 The
Korat is one of the oldest stable breeds of cat. Originating in
Thailand, it is named after the Nakhon Ratchasima province, 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 newlyweds 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 Britain from there in 1972.
Korats are a shorthair with a small to medium build and a low
percentage of body fat; their bodies are often described as semi-cobby,
and are surprisingly heavy for their size. They are an active cat
and form strong bonds with people.
Korats have several characteristics that together distinguish them
as a breed:
* Korats are one of a few breeds that have only one colour: a
silvery gray that often has lavender undertones - generally called
blue in the cat world, although it is notably different in viewing
from other 'blue' cats.
* 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.
* 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.
History
Thailand's origin is traditionally tied to the short-lived kingdom
of Sukhothai founded in 1238, after which the larger kingdom of
Ayutthaya was established in the mid-14th century. Thai culture was
greatly influenced by both China and India. Contact with various
European powers began in the 16th century but, despite continued
pressure, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have
been taken over by a European power. Western influence, however,
including the threat of force, led to many reforms in the 19th
century and major concessions to British mercantile interests. This
included the loss of the 3 southern provinces, which later became
Malaysia's 3 northern states.
Thailand was never colonised by a European power. There are two main
reasons for this. First, it was left as a buffer state between parts
of Asia that were colonised by the French and the British. Second,
Thailand had a series of very able rulers in the 1800s.
A mostly bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional
monarchy. Known previously as Siam, the country first changed its
name to Thailand in 1939, and definitively in 1949 after reverting
to the old name post-World War II. During that conflict Thailand was
in a loose alliance with Japan; following its conclusion Thailand
became an ally of the United States. Thailand then saw a series of
military coups d'état, but progressed towards democracy from the
1980s onward.
The official calendar in Thailand is based on the Buddhist Era,
which is 543 years ahead of the western calendar. For example, the
year AD 2006 is equal to the year 2549 BE.
On 26 December 2004 the southwest coast of Thailand was devastated
by a tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. In places
it was as high as 10 meters (30 ft). It killed more than 5,000
people in Thailand, half of them tourists.
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