Korat cat: origin, characteristics, care

An affectionate kitty or phlegmatic cat is a favorite animal in many homes. If you haven’t made a furry friend yet and are just looking at the representatives of various breeds, we suggest you get acquainted with the wonderful Korat. Before making a final decision, find out about all the nuances of keeping this pet.

The Korat cat is a rare breed of Asian origin. Another name for the Korat is "si-savat", which means "bringing happiness" in Thai. In the north-east of Thailand is the province of Nakhon Ratchasima, located on the beautiful Korat plateau. Thanks to the place of residence, the breed got its name.

Korats are mentioned in an ancient 15th century manuscript Tamra Maew (Treatise on Cats, Poems on Cats). This book contains descriptions of 23 breeds of Thai cats that bring either happiness or unhappiness. The "Lao Flower" (as this breed is called in Tamra Maew) is a symbol of good luck, prosperity and a rich harvest. For this reason, Korats were never sold or exchanged - they were brought exclusively as a gift to their owners.

The traditional rain ceremony is not complete without the Korat, which is a symbol of a rich harvest. This breed came to America in 1959 thanks to the fact that the wife of the diplomat Jean L. Johnson brought the cat Daru and the cat Nara. The Korats were officially recognized in the United States in 1965. In Great Britain, this only happened in 1975. Nowadays, cats of the Korat breed are sacred, their export outside Thailand is prohibited. There are only 2,000 purebred Korat in Thailand.

Korats are often confused with British and Russian blue cats. But they have an original appearance. In ancient times, the color of this breed was compared with the color of a rain cloud, and the color of the eyes - with the color of a grain of rice.

Korat cats are small in size and weigh 3-4 kilograms. Seeming fragility is deceiving. If you take a cat in your arms, then feel its heaviness. This is due to the fact that instead of a fat layer, Korat has a significant amount of muscle, which gives them activity and endurance. The main characteristics of the breed are presented below.

• The shape of the head is in the form of a heart (due to the convex superciliary arches). The animals have a wide and flat forehead, a well-developed chin, powerful jaws, and large canine teeth.
• Round and wide-set eyes are bright green (sometimes amber). The final color of the eyes is formed by the age of 4. Due to this shape of the eyes, the look of the Korat sometimes seems naive. Interestingly, the open eyes are round, while the half-closed ones resemble the eastern section of the eyes.
• Large, alert ,? Ears set high with pointed tips. Thick coat covers the outer edge of the ears.
• The nose is similar in shape to that of a lion, with a small hump at the tip. This is how the Korats differ from the British.
• A small body with well-developed muscles, a beautifully arched back and a wide chest. Thanks to this, tall cabinets and tables are not a hindrance for a pet.
• The front legs are shorter than the hind legs. The paws near the claws are oval in shape, the pads are dark blue or just blue.
• Thick and strong tail at the base, tapering towards the end.
• Due to the lack of undercoat, the fur coat fits snugly to the body. All this creates the effect of a silky and shiny coat that is pleasant to iron.
• By standards, the color of the krats is blue with a silvery sheen. The nose, lips and paw pads are dark blue or lavender.

Korat cats are sociable, loyal, affectionate and attached to people. They feel well the mood of the owner - they will cheer him up if he is sad, help get rid of stress and fatigue, and will “heal” the sore spot with their warmth. These mustache do not like loneliness very much, they begin to get bored and sad. They need a lot of love, which, in turn, they also give to the owner and his family members. They are so loyal to the owner that they can follow him everywhere around the apartment, like a dog. They quickly find a common language with children, love to play with them.

This is a very sociable breed. But you will never hear loud and shrill screams... Their "vocabulary" consists of so many different sounds, with the help of which the pussies will explain to the owner what they want.

Korats are observant and active, they love to play. Therefore, you need to prepare that someone will always run around the apartment. They are also little thieves. You can find your missing items in the most unexpected places.

These cats are distinguished by a developed sense of mutual assistance and danger. Due to this, they sometimes act as guard dogs in Thailand.

Korats have high intelligence, so they lend themselves well to training, they clearly understand who is the master.... In relation to other animals, they can show their superiority and jealousy, they believe that the owner is their property. It is ideal to have a couple of Korat and they will entertain each other.

Korats have a small peculiarity - they do not tolerate loud sounds, screams and sudden movements, a large number of guests at home. This breed is not suitable for families with small children. The best hosts are single people who have enough time to spend time with their pet, an elderly couple, or families with older children and no other pets.

Caring for Korat cats is not very difficult, because they are clean and independent animals. But curiosity can complicate the life of the Korat a little - they can climb into places where the owner did not even expect to see them. Therefore, you should keep the toilet lid or aquarium closed, special nets should be installed on the windows, it is better to remove dangerous indoor plants in an inaccessible place, and at the same time check the furniture in case the little prankster gets stuck there.

