HISTORY

The origin of the Korat cat is Thailand and the Korat-plateau in the Pimai district. The earliest known picture of a Korat or "Si-Sawat" as it is called in Thailand, can be found in a book of poetry (written in 1350-1767) kept at the National Library of Bangkok – The Cat-Book Poems. An extract from text describes the Korat cat: "The hairs are smooth, with roots like clouds and tips like silver. The eyes shine like dewdrops on a lotus leaf."

Indeed, it’s very name in its native country means exactly that: ‘si-sawat’ greyish-blue cat. Many countries have their own blue cats, so keeping records of origin has always been important for the Korat breeders and clubs. All Korats in the west today can have their ancestry traced back to imports from Thailand. Not for nothing has it become known as the ‘blue cat with the Thai Passport’.
The earliest existing records of the cats of Thailand can be seen in the Bangkok National Library, and are known as the Cat-Book Poems. Each of the breed colours is pictured and described poetically. The Korat entry relates that, ‘The base of each hair, Is the colour of a cloud’ and Korat eyes are ‘Like dew when dropped on the leaf of a lotus’. The villagers say the eye colour is green as the first shoots of young rice.

According to the unknown author some of these cats are bringers of good luck, some bad. The Korat with its rain-cloud coat and green eyes is one of the luckiest, a symbol of wealth, fertility and good harvests. It used to be tradition for a newly married couple to be presented with a Korat on their wedding day, and in remote villages in the north east of the country a Korat is still paraded around , and carried in procession to the well where it is sprinkled with water, to ensure the rice paddies are filled by rain.

Such a valued possession was not given lightly. It wasn’t until the 1960s that Korat breeding began in the west when a pair was sent from a friend in Bangkok to Mrs Jean Johnson of Cedar Glen cattery, USA. This brother and sister, Nara and Dara, will always be remembered in any Korat history as the first outside Thailand.

LOOKS

The Korat is a cat who looks alert and attentive. It is a medium-sized, muscular and smooth cat with hind legs a bit longer than the front legs. The Korat often weights more than it looks. Females are somewhat smaller and more finely tuned than males, but there shouldn't be too big a difference, since females just like males should be muscular and smoothly powerful. The coat should lie tight against the body, be soft as silk and shimmering with silver. Typically the coat can form layers when the cat moves or when it thinks it is a bit chilly. There is only one colour and that is blue.

The eyes should be big, round, and open to give the alert appearance and should even be a bit oversized to the face. The colour of the eyes develops with time - which can take up to four years - and develops from amber to warm green. The head is heartshaped where the eyebrows mark the top part and the chin completes the shape in good balance, and should therefore not be either strong nor weak. The Korat has a slight stop in profile and the nose ends as a lion-nose with a slight tip. The ears should be big and highly placed to give the characteristic alert expression. The tail should be of medium length and end in a rounded tip. A Korat takes time to get to its grown-up appearance.

PERSONALITY

Korats are curious, alert, social and affectionate cats who demand a lot of attention from their humans. They gladly take eyecontact and talk to the human. They of course consider themselves in the centre of everything and naturally they are the ones in charge. They want to investigate and it is a good idea to keep windows and doors shut since they seem to have a special instinct regarding danger outdoors – they curl up, keep still and hope they become invisible - works when it comes to predators from the sky but not so good when it comes to cars. They have a lot of natural instincts and especially the females are real hunters. If you are lucky to have many Korats they like to live as lions, all lying together in a big pile. They also get along with many other breeds.

Korats are very good jumpers and when their young and wild as kittens there is no place not worth jumping to. They calm down as they get older, but remain playful even when very old. Most fun of all is to watch when the humans run around the house to play with the cats. Some Korats are not so talkative, but many talk a lot and especially at shows they express strong opinions.



A CAT WHO WANTS TO BE PART OF THE FAMILY

Do not choose this breed for its looks alone. The Korat is not for you if you are desirous of the merely decorative. They wish to be involved in the lives of their people and are truly companions. There has to be a reciprocal commitment on the part of the new owner. All of us who have owned them know how our lives were changed when Korats arrived. Their natural intelligence, liveliness and playfulness is their charm and the new owner must know of this, and be ready to give time and love, which will then be repaid a hundredfold.
Many Korats love to go for a walk in a leash and are easily trained if they want to, since they are intelligent and investigating.

Thanks to Karin Sjoholm and Jen Lacey

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