Cat Breeds: Korat

The Korat has been around a long time. The earliest known picture of this elegant breed appears in The Cat-Book Poems. Written sometime between 1350 and 1767, this is probably the oldest manuscript devoted exclusively to cats. There is an illustration within this book that features a cat that looks remarkably like the Korat. This cat, along with the other cats in that illustration, were thought to bring good luck.

In more modern times, the Korat first appeared in England. in the late 1800s. They were shown as "Blue Siamese" between 1889 and 1896, but because they didn't conform to the traditional Siamese standards they disappeared from competition by 1901.

It wasn't until 1959 that the first breeding pair of Korats were imported into the United States. Though they were not immediately accepted into championship status, several breeders persisted and by 1966 they were competing with the other recognized breeds.

The Appearance of the Korat

There is no mistaking the Korat. With their bright blue coloring (or as bright a blue as cats get), they stand out in the crowd. And though the blue color might be the only accepted color in most associations, some groups accept lilac and pointed cats as well. The coat is short, making grooming a breeze, and they are an about average shedder.

The Korat is a medium sized cat with a powerful and muscled body. Unlike many other cat breeds, the Korat can take up to five years to reach maturity. During this time, they may be lanky until they fill out. Their eyes will also change. Though blue as kittens, the eyes will eventually shift to bright amber when they are only a few weeks old. Then the eyes will change again, this time to a brilliant peridot, when the cat is between two and four years of age. When the eye color changes to peridot, the cat is nearing maturity.

The Personality of the Korat

Active and intelligent, the Korat will quickly form a strong bond with its family. They are affectionate creatures prone to cuddling or simply following at your feet. Be prepared to trip on your Korat several times a day. That or shoo him off the counter whenever he jumps up for a snuggle. This breed doesn't like to be alone, so if you're going to be gone for several hours at a time, consider getting a second Korat so they can keep each other company. For some ridiculous reason, these cats like to hang out with humans, and they like to hang out with each other, but they don't tend to like other cat breeds very much. Korats love Korats. Stubborn little brats.

Though this cat is among the more active breeds, it's also a great breed to have with children. They love to play and can handle some minor roughhousing, but they're incredibly gentle at the same time. They also like to chirp, which is endlessly entertaining for children and adults alike. Korats don't really like loud noises as a general rule, but they seem to make an exception for children.

A hardy cat, the Korat is the perfect fit for families with children provided there aren't other cats (unless they're Korats too) and dogs. Or small pets. These guys are active enough to hunt just about anything. For the cat-loving household, Korats can provide endless entertainment and love.