The Thai cat, or traditional Siamese cat, originates from Thailand. Although it is an old breed, recently renamed, it looks similar to, but different from, the modern, western Siamese. Their main differences lie in their rounded shapes, with a more compact body, elongated eyes, and a shorter tail than that of the modern Siamese, but with a rounded tip and thicker thickness.
It stands out for being a sociable, cheerful and very affectionate cat, which demands a lot of attention from its owners. As well as for being very active and a great meower, especially in heat.
- Scientific name: Felis Silvestris catus.
- Other names: Traditional Siamese, Old Style Siamese, Old Siamese, Classic Siamese, Thaicat, Wichien-Maat, Applehead, Traditional Siamese, Classic Siamese, Tha.
- Country of origin: Thailand.
- Recognized by: TICA – FIFe – WCF.
- Size: Medium.
- Eye color: Intense or vivid blue.
- Weight: Between 3 and 6 kilos.
- Character: Curious, agile, temperamental, affectionate, sociable, communicative, active and energetic.
- Exercise: Very high.
- Troublemaker: Noisy.
- Cleanliness: Low.
- Fur loss: Low.
- Life expectancy: 15 to 17 years.
♦ Origin:
The Thai breed is originally from Thailand, there they are called by the name of Wichien-Maat, which means 'diamond gold'. In the 19th century it was imported to the United Kingdom, and it was exhibited at the London Crystal Palace in 1871. At that time the distinction between the traditional Thai or Siamese whose head is round, and the modern siamese, with the head triangular and elongated.
The nickname Applehead originated from modern-style Siamese breeders, who used it as a pejorative.
Although it is an old breed, it was recognized as a breed in 1950. By the 1980s, in the US and Europe, the first clubs dedicated to Thai cats were created. At the end of the 20th century, TICA (The International Cat Association) and WCF (World Cat Federation), among others, recognized the Thai cat as a new breed of cat.
Breeders began in 2001 to import the original cat from Thailand, with the firm objective of expanding and preserving the Thai gene.
In 2017 it was recognized as a breed by FIFe.
♦ Physical characteristics:
The Thai is a cat whose body is more elongated than Western domestic cats, but less than the modern Siamese or Oriental, it could be defined as a "pointed" body. It has a pale body with dark extremities.
Body
- Torso: Slim and elegant.
- Paws: Legs of medium length and with rounded feet.
- Tail: Medium, thick and round toe.
- Musculature: Muscular.
Head
- Structure: Rounded and of medium size. Slightly curved profile, sunken at the level of the eyes.
- Ears: Medium and wide at its base.
- Eyes: Large and slightly oblique, vivid blue.
- Nose or snout: Strong and low-jawed, rounded muzzle.
Fur
- Guy: Short, shiny and silky in texture. No inner fur.
- Pattern: White and/or light brown in color, with a dark brown muzzle, ears, legs, and tail of the same color. It usually has the entire face of brown color, Tabby point (tabby), Tortie (spotted)
- Colors: Chocolate point (light brown), Seal point (dark brown), Blue point (dark grey), Red point (dark orange), Lilac point (light grey), Cream point (light orange or cream), Seal (solid).
♦ Personality:
He is curious, agile and sociable. In addition, it is very intelligent and can be easily trained.
Although he is very affectionate and affectionate with his owner, it must be mentioned that he is extremely temperamental and demands constant attention. It is a very active and energetic breed, as well as communicative due to its frequent vocalizations, if it is ignored, it becomes depressed. He can't stand indifference and hates loneliness.
Their heat is very intense and is characterized by strong meowing and markings.
♦ Domestic behavior:
It is an affectionate breed and faithful to its masters. Due to some special connection, he chooses someone in particular from the family and he needs this person to give himself totally to him so that the affection is reciprocated. It can also create strong bonds with other family members, but as long as they take the time and patience to play with it.
It is a great meower, its tone is sharp and strong like a baby's cry, even more so if it is female and in heat, its meows can disturb the ears of its owners.
♦ Health:
The Thai, in general, is in good health, however, they can suffer from genetic diseases, such as aortic valve stenosis, which consists of the reduction of the vascular opening of the heart.
You can also suffer from Amyloidosis, which is a disease in the cat's bronchi.
The Thai groom themselves a lot, because they are extremely clean, from this practice hairballs can be generated in the digestive tract.
Another fact to take into account is that this kitten used to have a squint in the beginning, but nowadays this characteristic is found to a lesser extent due to selective breeding. That is why it is advisable to visit the vet to prevent these diseases.
♦ Nutrition:
Ideally, the Thai cat should consume a balanced, rich and varied diet. If something else is necessary, the vet will recommend it.
♦ Breeding:
When it is born it is completely white, since it has been warmly housed inside the mother's body.
This kitten reaches sexual maturity early, has a great activity of it, and can have very numerous litters.
♦ Toilet:
It is one of the cleanest cat breeds, since they take care of their own grooming. But to maintain a good and showy coat, it is necessary to brush it at least twice a week.
All Breeds of Cats 2022 (A - Z)
♦ Thai curiosities:
The darker areas of the body (face, ears, tail and legs) have a lower temperature than the light areas. This is a consequence of the fact that the thermal gene causes the pigments to settle in the coldest areas of the cat's anatomy.
Originally, the Thai royal family loved the Thai cat. They had several copies in the palace, and it was considered pure and sacred because of its white color.
It was believed in the kingdom of Siam that when a high-ranking person died, a Thai cat had to be placed near his body because the animal received the spirit of the dead. So the cat became the guardian of the deceased and lived in a temple surrounded by luxuries.
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