Korat

The Korat is one of the oldest known domestic cat breeds in the world and in its homeland of Thailand this beautiful cat has long been treasured as a bearer of good luck. In Thailand the Korat is also known as the SiSawat and they were formerly only given as gifts to people deemed worthy of such an honour. Brides were given a pair of Korats to guarantee a happy marriage.

The Korat is distinguished by its luminous green or green-gold eyes, and a solid silver-blue coat — their fur is tipped with silver. Both the coat and brilliant eye colour don’t fully develop until a Korat is two years old or more. Although they look a little like the Russian Blue, the Korat is smaller in build and has those mesmerising green eyes.

The Korat is similar to its Siamese cousin in that they both have a strong personality. The Korat knows what it likes and dislikes, and has no qualms about making this quite clear to you. They are not as vocal as Siamese though, preferring to wrap themselves around you or use some other physical trick to get their point across. They are loving cats, and playful, and have a strong need to spend time with their owners. They bond very closely to the humans in their life and they love being entertained and can enjoy a good game of fetch. The Korat’s need for interaction makes them an unsuitable candidate for a home-alone pet.

The Korat is an active, intelligent cat with formidable hunting skills. As such, they really should be kept indoors or in cat enclosures if they are to have outdoor access. Another reason to keep the Korat out of the elements is that these cats barely have an undercoat. Their one coat of sleek fur sits close to their body so they do feel the cold.

The Korat is a strong and healthy breed that can live up to 15 years or longer. Every Korat’s lineage can be traced back to Thailand and breeders can provide this ancestry information upon purchase. New owners are asked to sign a pledge that states their commitment to the breed. Kittens can cost up from $300 to $600, depending on the litter’s pedigree, and prospective buyers may have to wait some time for a litter.