KoratCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

The FIFe profile says the first description of the breed appears in the old Thai manuscript Smud Khoi (“The Cat-Book Poems”), from the Ayutthaya period (about 1350–1767). The manuscript shows 17 cats that bring good luck, the Korat among them, and 6 cats that bring bad luck.

King Rama V is said to have named the breed: he asked where a beautiful cat came from and was told “Korat”, meaning the Khorat Plateau. Wikipedia says that, until recently, Korats were not sold, only given as gifts.

In Britain they appeared in 1889 and 1896 as “blue Siamese”, but they did not match the judges' idea of a Siamese and had disappeared by 1901. FIFe recognised the breed in 1980.

How the breed developed

• About 1350–1767 – described in the Smud Khoi manuscript.
• 1889 and 1896 – appears in Britain as a “blue Siamese”.
• 1980 – recognised by FIFe.
• 2007 – a Korat becomes the mascot of the Southeast Asian Games.

• Families who let it take part in everything. It wants to be involved in whatever you do.
• Homes with another cat. German Wikipedia says it can hardly be kept alone.
• Families with children. It is patient, playful and curious.
• People who accept an “outspoken” cat. It rarely suffers in silence.

It is a small to medium cat with little fat, but unusually heavy for its size. The body is semi-cobby. The front legs are shorter than the hind legs. French Wikipedia gives 2.5–4.5 kg.

General appearance

The head is heart-shaped. The eyes are large and peridot green in adults; kittens have amber or yellowish-green eyes, which change gradually until about 2–4 years. The Thai manuscript compares the eyes to dewdrops on a lotus leaf.

The only accepted colour is blue with silver tips, which seems to shimmer. The root of the hair is a light silvery blue, then a darker blue, and the tip silver, especially on the muzzle and toes. The Thais call the colour “grey like a rain cloud”, and the shimmer “sea foam”. White patches are a show fault, but do not affect character or health.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Russian Blue and the Chartreux are also blue cats, but the Russian Blue has a double coat and a longer body, and the Chartreux has copper eyes. It is a “cousin” of the Siamese, the Thai and the Burmese.

The FIFe profile describes it as intelligent, energetic and affectionate. It likes to take part and get involved in everything its people do, and it is a loyal member of the family. Korats “talk”, some more than others, and rarely suffer in silence. They have a very strong and demanding character.

Socialisation

It likes to share its life with other cats or even dogs. German Wikipedia says it is patient, playful and curious, and suitable for children.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is an energetic cat that needs daily play and company.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The short coat, without undercoat, is easy to look after: brushing or polishing once a week is enough.

Common health problems

The FIFe profile says that in recent years breeders have used cats brought from Thailand and widened the genetic diversity, which gives a low inbreeding coefficient and good immunity. Wikipedia shows, however, that the breed is among those most affected by gangliosidosis types 1 and 2, serious neurological diseases caused by recessive mutations (the GLB1 and HEXB genes).

Recommended genetic tests

For gangliosidosis (the GLB1 and HEXB genes) the mutations are known, and the parents can be genetically tested. French Wikipedia says breeders are gradually eliminating the gene.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Ask for the results of the parents' genetic tests for gangliosidosis.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• The good luck cat. In Thailand it is given in pairs to newlyweds, for good luck.
• Not for sale. Until recently, Korats were only given as gifts.
• Eyes that ripen slowly. The final green colour of the eyes only appears at 2–4 years.
• On stamps. The Korat has appeared on a Thai stamp; a copy is on display at the post office in the city of Korat.

The Smud Khoi manuscript

The old Thai manuscript describes it like this: “the hair smooth, with roots like clouds and tips like silver; the eyes shine like dewdrops on a lotus leaf”.

A sports mascot

A Korat was the mascot of the 2007 Southeast Asian Games.

Why is it called the “good luck cat”?

In Thailand it is given in pairs to newlyweds or to respected people, to bring them good luck.

What colour is it?

Only blue-grey with silver tips, with green eyes.

Can it be left alone?

It does not like it; a second cat helps a lot.

How much does it weigh?

Usually 2.5–4.5 kg, but it feels heavy for its size.