Portraits of Popular Breeds at Home and Abroad: Thai Cat
Cats of this breed are very intelligent, communicative and mainly sociable. They create a really strong bond with people. Besides their nice nature, they are also attractive thanks to their exotic and noble appearance.
Thai Cats were recognized as a breed only short time ago, but it has a long and famous history. It has common ancestors with Siamese cats which come from Siam, today’s Thailand. Formerly, these cats were called royal cats from Siam. The first mentions about them come from the oldest book about a cat – Tamra Maew (A Cat Poem).
These cats were considered holy and people believed they bring luck. That’s why they only kept them in Buddhist monasteries and royal palaces. They have an important position in Thailand even today as their presence during the last coronation ceremony in 2018 suggests. They are called “moon diamonds” or “diamond gold” in Thailand.
Royal cats from Siam are one of the naturally present ancient cat breeds living in Thailand (a natural cat breed is always a cat breed that emerged itself and developed naturally). These cats look exotic, graceful and noble. So, it’s not surprising that they raised interest of breeders as soon as they got into Europe. They started to be called Siamese cats to make it simple. However, their appearance has gradually started to differ from the original royal cats from Siam. That’s why two separate breeds emerged – Siamese and Thai Cats. While the Thai remain similar to the royal cats of Siam, the Siamese are further modernized. Therefore, the Thai are sometimes called the Siamese cats of the original type or the traditional Siamese.
Compared to the Siamese, the Thai look more subtle and natural with balance proportions. Its hair is short and fine, with slight undercoat. It is shiny and clings to body. The so-called Himalayan colours which means patterns (darker contrastive colours) on the mask, ears, legs and tail are typical for them. “The Thai are unusual not only due to their appearance but also due to their nature. When someone says a cat, people usually imagine reluctance, independence and lurking around the corner and when they say a dog, we imagine a creature that desires company and love. The Thai are an exception. Not only they need people’s attention, they will do anything to win your love and give it back to you even more. They are dependent on their owner and friendly, intelligent and communicative,” says Jana Kadlecová, a Thai Cat breeder, who started her breeding with a cat imported directly from Thailand.
According to her, the individuals of this breed can get to your heart with their irresistible charm, elegance and devoted behaviour. Jana Kadlecová explains: “The Thai has also something extra besides its beauty and elegance – it’s endearment, communicativeness and sociable nature. They even like human company so much that they often prefer it to other cat’s company”. And she adds: “Therefore I sometimes liken their character to that of dogs. They are very cuddly and playful, but they do not force people to pay attention to them as other oriental breeds do. They can be easily taught some tricks such as fetching.”
The breeder summarizes the characteristics of the breed in these words: “Everyone knows pets become family members. It applies to the Thai in more than 100 %. They love their master and are great babysitters for kids. The welcome their masters by gentle, casual kissing when they come home. They want to know everything and be everywhere. However, it’s important to note that they do not obtrude. They love movement and games, mainly those where they can use their acrobatic talent. Thanks to their nature, they get on well with other pets. And what’s important, the Thai are very healthy, they don’t tend to suffer from diseases and live long (15–20 years).
As you can see, the Thai are special with their appearance as well as their nature and they can be perfect companions. And it’s true for them more than for other breeds, that the choice of a breeding farm (the blood line of the cat) is very important when picking a new family member. In the Czech Republic, the history of breeding them is not so long, but there are some breeding farms. So, the interest in the Thai will definitely further increase.
Sometimes, one dog is not enough and it is better to have a whole pack. Especially if you breed drafting (or also pulling) dogs. Of course, the more dogs you have, the more care and issues it means, but it also means there’s much more joy for the...
The modern world is not only rich in material things but also in the number of dog breeds. There are quite a lot of them, Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognizes 360 different breeds. And they are not only different from each other when...
There are many ways to learn a new thing. One of the most pleasant ones for both the dog and its owner is positive motivation. Thanks to it, a dog learns new tricks in a simple and pleasing way and it also helps to develop a mutual social relationship...
Pregnancy is a difficult time for a bitch in all aspects. The body nourishes more organisms and it needs to be reflected in her energy and nutrient intake. A breeder, racer and sport cynology contestant, Jitka Duffková, gives advice on how to make...
You might be interested in this dog sport but you have many questions before you can decide to start with it. Will my buddy enjoy it? Do I have sufficient physical abilities? When should we start, isn’t it too soon or too late? This article and advice...
A healthy mouth is a very important part of the complex vitality of a cat and we shouldn’t neglect taking care of it. There are many oral diseases our furry friends can suffer from. What can you do to keep your cat’s teeth clean?
Korat is a very rare breed that isn’t very common even in Thailand – the country of its origin. Thanks to its beautiful, soft, silver-tipped hair as well as its special nature, it’s unmistakable. This breed definitely deserves some attention.
Have you ever thought about how the composition of the gut microbiota of your dog companion influences its mood, metabolism or immune system in addition to its digestion? Do you know how bacteria work in guts and how to keep the good ones inside?
Letting furious dogs with only one task – to detain and put you down – bite you is definitely not for everyone. But is it really as horrifying as it may look from the outsider’s point of view? Jan Böhm answers our questions about what it takes to be...
Snakes and scorpions are said to get out on Saint George’s Day. It has been a while since then, so it’s no surprise that we can see a lizard or a snake when on a walk somewhere or in our gardens. They already left their underground shelters designed...
The German Boxer can truly be called a versatile dog. With no doubts, it can be a family dog, a watchdog or a rescuer. It is also good at sports. A long-term boxer breeder, Ing. Michaela Martinů, can confirm that.
Bikejöring doesn’t mean that a dog simply runs next to a bike. The dog pulls the bike when doing this sport, it is similar to dog sledding. A famous Slovak musher, Marcel Dučák, will tell us what equipment you need for it, what dogs it is good for,...