The Korat is a devoted, affectionate breed treasured in Thailand as a good-luck cat with a silver-blue coat and gentle, loyal heart.
How the Korat coat is built, and what that means when you groom it.
The Korat is a rare Thai natural breed recognized by SACC, whose silver-blue coat shares a striking resemblance to South Africa's national bird the Blue Crane, giving it a uniquely local resonance for South African cat enthusiasts.
The Korat ranks among the oldest natural cat breeds, having originated in the Korat province of north-eastern Thailand. It is a small to medium cat with a single, close-lying coat that is blue tipped with silver, giving the fur a faint luminous sheen in good light. A heart-shaped head, large green eyes, and a compact, muscular body that feels heavier than it looks define the breed.
In Thailand the Korat is called Si-Sawat and is revered as a cat of good fortune, described in the ancient Tamra Maew as cloud-coloured with eyes like dewdrops. Pairs were traditionally given as wedding gifts to bring prosperity. That silver-blue colouring has an unexpected resonance in South Africa: the Blue Crane, South Africa's national bird, shares the Korat's distinctive grey-blue palette almost precisely. Both carry the same understated, silver-blue quality that sets them apart from any more saturated colour.
In South Africa the Korat is registered through the South African Cat Council (SACC) or TICA. The breed is rare in the country; most South African owners source cats from European breeders in the Netherlands or the UK under SAPS/DAFF health documentation, and the waiting list is real. SACC enthusiasts drawn to rare natural breeds are the breed's core audience here.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Thailand (Korat province) |
| Size | Small to medium |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 years |
| Group/role | Companion cat |
| Good with | Attentive adults, older children, calm households |
The Korat suits South African cat enthusiasts who value rare natural breeds with centuries of documented heritage and are prepared to invest in finding one. Johannesburg owners should note that at 1,750 metres above sea level, the city's winter nights can drop to around 4 degrees Celsius, and the Korat's single coat means it will feel the cold more than a double-coated breed. Indoor heating and warm sleeping spots are essential through June and July. In Cape Town's milder maritime winters the cold is less of a factor, but consistent indoor living is always advised for this uncommon breed.
The Korat is a natural Thai breed documented for centuries as the Si-Sawat good-luck cat, brought to the West in the mid-twentieth century and developed from a small number of imports.
The Korat takes its name from the Korat province (Nakhon Ratchasima) in north-eastern Thailand, where it has existed as a natural breed for centuries. In Thailand it is known as the Si-Sawat, a name that refers to its silver-blue colour and carries a sense of good fortune and prosperity.
The breed appears in a Thai manuscript known as the Tamra Maew, or Cat-Book Poems, a collection of verse and illustration describing native cats. The Si-Sawat is among the cats depicted there, which places written record of the type well before its arrival in the West. Korats were given in pairs to mark weddings and to wish good luck, and they were kept and bred close to their original population.
Korats reached the United States in 1959, when a breeding pair was imported from Thailand. American breeders built their lines from this and later imports, keeping the population close to its Thai roots rather than crossing widely with other breeds. A dedicated Korat association formed in the years that followed to record pedigrees and promote the breed.
Major registries recognised the Korat through the 1960s, and breeders have continued to import cats directly from Thailand to maintain genetic diversity. In South Africa the breed is registered through the South African Cat Council (SACC) or TICA, and it remains relatively uncommon, with many catteries still tracing their cats to documented foundation imports.
The Korat is a small, muscular cat with a heart-shaped face, large luminous green eyes, and a single silver-tipped blue coat with no other accepted colour.
The Korat is a compact, semi-cobby cat that carries surprising weight for its size because of dense muscle. The head forms a heart shape when viewed from the front, with a strong jaw and a slight stop on the nose. The ears are large, set high, and rounded at the tips. The eyes are the breed's most striking feature: large, round when open, and a luminous green at maturity. Kittens are often born with amber or yellow-green eyes that deepen to full green over the first two to four years.
| Trait | Standard |
|---|---|
| Height | About 23 to 25 cm at the shoulder |
| Weight | 2.7 to 4.5 kg |
| Coat | Short, single, close-lying, no undercoat |
| Colours | Blue tipped with silver only |
| Eyes | Large, round, luminous green at maturity |
The Korat has one accepted colour: a solid blue coat in which each hair is tipped with silver. The silver tipping catches the light and produces a halo or sheen, most visible on a cat in good condition. The coat is short, fine, and lies flat against the body, with no woolly undercoat. Because there is only one coat and no undercoat, the Korat sheds less than many cats and needs little grooming. There are no markings, patches, or alternative colours in the breed standard.
