The Thai cat is an ancient cat breed that has only recently become formally classified in the West, and is a close relation to the modern Siamese cat. The Thai cat is classed as a naturally occurring breed that is descended from the landrace cats of Thailand, and is also sometimes referred to as the Classic Siamese, Traditional Siamese or Old-style Siamese.

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HISTORY

The Thai cat is of course native to Thailand, and its genetic origins can be traced back to the country’s native landrace cats, the Wichien-maat, which still thrive in Thailand. The world-famous ancient book of Thai cat poems, the Tamra Maew, references the Wichien-maat cat, which is a naturally occurring breed in its own right.

During the 19th century, the Wichien-maat was imported to the UK, where the breed was developed by means of selective crossings to ultimately produce the cat that we have now known as the modern Siamese cat. The lithe, lean, and pointed appearance of the Siamese cat is the result of selective breeding, while the Thai cat’s appearance is more similar to that of the Wichien-maat, being rounder and less angular, and more like the original imports to the West.

This cat, which shares many similarities and a close genetic relationship to the Siamese but retaining a traditional appearance, is the breed now recognized as the Thai cat.

FACTS ABOUT THAI CATS

  • In the Thai National Library in Bangkok, there are manuscripts dating from the 1700s called the Cat Book Poems (Smud Khoi), containing illustrations of cats that look very similar to seal points.
  • When Siamese cats were first shown in England in 1871 they were described as ‘an unnatural nightmare kind of cat’ because of their strange coloring. They went on to become one of the most popular cat breeds in the world!
  • Their Thai name means ‘moon diamond’.
  • President Rutherford B. Hayes was given a seal point called Siam in 1879. Siam was the first-ever ‘ambassador’ of the breed to the USA.
  • Queen Elizabeth II was given a seal point kitten as a wedding present to celebrate her marriage to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

APPEARANCE

The Thai cat and the Siamese cat share a distant ancestry and also the point coloration that leads to a light-colored body and contrasting color on the mask, tail, and legs. The Thai cat’s body length is rather longer than the average Western moggy but less elongated than Oriental types, and they have a modified wedge-shaped head, flat forehead, and single-layered shorthaired coat.

The Thai cat is also very vocal with a distinct meow that they are not afraid to use!

 

TEMPERAMENT

The Thai cat is a real people pleaser, which is happiest when in the company of humans!

They love attention, fuss and love, and bond strongly with their families. They do not like to be left out of things, nor left alone for long periods of time.

They tend to be outgoing, bold and playful, and enjoy hunting and mock-hunting play. They are also very vocal and meow in conversation, and will not be shy to speak up if something is not to their liking!

The Thai cat tends to enjoy company and friendship of all kinds, and generally gets on well living with another cat, providing that there is enough attention to go round! They can also live happily with well-behaved dogs if introduced at a young age. The Thai cat is also a good pick for families with older children who know how to handle and respect their cat.

 

HEALTH

Because the Thai cat is one of the most ancient breeds of all, their gene pool is relatively diverse and they are not particularly prone to suffering from genetically inherited health problems. Many of the health problems that affect closely related breeds such as the Siamese cat come about from selective breeding and relatively small gene pools, something that the Thai cat is not a victim of. In fact, the Thai cat is one of the permitted breeds for outcrossing of Siamese and other similar breeds, in order to introduce additional genetic diversity into the Siamese cat gene pool.

Like any pedigree breed, the Thai can suffer from health problems, although as a whole they tend to be relatively long-lived for a pedigree breed, and no particular hereditary problems have as yet come to prevalence within their breed lines.

CARING FOR A THAI 

The Thai cat is a clean household guest that is fastidious about their grooming and will soon learn to use a litter tray and keep their area tidy, or toilet outside if permitted to do so.

They are not particularly heavy shedders and do not need regular grooming, although, like all cats, many Thai cats come to enjoy gentle brushing and may actively enjoy having their coat cared for.

They require a reasonable amount of attention and a lot of companionships and do not like being left alone for long periods of time. They tend to like to stick close to their family and do not like being left out of things! They are also inquisitive, fun-loving, and adventurous, and like to know what is going on at all times!

If you do not spend large portions of most days out at work and are looking for an affectionate companion that likes to stay close, the Thai cat might be the right choice for you. However, if you are not home very much and are looking for a low maintenance cat that is independent and perfectly happy to come and go on its own, the Thai cat is unlikely to be happy within your living situation.

  • It’s been said that Siamese cats are hypoallergenic but this isn’t really true. They may however cause fewer allergy problems than other cats because of their short, fine fur. Always test this before adopting or buying a cat.
  • A seal point is genetically a black cat. The point pattern comes about from a mutation of the gene that gives cats their color. This mutated gene, which is color sensitive, restricts the amount of pigment showing in the coat except at the coldest areas of the body – the ‘points’.
  • A Siamese cat’s eyes are blue because the gene responsible for the coat pattern also restricts the amount of pigment (which is responsible for green or brown eyes) in the eyes.
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