| Country of Origin: | Thailand |
| Colors: | Blue-Gray |
| Average Size: | Weight: 5.5 – 11 lbs (2.4 – 4.9 kg) Length: Medium |
| Life Span: | 15 years or more |
| Coat: | Short |
| Personality: | Very affectionate, loving,intelligent, lively, very agile and playful but does not like agitation or noise |
| Characteristics: | Energy: Active Talkative: High Kid Friendly: Yes Allergic: No |
Similar in size and color to the Russian blue cat, Korat cat is on its native Thailand for centuries known as Si- Sawat, which means “happy”. It was believed that it brings prosperity to its owner, and was often gifted as a wedding present, while in rural areas it was believed that Korat cats have power over the weather – farmers have reportedly poured water on cats to invoke the rain! King Rama V in the 19th century changed the name of these cats from Si- Sawat to Korat (name of the part in the northeast of Thailand) because it was believed that these cats originate from there.
The first Korat cats arrived to the UK around the same time as the Siamese – in the 19th century. In 1896 one Korat cat was presented on the exhibition of the National cat club in England in the class of Siamese cats, but was disqualified because of the color.
Some say that this was a Siamese cat with blue markings, while others claim it was a blue Siamese cat. In 1965 was established a club of breeders, until 1969 all the major North American, Australian and South African organizations recognized the breed. Korat cats came to Europe only in 1972 when they were imported to Britain from US. In the beginning, there was a bit of opposition from cat lovers who thought Korat cat is not particularly different from other blue shorthair cats, but in 1975 this breed was recognized in the UK as well. Despite of this, the Korat cat remains rare – even in their native Thailand.
Korat cat has a beautiful heart-shaped head and beautiful, very large, round, olive green eyes that give her a pretty innocent look – in defiance of the fact that these cats are notoriously intrusive, demanding and stubborn.
The paws are oval and compact with dark blue pads and five toes on the front and four toes on the hind legs. Originating from the tropics, Korat cats have no undercoat and should be protected from the cold.
In rare cases, some cats can suffer from neuro -muscular disorder called GM1 and GM2, and the existence of the disease should be determined by analyzing the blood.