The Korat is affectionate, devoted, and gentle, forming deep bonds with its people while staying alert and sensitive to noise and change.
The Korat is a people-focused cat that attaches closely to its household, often choosing one or two favourite people. It likes to stay near them, sit on a lap, and join whatever they are doing. The breed communicates with a soft, expressive voice rather than constant loud demands, and it reads its owner's moods with noticeable attention.
With family, the Korat is warm and loyal. With strangers it tends to be reserved at first, watching from a distance before it decides to approach. Intelligent and curious, it learns household routines quickly. The breed can be assertive about wanting company and may dislike being left alone for long stretches.
Korats are sensitive cats. Sudden noise, rough handling, and frequent disruption unsettle them. They usually do well with another calm, compatible cat or a respectful dog, though they can be wary of boisterous animals. With gentle older children who handle them quietly they are affectionate; very young, loud children are a poorer match.
| Trait | Rating |
|---|---|
| Affection | 5 |
| Energy | 3 |
| Trainability | 4 |
| Vocalness | 3 |
| Shedding | 2 |
The Korat is low-maintenance to groom thanks to its single coat, but it needs steady company, moderate play, and a calm, stable home to stay content.
The Korat's single, short coat is easy to maintain and sheds modestly.
The Korat has moderate energy and enjoys short, regular bouts of play.
The Korat does best in a calm, predictable indoor home. South Africa's regional climate variation matters for this breed: in Johannesburg, winter nights regularly drop below 5 degrees Celsius, and the Korat's single coat offers less insulation than breeds with dense undercoats. Warm indoor spaces and dedicated sleeping spots are important through the highveld winter months. In Cape Town the maritime climate is milder, but indoor living remains advisable. Keep feeding, play, and rest on a steady routine. If importing from European breeders in the Netherlands or the UK, allow time for SAPS/DAFF health documentation. Indoor housing protects this rare breed from theft, traffic, and outdoor disease.
The Korat needs a complete, protein-rich cat food fed in measured portions to keep its dense, muscular body in good condition without excess weight.
As an obligate carnivore, the Korat needs a complete and balanced diet built around animal protein. Choose a quality cat food suited to the cat's life stage, follow the feeding guide on the label, then adjust to body condition. The Korat is muscular and can carry more weight than its frame suggests, so portion control matters. Fresh water should always be available, and many cats benefit from some wet food to support hydration.
| Life stage | Amount per day | Meals |
|---|---|---|
| Kitten (2 to 12 months) | Per label, free-fed or 3 to 4 meals | 3 to 4 |
| Adult (1 to 7 years) | About 50 to 70 g of dry, or equivalent wet | 2 |
| Senior (7+ years) | Adjusted to weight and activity | 2 |
Keep treats to no more than about ten percent of daily kilojoules so the main diet stays balanced. A complete commercial food usually needs no added supplements; give any vitamins or joint support only on a veterinarian's advice. Use small, low-kilojoule treats during training and play to reward the cat without encouraging weight gain.
The Korat is generally a healthy, long-lived breed of 12 to 15 years, with a known genetic risk for two related neurological storage disorders that responsible breeders screen for.
The Korat is a robust natural breed and usually lives 12 to 15 years with good care. Its main documented health concern is a pair of inherited neurological conditions, GM1 and GM2 gangliosidosis, which are lysosomal storage disorders seen in the breed. Reliable DNA tests exist for both, and reputable breeders test their breeding cats so that affected kittens are not produced. Buying from a breeder who screens for these conditions is the most important health step for the breed.
| Condition | Signs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| GM1 gangliosidosis | Tremors, weakness, declining coordination in young cats | Inherited; DNA test available, breeders should screen |
| GM2 gangliosidosis | Progressive neurological decline in early life | Inherited; DNA test available, breeders should screen |
| Dental disease | Bad breath, drooling, tartar, sore gums | Common in cats; managed with dental care |
| Obesity | Weight gain, reduced activity | Manage with measured portions and play |
The Korat is intelligent and eager to please its people, which makes it responsive to gentle, reward-based training for litter habits, handling, and simple tricks.
