Orlovia
As one of the oldest cat breeds, the Thai cat enchants with its exotic appearance and its character advantages. The active pointed cat is a charming bundle of energy, which will also enchant you with its friendly nature.
History and origin of the Thai cat
The Thai cat has its roots in today’s Thailand. The area was once known as Siamese, so when the animals were introduced to England and the United States in the 1870s, they were referred to as Siamese cats or Siamese. In their homeland, they were once reserved for royalty and were known as temple guardians, so trading was forbidden. The cat breed was first documented in the 14th century in a book by the court painter to the royal family.
In the western world, the Siamese cat was first exhibited in 1871 at London’s Crystal Palace. Due to its extraordinary appearance, it quickly attracted the attention of the exhibition visitors. In 1884, the Siamese King Chulalongkorn presented a pair of Siamese cats to the British Consul-General Sir Edward Blancowe Gould. The cats Nahmens Pho and Mia became the first breeding pair of Siamese cats in England. But up until the 1930s, cats were regularly imported directly from Siam and not only used for breeding, but also kept in European zoos to present the exotic animals to a wide audience.
The Royal Cat of Siam set the first breed standards in 1892. Over time, Siamese cats have been bred to be slimmer and more dainty. Few breeders bucked this trend and continued to breed the original Siamese. In 1990, the original form of the Siamese cat was recognized as an independent breed and listed as a Thai cat by the breed clubs. The International Cat Association (TIC) recognized the Thai cat as a separate breed in 2007.
The difference between the Siamese and the Thai cat is clear at first glance, because the Thai cat, as an “old-type Siamese cat”, is significantly more muscular, rounder, and appears to have a more robust body type.
Essence and Character
The nature of Thai cats is consistently friendly and so the noble velvet paws are also considered to be particularly child-friendly. Open-minded and people-loving, she effortlessly sneaks into your heart with her well-established Thai cat character, because the sociable fur nose manages to attract attention with her playful and at the same time cuddly nature.
But the Thai cat is also a real bundle of energy and quite lovable and dominant. They walk confidently through the life of a cat and also use their intelligence to wrap their paws around you. It never gets boring with a Thai cat in the house, because the lovable animals love to follow “their” people through the apartment and are extremely talkative.
The Appearance of the Thai Cat
The short-haired cat of the oriental type looks more naturally like the Siamese cat, but the modern Siamese cat is much slimmer and more delicate. Cat lovers can clearly see the difference between a Thai cat and a Siamese cat, but sometimes it takes a second look to see that the Thai cat is much more muscular and the body shape is rounder and more compact.
The essential feature of the Thai cat is the almond-shaped blue eyes that characterize the face. The pedigree cats move smoothly and elegantly, as their legs are extremely well proportioned. Slightly rounded paws and the short, soft, close-lying coat are just as typical features as the rounded head and short nose.
However, the “points” are particularly striking. The “cold” body tips, which are optically contrasting in a dark color, are among the most important breed standards of the Thai cat and, together with the bright blue eyes, ensure the fascinating appearance of the former temple guards.
Attitude and Care
Thanks to its nature and character, the Thai cat fits in well with families with children. The Thai cat also cuts a fine figure in a single household, as long as it doesn’t have to be alone for too long. Basically, it is worthwhile to provide the Thai cat with a conspecific, as they are very sociable and also active. Otherwise, the noble pedigree cats do not make any special demands.
Outdoor cat or indoor cat?
Pure apartment keeping is not recommended for the active Thai cat. However, it doesn’t have to be free. It is optimal if you can provide the active velvet paw with a secure garden or balcony. You should also equip the apartment with appropriate climbing facilities so that the Thai cat can let off steam.