ThaiCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care
Thai cat at a cat show. · Nickolas Titkov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0). Cropped and resized.
The Thai cat (in Thailand Wichien Maat, meaning “golden diamond”) is the “old-style” Siamese: it keeps the more moderate shape of the cats brought from Thailand in the nineteenth century, before the Western Siamese became very slender and angular. It has a pointed pattern and blue eyes, and the same talkative, playful, people-loving character as the Siamese.
Quick facts
| Common name | Thai (Wichien Maat, traditional Siamese, “Applehead”) |
| Scientific name | Felis catus |
| Country of origin | Thailand |
| Official recognition | FIFe since 2017 (code THA, category 4); WCF since 1990; TICA |
| Lifespan | We found no data for the breed; pet cats live about 13 years on average |
| Weight | Females 3–4.5 kg, males 4–6 kg |
| Size | Medium |
| Body type | Elongated, but more moderate than the modern Siamese |
| Coat type | Short, single, close-lying |
| Common colours | Pointed pattern: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac |
| Eye colour | Blue |
| Activity level | High |
| Temperament | Talkative, playful, intelligent, very attached to people |
| Good with children | Good for families |
| Good with other pets | We found no data in the sources |
| Genetic predispositions | No typical diseases of its own; may inherit those of the Siamese |
- Primary category:Cat breeds
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History and origin
The cats brought from Siam (Thailand) to Western countries in the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century had a more moderate body than today's Western Siamese. After the Second World War, shows favoured ever more extreme features, and the modern Siamese became very slender.
From the 1980s, clubs in North America and Europe began preserving the early twentieth-century type of Siamese, which can still be found in Thailand. WCF recognised the original type as a separate breed, the Thai, in 1990. From 2001, cats were brought directly from Thailand to refresh the lines. FIFe recognised the breed in 2017.
The nickname “Applehead” appeared in the 1950s and was at first a joke by breeders of the modern Siamese.
How the breed developed
- The nineteenth century – the first cats from Siam reach the West.
- The 1950s – the nickname “Applehead” appears.
- 1990 – WCF recognises it as a separate breed.
- 2001 – cats are brought directly from Thailand.
- 2017 – recognised by FIFe.
At a glance: who is it right for?
- People who want a cat that “talks”. It is expressive and talkative.
- People who spend a lot of time at home. It becomes strongly attached to one person.
- People who want to walk it on a lead. French Wikipedia says it can be walked on a lead.
- Warm homes. German Wikipedia says it does not grow a full winter coat.
Physical characteristics
It is a pointed cat with a “foreign” body: longer than a house cat's, but much less so than the modern Siamese or the Oriental. German Wikipedia gives 3–4.5 kg for females and 4–5 kg for males.
General appearance
The head is a slightly rounded wedge, with a long, flat forehead and a nose with at most a small dip at eye level. The eyes are blue.
| Feature | Thai |
|---|---|
| Size | Medium |
| Weight | 3–6 kg |
| Body | Elongated, moderate |
| Head | Rounded wedge |
| Eyes | Blue |
| Coat | Short, single |
It has the pointed pattern: a light body, with darker face, ears, paws and tail. German Wikipedia lists the colours seal, blue, chocolate and lilac. The coat is short, single and close-lying, and the breed does not carry the gene for long hair.
Related breeds and how to tell them apart
The modern Siamese has the same ancestor, the same pointed pattern and the same character, but a much longer body and head. The Balinese is the semi-longhaired version of the Siamese. Cats from Thailand with import papers can be registered as Thai with TICA.
Behaviour and temperament
Wikipedia says it has the open, people-loving and talkative character that made the Siamese famous in the West. French Wikipedia describes it as expressive, talkative, playful, intelligent and a “comedian”, sometimes called a “dog cat”.
German Wikipedia says it is very sensitive but robust, and often bonds, like a dog, with one particular person, to whom it stays loyal all its life.
Socialisation
It is affectionate and demanding with the people close to it.
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.
Life at home and activity
It is active and playful; it is not a quiet cat. It can be walked on a lead.
| Activity | How often | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Walks in a harness | several times a week | It can be taught to walk on a lead |
| Play with toys (wand toys, balls) | daily | Play imitates hunting and uses up its energy |
| Scratching post or board | always available | It looks after its claws without damaging the furniture |
| High places (cat tree, shelves) | always available | It has somewhere to watch from and to rest |
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.
Care and health
Coat care
German Wikipedia says the very short coat is easy to look after: loose hair is removed by stroking it with wet hands or with a rubber brush. Because it comes from a warm country, it does not grow a full winter coat.
Common health problems
German Wikipedia says that, as an original and young breed, it has no typical diseases caused by excessive breeding. Because it is related to the Siamese, however, it can have some of that breed's diseases.
Recommended genetic tests
Ask the breeder which tests the parents have had for the diseases known in the Siamese, for example progressive retinal atrophy.
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.
Diet and nutrition
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.
| Cat's weight | Calories per day (neutered) | Calories per day (not neutered) | Dry food per day (approximate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 190 kcal | 220 kcal | 48–63 g |
| 3.5 kg | 210 kcal | 250 kcal | 52–71 g |
| 4.5 kg | 260 kcal | 300 kcal | 65–86 g |
| 5.5 kg | 300 kcal | 350 kcal | 75–100 g |
- 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.
Reproduction and development
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.
- 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.
Interesting facts
- “Golden diamond”. The Thai name Wichien Maat means “golden diamond”.
- “Applehead”. The nickname was at first a joke by breeders of the modern Siamese.
- “The cat of princes and the prince of cats”. That is how French Wikipedia describes it.
- Cats brought from Thailand. Since 2001, breeders have been bringing cats directly from Thailand.
In popular culture
The Tamra Maew manuscripts
Wichien Maat cats, the ancestors of the breed, are described and drawn in the old Thai manuscripts about cats, the Tamra Maew, from the Ayutthaya period.
Frequently asked questions
How is it different from the Siamese?
Only in its shape: the Thai has a more moderate body and head, like the Siamese of a hundred years ago.
Does it meow a lot?
Yes, it is talkative and expressive.
How much does it weigh?
Females 3–4.5 kg, males 4–6 kg.
Can it be walked on a lead?
Yes, French Wikipedia says it can be walked on a lead.
