The Korat cat is one of the oldest stable cat breeds and originates in Thailand. It is named after the province in which it originated, although in Thailand it is often known as ‘Si-Sawat’, which means good fortune. In fact they are often known colloquially as the "Good Luck Cat" and are given in pairs to newly weds or people of high esteem as a wish for good luck.
The first known written mention of the Korat was in "The Cat-Book Poems" authored between 1350 and 1767 AD in Thailand, now preserved in the National Library in Bangkok. They first appeared in America in the 1950s and arrived in Great Britain from there in 1972.
Korats are a shorthair with a small to medium build and a low percentage of body fat - and therefore often described as sleek and muscular. They are an active cat and form strong bonds with people.
Korats have several characteristics that together distinguish them as a breed:
- Firstly they are one of a few breeds that have only one colour: a silvery grey that often has lavender undertones - generally called blue in the cat world, although it is notably different in viewing from other 'blue' cats.
- Secondly their eyes are a shade of yellow from birth (sometimes described as a "pale amber") but change to an emerald, or peridot, green at full maturity (2 to 4 years). During this change the eyes are green in the centre with a yellow at the edges. It should also be noted that unlike other cats when viewed at night using a spotlight their eyes reflect green rather than the more common red.
- Thirdly, Korats only have one coat (they lack a downy undercoat possibly due to their long history in a hot and humid climate) and do not shed much hair.
