THAI CAT is first and foremost a friend, accompanying humans, both adults and children, in all their everyday activities as it is in its primal nature. However, it does so tactfully and unobtrusively, as if it were able to understand the need for independence of every being. Relaxing with people is its favourite pastime – it loves to read, watch TV series, nap in the afternoon, or lounge over the weekend. There is a reason why dog characteristics are associated with it. If taught from a very young age, a Thai cat will be able to retrieve, walk on a leash, or travel with a human. It is very intelligent and empathetic. It is not the type of cat that lives its own life somewhere far away from people or one that could be “put back on the shelf”. It is a cat that bonds deeply with a human, and when doing so, it becomes attached and giving. It likes the company of other animals that don’t necessarily need to be cats.

A Thai cat is also known as the old-type Siamese and it came to us from Thailand. The first passages about it were found in the world’s oldest book about cats, “Tamra Maew,” also known as the “Cat-Book Poems,” which is owned by the National Library in Bangkok. It was a primal cat that used to appear in the lands of Siam, meaning that it hasn’t been genetically modified by human breeding. It has been considered sacred, bringing good luck and wealth to its owners, as well as protecting the household against evil powers. Its unquestionable intelligence, noble looks, and amazing personality made it live in Buddhist temples and royal palaces. It used to be called a Moon Diamond and was protected from unwanted looks. It was believed that this cat would inherit the soul of its owner in the event of the owner’s death, and that is why people would bow before it as it was the keeper of eternal peace.

The Royal Siamese Cat has become popular all around the world during colonial wars. It became a rare and sought-after gift for royal families and their influential friends. In the ’60s, a Siamese cat became a favorite of numerous stars. The breed has been loved by Jean Cocteau, Andy Warhol, Claudia Cardinale, Cindy Crawford, Carla Bruni, Rod Stewart, Jane Fonda, Charlie Chaplin, Zooey Deschanel, Księżna i Książę Kentu, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, James Dean, Fred Astaire, Errol Flynn, Ava Gardner, Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, and Clint Eastwood. Famous actors, singers, and artists were eager to take pictures with their pets, which resulted in the immediate popularization of the breed.

Thai cats have a gentle and natural physique with balanced proportions and medium size. On average, a female cat weighs 3.5 kilograms, and a tomcat weighs 4.5 kilograms. Their inalienable feature is their intensively blue and big eyes. A point type color of the cat has at first been typical for Siamese and Burmese cats (because of the cross-breeding, numerous cat breeds now have point type colors). In Thailand, the favorite color is the seal point, primarily called Maew Kaew (meaning The Jewel Cat), but the kittens are born in one of the four basic colors: seal point, blue point, chocolate point, and lilac point. The rest of the colors: red point, cream point, tabby point, and tortoiseshell, were acquired due to cross-breeding, and later on accepted by the world’s felinological organizations.

Thai cats are famous for their good health. Well-fed and kept in the right conditions, the cats can live up to 18-20 years.