in and took over. It was like they had always been there and was accepted as fact by most of the resident cats. Korats are also extremely intelligent. My stud male has learned to open doors. I often find I am being watched intently almost as if they are trying to figure out not just what I am doing, but how to do it. Korats
are very strong-willed and will often get the upper hand if allowed. Firm but gentle loving discipline is needed at times. Because they are intelligent they learn quickly. Often a ‘time-out’ (put the Korat in a room alone with no toys or things to play with) for ten or fifteen minutes often does the trick or a simple squirt from a spray bottle followed by a firm ‘no’. Korats are a fairly active cat. They tend to like to play with you and will often involve you in their games even when you don’t want to be. Korats tend to want to be involved with everything you do—they are not so much an ‘in your face’ cat, but they will often follow you about. They are never too far from where you are and what you are doing. Most Korats will fetch—in fact I have amazed many of my friends with the Korats fetching abilities. When they are not busy playing, the Korat then becomes ‘lap fungus’. A Korat is a joy to have in your household. Having had Korats now I must say I would not be without one. They are not however a cat for everyone. If you can not provide lots of time and attention a Korat may not be for you. Korats are good with children and other pets.
References:
The Korat Story by Daphne Negus
The Korat by Cheryl Coleman CFA Almanac Article 1998
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Pictures are of Ch CherDawn Gandalf the Grey(1.5 years), Li'l Minx Tha Kai Bok Noi(6 weeks), DGC Gentlegift's Willow of Li'l Minx(5.5 months) and Li'l Minx Tha Kai Bok Noi(4 months).