Korat

About the breed

The Korat is one of the few cat breeds that, for centuries, was almost never sold, only given away in Thailand as a symbol of good fortune. Its silver-blue coat and long history make it one of the most recognisable, yet least widespread, breeds in the world.

A good-luck cat that was never for sale

In Thai culture, Korats have traditionally been given in pairs to brides and honoured guests as a symbol of blessing, prosperity and a happy marriage. Until the mid-20th century, Korats were generally never sold, only gifted, which also contributed to their rarity outside Thailand.

One of the oldest documented breeds in the world

The Korat ranks among the breeds with the longest documented history, mentioned in old Thai manuscripts on cats. Besides the tradition of gifting, its rarity also comes from strict preservation of the original type, since breeding programmes avoid crossing with other breeds to keep the characteristic coat and head shape.

A silver-blue coat and eyes that change colour

The Korat's coat is solid silver-blue with silvered hair tips, and the head has a distinctive heart shape. Kittens are born with blue eyes that turn amber with a greenish tinge during their teenage months, only reaching the final peridot green as adults between two and four years of age — so a kitten with amber eyes is not a fault but a normal developmental stage.

Temperament: intelligent and devoted, but demanding

The Korat is highly intelligent, playful and deeply attached to its person, but it is also fairly vocal and does not tolerate long periods alone. This means it needs an owner who is home a lot and willing to give it plenty of attention — experienced cat owners will generally find this easier to manage than a complete first-timer.

Children and other pets: conditional, not a given

The Korat does best with calm, somewhat older children — some sources suggest roughly age eight and up — who know how to handle a cat respectfully, since loud or unpredictable toddlers can overwhelm it. Company with other animals is similarly conditional: a Korat often prefers to be the only cat in the household, can be jealous of a newcomer, and owner reports describe it as especially reserved around dogs, though with slow, supervised introductions it usually adjusts to other animals over time.

Coat care is straightforward

The short, close-lying coat only needs occasional brushing to remove dead hair and bring out its natural sheen. Because the coat is short, the Korat needs no demanding cosmetic grooming — its social and mental needs deserve far more attention than its coat does.

Health: gangliosidosis and a reliable genetic test

GM1 and GM2 gangliosidosis are rare but fatal inherited metabolic disorders of the nervous system caused by recessive mutations — an affected cat develops progressive neurological problems and does not reach adulthood. A reliable DNA test for carriers has existed since 1998, and breeders have used it to nearly eradicate the disease among breeding animals, so it is worth checking the parents' test results when buying a kitten.

Pros & cons