The Korat is a smart, attentive cat that learns quickly and enjoys interacting with its owner, which gives training a strong foundation. Because the breed is sensitive, it responds far better to patience and rewards than to pressure or scolding. Short, positive sessions hold its interest, and the close bond it forms means it is often motivated by praise and time with its person as much as by food.
Korat breeding centres on health-tested parents and careful, ethical pairing, since the breed carries inherited gangliosidosis and is uncommon enough to require attention to genetic diversity.
Responsible Korat breeding begins with DNA testing both parents for GM1 and GM2 gangliosidosis so that no affected kittens are produced. The breed is relatively rare, and many lines trace to a small number of foundation imports, so breeders also weigh genetic diversity and sometimes work with cats imported directly from Thailand. Females typically reach sexual maturity within the first year, though responsible breeders wait until a queen is physically mature and health-checked before mating.
Gestation in cats lasts about 63 to 67 days. Korat litters are usually small to moderate in size. Queens generally raise their kittens well, and newborns depend fully on the mother for warmth and milk in the first weeks. Kittens open their eyes within the first two weeks and begin weaning around four to six weeks. Eye colour is amber or yellow-green at first and deepens towards the breed's mature green over the following years.
Kittens should stay with the mother and litter until at least twelve weeks so that they are weaned, socialised, vaccinated, and ready for a new home. Early gentle handling helps produce confident adults that match the breed's affectionate reputation.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Sexual maturity | Around 6 to 12 months (breed when mature) |
| Gestation | About 63 to 67 days |
| Litter size | Typically 2 to 5 kittens |
| Eyes open | Around 7 to 14 days |
| Weaning | About 4 to 6 weeks |
| Ready for new home | 12 weeks or older |
Free lifetime registration for your Korat with United Pet Club, searchable by every SPCA branch, at home and abroad.
Start with the basics: her name, her colouring, a photo, your cell number. Saved, that is a lifetime record with United Pet Club, and it costs nothing at any point. Cat registration works with or without a microchip in the picture.
If a chip is already under her skin, finish the job by recording the number. Register the microchip on the free lifetime plan: any brand a South African vet implants is accepted, updating after a move between provinces costs nothing, and the record is searchable around the clock. Create your free account and cover cat and chip together.
Sign up for a free United Pet Club account, add her name, colouring, and a photo, and save. The lifetime plan holds the profile at no cost for her whole life, indoors or out.
Capture the 15-digit number from your vet's paperwork in your free account with your current contact details. The plan accepts every chip brand and never charges for the record or its updates.
No law requires it, but the SPCA recommends it and shelters chip on adoption as a matter of course. A chip only speaks for a Korat once the number is registered, and that registration is free here.
Not a rand. Profile, microchip record, and every update are covered by the free lifetime plan, with nothing to renew.
Common questions about the Korat cover its size, temperament, care needs, lifespan, suitability, and how readily the breed can be found.
The resemblance is striking. The Blue Crane, South Africa's national bird, carries the same distinctive blue-grey colouring that the Korat's silver-tipped coat produces. Where many blue animals veer toward a flat, even hue, both the Blue Crane and the Korat have a layered, softly luminous quality to their colour. For South African cat enthusiasts, this parallel with a nationally iconic bird gives the Korat a uniquely local frame of reference.
The Korat is rare in South Africa. Contact SACC or TICA for registered breeder contacts. Most South African owners import from established European breeders in the Netherlands or the UK, which requires SAPS/DAFF health documentation and planning time. Expect a waiting list from any reputable source.
The Korat's single coat with no undercoat means it feels the cold more than breeds with dense double coats. Johannesburg's winter nights can drop to around 4 degrees Celsius, so indoor heating and warm sleeping spots are essential from June through August. The breed is not suited to outdoor life in highveld winters. In Cape Town's milder maritime climate the cold is less severe, but indoor living is always advised.
The Korat is a small to medium cat, usually weighing about 2.7 to 4.5 kg. It is muscular and dense, so it often feels heavier than it looks.
With good care a Korat typically lives 12 to 15 years. Buying from a breeder who DNA-tests for GM1 and GM2 gangliosidosis supports a healthy, long life.
Yes, for the right household. It suits attentive adults, older children who handle cats gently, and homes with a calm routine. It is less suited to very loud, busy environments or long daily absences.
No. The Korat has a single coat with no woolly undercoat, so it sheds far less than most cats and is relatively low-maintenance to groom.
