Information on a Korat Cat
The Korat is a special breed of cat, originating from Thailand. It has a distinctive blue-gray coat which in its original habitat would have blended with the rocky granite boulders of the Thai environment. Korats are still a minority breed even in Thailand where they are viewed as a symbol of good fortune. To receive a gift of a pair of Korats at a wedding is considered a sign of good luck.
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Korats in the U.S.
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The Korat originally came from Thailand. A pair of Korats was first introduced to the U.S. from Thailand in the 1950s. Although it has been habitual for Korats to be allowed to breed with Siamese cats in Thailand, and this has continued to some degree in the U.S., only blues of a litter are termed Korat; the term actually means "blue cat of Thailand." The Korat Cat Fanciers Association was formed in 1965 and a standard of points was developed with the breed being accepted for championship status in 1966.
Physical Features
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A Korat is medium-sized and should have a dense blue coat that is characteristically silver-tipped on a semi-cobby, firm and muscular body, although it is noted that Korats are slow to mature. The face is a distinctive heart shape with large green eyes, luminous in appearance, and the forehead should be large and flat. Korats do require coat care as the fur is thick, although they are not prone to shedding.
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Personality Traits
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Korats are a rare sight, even at cat shows. Inquisitive, adaptable, independent and confident, Korats enjoy joining in with the activities of their owners rather than being aloof. However, they dislike sudden and startling noises so they must be trained to acclimate from a young age if they are going to be shown or they are going to live in an active household. They are highly perceptive and intelligent, and exhibit affection with no tendency toward aggression. Korats make an excellent family pet, relishing the company of children and other animals. They are very playful and find it easy to learn. Korats often engage in games of fetch and are known to play hide-and-seek with their owners.
Showing Korats
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Still very uncommon, purebred Korats tend to come from careful breeders and may be candidates for showing. Korats entered into a show will be judged against many criteria including the shape of the head, chin and jawline, body firmness and muscle tone, broadness of the chest, weight, back curvature, overall size and proportions, leg and tail shape, and luminosity, shape and size of the eyes.
Health Issues
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Korats are generally a healthy and robust breed although some lines have been found to suffer a genetic disease known as gangliosidosis that affects the brain development and mobility of cats. This is now being bred out of the Korat via careful gene testing and breeding programs.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Thailand image by Alexander Lebedev from Fotolia.com rosette image by Edsweb from Fotolia.com