Korat cats are not picky about food - they eat what they give. They can be fed with premium dry or wet food, or homemade food. You should not feed your pet food from the master's table, because people and cats have different needs. Natural cat food should be balanced and healthy, consisting of the following foods:

• lean meat (beef, chicken) is the main component;
• offal;
• sea ​​fish (once a week) - before use, the fish must be thoroughly cleaned and slightly boiled to avoid infection with helminths;
• vegetables (carrots, zucchini, cabbage, cucumbers);
• fermented milk products (kefir, cottage cheese, homemade yogurt);
• chicken eggs (no more than 2 pieces per week);
• cereals (millet, semolina, rice).

If cats are fed raw meat, there is a risk of parasite infestation. To avoid this, the meat should be kept in the freezer for 2 days before consumption (this is sufficient time to destroy the parasites). Then the meat must be doused with boiling water. There must be access to clean water at all times.

Korat love to be the center of attention, so they are always ready to play. A cat must have a cat house where she can practice her acrobatic tricks, and several toys that can be changed periodically.

Korat make significant progress in the game of fetch, bringing the ball back to the owner in their teeth. You can play ping pong (rolling or throwing a ball) or make a cat maze out of stapled cardboard boxes. The main thing is to make sure that the pet does not get into situations that pose a danger to his life during games. This often happens with Korat because of their curiosity.

Korat owners are lucky. There will not be a lot of wool in their house, since these mustache lacks an undercoat, due to which there is no shedding. Brushing once a week will help keep the silky coat tidy. To prevent periodontal disease and tartar formation, cats need to brush their teeth with a special brush. To make this procedure less uncomfortable, it is better to accustom kittens to this from childhood.

Claws should be trimmed every 2 weeks. Ears should always be clean by checking them every week and, if necessary, cleaning them with a cotton swab and cotton pad. The cleanliness of the eyes is also important - the dirt is removed with a special napkin or a damp soft cloth.

Korats are in good health and have a strong immune system. Sometimes cats can be prone to allergies, colds (due to lack of undercoat) and, in rare cases, gallstone disease.

There are 2 genetic diseases that representatives of this breed can suffer from:

• atelosteogenesis - incomplete or impaired formation of the bones of the skeleton;
• gangliosidosis - lag in physical development during childhood, accompanied by neurological symptoms

If the disease is transmitted from two parents, then it is, unfortunately, fatal. If the gene is obtained from only one parent, then the animal will be the carrier. Good care, regular check-ups and timely vaccination by a veterinarian will help your pet live up to 20 years.

Korat kitten is an expensive pleasure. Most often they are purchased for participation in exhibitions or breeding. There are no nurseries in Russia where korat are bred. The main breeding grounds are Thailand, the United States and several locations in Europe. The main thing is to be vigilant and not buy a Russian blue or British instead of a silver cat. The kitten must have:

• vetpasrort;
• pedigree;
• vaccination certificate.

When evaluating your appearance and physical condition, consider the following characteristics.

• Body should be smooth, clean, free from wounds, scratches or any other skin damage, swelling or swelling. A dense coat without bald spots covers the body. A kitten with a more silvery color is more expensive.
• Tummy should be round, but not a ball (since this is a symptom of gastrointestinal diseases).
• To fall should be light pink. There should be no unpleasant odor present.
• Anal hole - clean and dry. Moisture and sticky hairs indicate diarrhea.
• A healthy kitten is active and playful. After eating and immediately after sleeping, he may be a little lethargic, and this is normal.

3 months is the ideal age to adopt a kitten. He has already received from his mother-cat all the useful substances from milk necessary for immunity, the basics of upbringing (how to use a tray and a scratching post) and communication.

Korat breeding is time consuming and costly. This is due to several factors.

• Mating is only possible between individuals of the same breed. Crossbreeding with other breeds is prohibited. In Russia, it is difficult to find a partner with a documented pedigree.
• The need for a genetic examination, which will avoid the presence of gangliosidosis and atelosteogenesis.
• Only a puberty cat is ready to mate, and this happens at the age of 4 years.

Before 10 months, a carat cat should not be knitted, since early childbirth can negatively affect its health. It is best to mate after 3 streaks. The ideal birth rate is once a year. This will help keep the kitty healthy and looking beautiful.

Before mating, you must:

• undergo a medical examination of the animal;
• carry out deworming;
• to carry out the necessary vaccinations.

The usual number of kittens in a litter is 4 or 5, sometimes 9 babies are born. Gray fur and yellow eyes - this is how Korat are born.

If you play the Korata for fun, then your pet will not be able to avoid it. The procedure is carried out in a specialized veterinary clinic under general anesthesia for 20-30 minutes. You can castrate or neuter a pet at any age, but it is better to do this as early as possible, since it will be less traumatic for the animal psychologically and physically.

For a description of the Korat breed, see the following video.