The Korat (koh-raht), also known as the Si-Sawat cat (see-sa-what), has long been considered a breed of good fortune and luck, even given to newlyweds, as gifts of silver to insure prosperity in the new marriage. This beautiful cat has been a cherished part of Siamese (Thailand's) culture for centuries.

The Korat is one of the most intelligent felines; its ability to learn and teach its owners is almost unsurpassed. Because of its great intellectual capacity, this cat has a strong will of its own, and has no qualms about displaying its feelings. Often deemed a temperamental cat, the Korat is willful, and can also be very dominant over other cats. This is not to say it will not make a good pet. On the contrary, the Korat is a sweet, loving and very affectionate companion. It will form very deep attachments to its owners and delights in bestowing all of its love upon them. The Korat is also a playful creature, but beware to those who try to take away its toys when it is not ready to give them up. It is very common to see the Korat moving from one extreme to another, from that of a "Velcro cat" attached to its owners lap, to a zippy racing playful creature. In addition to their keen intellect, the Korat also has very acute senses of sight, scent and hearing. It is said that the Korat will make an excellent "watch cat" because of its heightened senses. Due to their sensitivity to noise they do not like sudden loud noises, or harsh grating sounds. If you intend to show your Korat it is strongly recommended that you begin training from birth, so that they will accept the handling and noise associated with most cat shows.

Mature female Korats average between 2 and 3 kilograms and adult males are slightly larger averaging 4 to 5 kilograms. Its shimmering coat is a stunning blue, delicately brushed with silver tips. The base of each hair is pale blue, darkening into a rich darker blue midway until it becomes a glowing silver at the tip. The amount of silver tipping can vary between cats; some with heavy tipping will appear almost entirely silver. Often when describing the Korat's coat, people will refer to "the color of rain clouds". This coat is unique in another way. In addition to its stunning beauty, it lacks an undercoat. The coat of the Korat is a single coat, meaning it is all one length. For this reason the Korat does not loose hairs when petted or brushed like many other breeds, making it a strong choice for fanciers with cat allergies. The eyes of this breed are even more unusual than its coat. They sparkle with a deep, brilliant emerald green at adulthood, and unlike other breeds they do not turn red at night, instead the intensity of their vivid green eyes is increased as the evening falls.

Originating in Siam (today known as Thailand) the Korat (Si-Swat) has been a part of Taiwanese culture for centuries. The name Korat stems from the Khorat Plateau in northeast Thailand where they originated. The name Si-Sawat comes from a silvery fruit of Thailand named the "sawat". Some say that the Korat descends from a wildcat of Thailand, whether or not this is true is a matter of debate. The history and folklore behind the Korat spans several centuries, the earliest recorded record of the Korat dates back to 1350. In spite of their longstanding popularity in Thailand, the Korat was only introduced to the United States in the 1960's.

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Korat's generally produced litters of two to five kittens, with average birth weights ranging from 75 to 120 grams.