Korat
Korat cats have a small to medium build and are generally found in a slate bluish grey color. They are a shorthair domestic cat that are intelligent, shy, playful, and can form very strong bonds with people. The Korat is one of the oldest cat breeds alive today and is most notably known for the large green eyes.
The Korat is an ancient cat that has been around for centuries. It originated from Siam, (now Thailand) and first found in a book entitled "The Cat Book Poems." The book was written between 1350 and 1767. It was originally known as the SI-Sawat cat in its native country while the name Korat originated when King Rama V of Siam was given one as a gift. When he questioned what kind of cat it was the answer was that it had come from Korat (a high plateau in northeast Thailand). It is thought to carry good luck with it and is often given as a gift at weddings to ensure a happy marriage. They were given to people in high esteem and for many years went hand in hand with royalty.
Korats are often given as gifts to newlyweds.
The first Korat cat to ever be shown was in England in the late 19th century. The owner had obtained it from Siam and was therefore entered as a Siamese cat, although now the differences are recognizably noted. The first American cattery to breed Korats was Cedar Glen, which was owned and operated by Jean Johnson. In 1950 her husband retired from the Foreign Service in Thailand and they were presented with a pair of Korats as a gift before they returned to the United States. Nara and Dara are the first Korats known to have been imported from Thailand for breeding purposes. It wasn't long after that Korats began attracting attention from cat fanciers around the 1960s. In 1962 a female of Gala was bred with a male of Gala which both had been imported from Thailand at the time by Gail Lankenau Woodward. These became the foundation cats of the Korat breed in the United States.
The Korat Cat Fanciers Association was founded in 1965 and a proposed standard was compiled. This association was a non-affiliated international club that was dedicated to the protection of the Korat and they were instrumental in getting it recognized in all associations. They also helped ensure that the Korat standards remained the same in all associations. The standard was submitted to the Canadian and the American cat associations for consideration and in a few short months the Korat was recognized and adopted by most cat associations.
June of 1966 would be the first time the Korat would compete for honors in a championship class. The first Korat grand champions were imported cats of offspring of imported cats. They became the first of a long list of Korat to make show history. Their lines must be traced back directly to Thailand and they often times have more paper work to prove their country of origin than most human travelers. Without proper documentation the lineage may be questioned.
The Korat is an extremely expressive cat as well as being highly observant. They will often times try to imitate what you are doing and seem to know what you are thinking. They can learn how to open doors, turn on faucets, and even open lidded containers. They are a very loyal and trusting breed and love being involved with your activities. They can be quite vocal and enjoy playing games like fetch.
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