Korat

by Amy Tokic

Published: July 15th, 2013

About Korat

Weight

5-11 lb

Physique

Heavy, semi-cobby body

Lifespan

10-15 years

Best Suited For

Families with older children, well-behaved dogs, singles

Temperament

Active, playful, affectionate, intelligent

Comparable Breeds

Devonshire Rex, Somali

Height

10-12 inches

Korat Breed History

The Korat cat originated in Ampur Pimai in the Korat region of Thailand, and is the national cat of Thailand today. The first reference to the breed is in the Smud Khoi of Cats, a book of poetry, which names seventeen “good luck” cats including the Korat. The breed is mentioned in other manuscripts from the period 1350 to 1767, and modern Korats look very much like their ancient ancestors. Owning a Korat is still considered to be good fortune in Thailand today, and the cats are often presented as gifts to newlyweds. The breed came to the United States in 1959, and the Cat Fanciers’ Association recognized the Korat in 1967. Today the breed is recognized by all the U.S. registries, although Korats are still relatively rare and confined to a dedicated breeder and fancier community.

An affectionate and cuddly cat, the Korat bonds strongly with its humans, but will single out a favorite.

Breed Traits

An affectionate and cuddly cat, the Korat bonds strongly with its humans, but will single out a favorite. They are playful, but surprisingly gentle with children. That being said, they are not well suited for noisy, boisterous households because loud noises will startle them into disappearing from sight until they’re sure the “coast is clear.” Possessed of keen senses of sight, hearing, and scent, it’s almost impossible to hide a treat from a Korat, or for any errant insect to escape detection. Intelligent, talkative, and interactive, these cats do not like to be alone for long periods of time, but they are willing to seek companionship from other animals, even dogs. Many will happily play fetch, and they enjoy their lap time, lavishing expressive affection on their humans and exhibiting great trust in their owners. Although not aggressive, they can be given to horseplay, so it’s good to keep your Korat’s nails trimmed.

Overall Description

The Korat’s head is heart-shaped, with additional hearts appearing around the nose and in the face. They have a semi-cobby body, which tapers at the waist. They are surprisingly heavy cats, with the bulk of their heft carried in the front of the body, in and around the muscular and rounded shoulders. A heavy, short neck supports the head and if looked at straight on, the shoulders are wider than the chest itself. These cats are somewhat slow to develop physically, and can appear awkward and gawky up to four years of age. Even their eye color can fluctuate until they are fully developed.

Colors

The Korat’s color is described as a silver tipped blue, a highlighting which gives its coat something of a shimmer. The light color at the roots increases in tones of blue up the shaft to the silver tip. The muzzle and toes especially display this silver highlighting.

Grooming Requirements

The Korat’s coat has only one layer. The hair lies close to the body, and does not float up when petted or stroked. They only shed heavily when getting rid of their winter coats, and otherwise need only a weekly brushing, a maintenance chore which the Korat loves.

Photo credit: R. Gino Santa Maria/Shutterstock; sippakorn/Shutterstock; Goele/Wikimedia Commons

Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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Dogs are very affectionate beings, and can form incredible bonds with their owners – but this also means that they would love to be by their side at all times. Sometimes, however, this is just not possible. Their owners have to  work, go to the store, or finish chores out of home and they can’t always take their pets with them. And when you leave your pooch all by their lonesome, they often think it’s the end of the world – you’ve abandoned them for good, even when you’re away for like 25 minutes. This can result in anxiety, restlessness, and a lot of barking. Some dogs – in fact – just won’t stop barking or howling until you come back. How can you bring an end to this behavior, and prevent all the excess barking? And how can you let your pet know that leaving for a little bit is no big deal? Let’s find out. Battles with Barks: Why Dogs Bark When Alone and How to Stop ItExcessive barking when a dog is home alone can be a common issue for a lot of owners, and addressing it requires a combination of training, environmental management, and sometimes, the help of professionals. Above all, it requires patience. However, there are a number of factors that come into play when such situations occur. To make your dog calmer, quieter, and ready to accept your absence, you should take a closer look at the daily routine the two of you share.First, consider if you're providing enough physical and mental stimulation. Physical exercise is crucial for a dog's well-being. Keep in mind that a tired dog is generally a content and quieter dog. So, before you leave, make sure that they have ample exercise, fun, and outside time. If they “emptied their batteries”, they are more likely to remain calm and just snooze while you are out. Of course, to make sure you always fulfill these exercise requirements, you will have to establish a consistent daily routine. Just like humans, doggos too depend on the routine they can follow. This routine helps them feel secure and understand when to expect certain events like meals and walks. If they get used to a daily chain of events, they will expect you to leave and be okay with it.  Interactive toys that provide mental stimulation or dispense treats are also a great thing to utilize when battling anxiety or boredom-induced barking. They can help your dog stay occupied during your absence. As they get involved in playing with the toy, dogs will tire out, keep themselves busy, and not make such a big deal about your absence. With a toy, alone time can actually be enjoyable for a dog.

Stray Dog Becomes Surrogate for Abandoned Puppies at Texas Shelter

A stray Great Pyrenees dog, found wandering the streets of Fort Bend County, Texas, became a surrogate mother to a litter of six abandoned puppies.In late October, a concerned citizen found an abandoned litter of puppies. After failing to locate the pups’ mother in the surrounding area, the person brought the puppies to Fort Bend County Animal Services. “They were tiny, needing immediate bottle feeding and care, they were just about a week to 10 days old,” said Rene Vasquez, the director of Fort Bend County Animal Services, to PEOPLE.Although the puppies arrived at the shelter in good condition, they were starving and needed nourishment ASAP. The Fort Bening County Animal Services took to social media to look for fosters to take in the puppies and provide them with around-the-clock bottle feedings. Around the same time, another local found a stray Great Pyrenees, named Nova, who was full of milk. While it was clear that Nova had a litter recently, her puppies were nowhere to be found. The woman who found Nova saw the shelter’s online call for help and decided to contact them with a different idea. Instead of using volunteers to do the bottle feedings, she suggested bringing Nova by to see if the dog would accept to nurse the puppies. The shelter loved this idea and decided to give Nova a chance. A few seconds after Nova met the puppies it became apparent that the shelter made the right decision. “Nova was so happy to see the puppies! She took to them right away, and they were very happy to have a mama and food,” Vasquez shared. Although the abandoned puppies aren’t Nova’s biological litter, she accepted them as if they were her own. Acting like a true momma, Nova quickly allowed the pups to nurse and cuddle close to her for warmth. Thanks to Nova’s maternal instincts the puppies are doing well and growing quickly.“We were so happy that Nova was able to step up and be a mom for them. Sometimes, it is difficult to find bottle feeders and fosters for when the puppies or kittens are so little, so to have a nursing mom available to accept the babies is definitely a good day,” said Vasquez. Nova and the puppies, five boys and one girl, are currently living in a foster home. The fosters caring for the four-legged bunch plan to adopt Nova once the puppies are weaned. “The puppies will stay with Nova until they are weaned, and then we will start looking for homes for them. They will also be vaccinated, microchipped, and fixed before going to their forever homes,” the shelter’s director added. The case of Nova and her adopted litter has a happy ending, but not all stories end on a positive note. “As an industry, we are facing a real crisis in animal welfare across the country with an abundance of stray animals and not enough adopters or fosters to help the overcrowded shelters and rescues. Nova and her puppies illustrate the importance of spaying and neutering,” said the Fort Bend County Animal Services director.Shelters around the country are struggling to take in new animals due to a lack of forever homes and overcrowding. Each year, millions of pets end up in shelters across the nation, most of which are never adopted into a forever home. If you’re looking for a four-legged companion, visit your local shelter or rescue organization to see which of their residents would make a perfect addition to your home. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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