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Korat
Cat
The Korat Cat is one of the oldest
stable breeds of cat.
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Korat
Cat
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The Korat cat Originated in Thailand, and is named after the Nakhon
Ratchasima province, although in Thailand it is often known as Si-Sawat,
which means good fortune.
In fact they are often known colloquially as the
"Good Luck Cat" and are given in pairs to newlyweds or people of
high esteem as a wish for good luck.
The first known written mention of the
Korat Cat was in "The Cat-Book Poems" authored between 1350 and
1767 AD in Thailand, now preserved in the National library in Bangkok.
They
first appeared in America in the 1950s and arrived in Britain from there in
1972.
Korat Cats are a shorthair with a small to
medium build and a low percentage of body fat - and therefore often
described as sleek and muscular.
They are an active cat and form strong
bonds with people.
Korat Cats have several characteristics
that together distinguish them as a breed:
Korat Cats are one of a few breeds that have
only one color: a silvery grey that often has lavender undertones -
generally called blue in the cat world, although it is notably different in
viewing from other 'blue' cats.
The eyes of the Korat cat are a shade of yellow from birth
(sometimes described as a "pale amber") but change to an emerald
or peridot green at full maturity (2 to 4 years).
During this change the
eyes are green in the centre with a yellow at the edges.
It should also be
noted that unlike other cats when viewed at night using a spotlight the
Korat cat eyes reflect green rather than the more common red.
Korat cats only have one coat (they lack a
downy undercoat possibly due to their long history in a hot and humid
climate) and do not shed much hair.
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