How to Identify A Korat

The Korat is a Thailand breed that is often associated with good luck because of their silver storm grey coats, and shining eyes. They take their name from the city of Nakhon Ratchasimain, also known as Korat where the species was recorded to have originated. This is a very old breed that has been virtually unchanged for many centuries. Its first mention is in a text written in the early 1300s. The breed was introduced to America in the early 1950s by Jean Johnston. Until recently it was considered taboo for the species to be sold, and could only be given as a gift in order for the cat to bring good luck to its owner. This guide will explain how to recognize a Korat should you see one.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look at the cat’s general shape and build. You should see a small cat that is well built with limbs thicker than average and a compact form. Their tails are usually smaller than average. Typically a male will weigh between six and ten pounds with a female weighing between four and eight. The cat may seem small but it will be surprisingly heavy thanks to a low body fat percentage. This means the cat will have a small area, but greater mass due to the presence of dense bone and muscle rather than fat, which takes up more space than an equal weighing amount of muscle.

2. Examine the cat’s fur. You should see short silky hair about an inch long in a uniform color ranging between dusky silver to blue-grey. This is the only color that a Korat will be; they will no pattern to the fur either. If the cat does not have this characteristic then it is most definitely not a Korat.

3. Look at the cat’s head. If you look at the cat head on, the Korat is known for having a nearly perfect heart shaped skull. This is an illusion granted by rounded ears that sit on the head and cheeks that meld into the jaw to create an unbroken tapering line. Pay particular note of the cat’s eyes. The cat will have blue eyes when it is still a kitten, which will change to amber. They will appear overly large and cherubic for the cat’s face, and glow a luminous green if the cat is over two years old. This is a requirement of the species; if the cat’s eyes are a brilliant green and it displays the other characteristics described then you’re looking at a Korat.

Tips & Warnings

• Genetically speaking this breed is perhaps the most stable species in the world. Their fur color, body type, and eye color are all the same and do not change from the moment they are born to the moment they die. If keeping a Korat as a pet it is important that it be kept away from small children or a loud environment. This species is naturally very shy and only ever really warms to the one it identifies as its owner. Also they have extremely acute senses of hearing, sight, and smell. That means sensations we would think nothing of such as the odor of garlic or onions, or loud noises and music can be painful for them. This species is extremely rare and expensive thanks to the fact that all Korats in America are descended from less than a dozen Korats brought back from Thailand.