Posts tagged "RussianBlueCat"

Name: Korat

Appearance: Similar in appearance to the Russian blue, the blue British shorthair, and the Chartreux, the Korat is a distinct type of cat that shares its coloring with those breeds, according to Russian Blues. Korats have strong-built, stocky bodies, with hind legs slightly longer than their front legs, and oval-shaped paws. The breed features a heart-shaped head with large, high-set ears, and large, luminous green eyes.

History: According to Korat World, Korats were first written about in 1350. They are one of the oldest breeds of cats and are indigenous to Thailand. However, they no longer exist in Thailand due to interbreeding with American cats during the Vietnam War. Thankfully, Korats came to America in 1950 and have since then been kept alive by a few select breeders.

Personality/Health: The senses of Korats are finely-tuned and are particularly reactive to sounds. For this reason, they often need to be "sound-trained" by playing radios for them when they are kittens, according to the Cat Fanciers Association. They are very affectionate cats and like to cuddle. They get along well with other cats, although they prefer to be dominant because of their intelligent nature.

What Korat Owners Say: Diane GoBell, a friend of Paw Nation on Facebook, had this to say about owning a Korat: "Korats are lucky cats. I had one when i was little, and even though he passed years ago, he is still with me. He was my faithful kitty. He would tolerate anything. He was extremely loving and gentle and never a difficulty. I'm not sure why we were a perfect match. But he chose me as much as i chose him. I would love to get another Korat some day."

If you've never heard of the cat breed known as Russian Blue, you will. They've been rising in popularity with catlike speed. Russian Blues are one of the most visually stunning breeds, famous for their silver-blue coats, which show off their sinewy frames and complement their vibrant, dark green eyes.

Don't wind up on the "tail" end of this developing kitty trend -- here's a quick primer, packed with plenty of cocktail-party trivia tidbits you can pass along.

1. Though they look put-together, Russian Blue cats are a naturally occurring breed. Their origins have been traced back to the port town of Arkhangelsk, Russia, which is why they're also sometimes called "Archangel" Blues.

2. Russian Blue coats are known as "double coats," meaning they possess a soft, downy undercoat. The topcoat hairs, though sometimes a soft black, can be a true shade of blue with silver tips, giving the cat a shimmering appearance.

3. Russian Blues are known for being intensely devoted to and affectionate towards their owners, but can be remarkably shy around strangers.

4. Because the saliva and sebum of Russian Blues contain less of a certain protein than most other cats, they're considered one of the more hypoallergenic breeds of cat.

5. Tom of the Tom & Jerry animated cartoons is often considered to be a Russian Blue cat because of his blue-gray coloring.