The history of the appearance of Thai cats: a journey through the centuries

Among the vast diversity of the cat kingdom, some are ancient, significant and mysterious. Thai cats are one of these. Their amazing eye color, according to legend, is a gift from the gods for their devotion to their owners and fidelity. In the stories of Thai cats, there are stories that they are possessed by the souls of deceased owners. Therefore, for a long time, taking a cat outside the state was strictly prohibited.

Most people looking at her today will say that she is Siamese, but her loving owners are sure that she is Thai, why?! To do this, we will have to make a short excursion into history. Let's take a trip to the end of the 19th century, to 1884. It was then that the British Vice-Consul Edward Goad first brought two cats from Bangkok to England. They were dubbed Siamese, which was the name of the kingdom where the animals were brought from.

The homeland of Thai cats is the Kingdom of Siam

In Siam, cats have been revered since ancient times. The history of the appearance of Thai cats dates back to the 14th century. To this day, the ancient manuscript “Poem about Cats” remains, which describes 17 cats that bring good luck. Among them is the Siamese.

The cats brought were the highest gift from the King of Siam. With the growth of popularity, unfortunately, the appearance of the animal began to change. From stocky and well-fed, they began to turn into thin and sonorous. In 1958, the Siamese cat standard was adopted in England, which established a commitment to lengthening the silhouette and making it lighter. The new type was finally established by the 80s, but the old one was safely forgotten.

Other meanings of this word:

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In 1880, cocaine was freely sold to treat colds, neuralgia, headaches and insomnia.

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Hairless cats that look like fairy tale characters or aliens are becoming increasingly popular. Hairless cats are not a breed name, but a type name.

It includes representatives of different breeds, which have their own characteristics, be it the shape of the ears or the proportions of the body.

The appearance of the Thai cat in Russia

It is believed that Siamese cats were brought to our country in the 1950s of the last century by Sergei Obraztsov (director of the puppet tetra). Due to the fact that we began to engage in breeding work only in the middle of the 20th century, and also thanks to the “Iron Curtain,” the old type among our representatives of this breed remained unmodified.

We have almost the largest number of old breed Siamese left. In order to somehow distinguish between a modern specimen and a traditional one, and to put an end to the confusion, in 1990 it was proposed to call the cat of the old type Thai, after the current name of the kingdom of Siam, Thailand.

Despite the fact that the historical homeland of Thai cats is unimaginably distant, they have taken root in our country and feel great here.

British Shorthair

Teddy cats also represent the British Shorthair breed. By the way, they are relatives of the Scots. Britons are heavy, big cats with wide bones, and when you add a soft, tactile undercoat, you get the perfect cuddle cat. However, not everything is so simple: it is precisely the majority of British people who do not like hugs.

Thai cat: breed and color

In this beauty, seemingly incompatible things are combined in harmony: good muscles and elegance, a strong stocky build and flexibility. The cat remains medium in size even in adulthood. Its weight varies from 4 to 6 kilograms.

Body type

Compared to its successor, the Siamese cat, which has an elongated body and long limbs, the Thai cat has smooth lines, and a strong, muscular neck extends into a dense body. “Thais” are endowed with beautiful slender limbs with rounded paws and a small tail, which is slightly narrowed at the very tip and has a thickening at the base.

Portrait

The portrait of a typical Thai cat is an apple-round head and muzzle with a clearly defined bridge of the nose, which is located at eye level. This is the main difference from the Siamese, which is endowed with a wedge-shaped head.

Males are distinguished from females by their pronounced cheeks. The animal’s round, slanted eyes fascinate and attract like a magnet. Their pale blue, azure color, and the shine of sapphires are extremely beautiful. The cat's fur is short, with a medium undercoat, adjacent to the skin and surprisingly smooth and soft, reminiscent of an affectionate plush blanket.

Color

The dark eight markings mentioned in the ancient manuscript - on the paws, tail, ears and muzzle, with a light body color - exist in cats to this day. Today there are many color variations of the eight marks, from milky to very dark shades, among them:

• chocolate;
• deer;
• blue;
• caramel;
• cream;
• tortoiseshell;
• red.

Catering

Kittens (up to 6 months) and pregnant cats are fed at least 4 times a day, adolescents (from 6 months to one and a half years) - 3 times, older ones - 2 times. The owner chooses the food: natural dishes or dry and wet food. You can't mix them! It is allowed to use dry and wet food of the same brand.

Natural products

General nutrition rules:

• Check foods before giving them to your cat. Inspect meat and fish for parasites, do not skimp.
• Cats should not be fed fried food.
• Be sure to cut dense and hard food into pieces to prevent your cat from choking.
• Alternate foods. You cannot feed the animal only meat or only porridge.

The diet should include:

• Meat: rabbit, chicken, veal, lamb, turkey. Duck, quail, lamb and pork are prohibited: they are too heavy for a cat's stomach. It is allowed to give liver, hearts and ventricles. The meat is stewed, boiled or, after defrosting, doused with boiling water. Give daily.
• Fish (hake, salmon, trout, taimen, pink salmon) contains amino acids, lipids, magnesium and phosphorus, but you should not get carried away with it. Otherwise, the animal will have kidney problems. Bones must be removed. Freshwater fish accumulate toxic substances, so it is better to feed your cat saltwater fish. Give no more than once a week.
• Oil (vegetable and butter) is a source of vitamin E and fats. It is added to the prepared porridge half a teaspoon per day.
• Dairy products (kefir, fermented baked milk, natural yogurt, sour cream, cream) are rich in protein and calcium and are easily digestible. Of the eggs, the cat is given only the yolk. Give 4-5 times a week.
• Cereals (oatmeal, millet, rice, rolled oats) are boiled in water. It is recommended to give every other day. Liquid semolina porridge is given to babies up to 3 months old.
• Vegetables replenish the body's needs for fiber and serve as a source of vitamins and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The diet includes carrots, beets, zucchini, pumpkin, asparagus, cucumbers, greens (green onions, spinach, celery, basil). Give every day.
• Fruits (apples, melon) are a treat. Give 1-2 times a week.
• Sprouted grains of oats or wheat: place a container with sprouts next to the bowl, and the cat will treat itself at the right time.

Clean water at room temperature should always be freely available! Change it twice a day: morning and evening.

You cannot give:

• Peas, legumes, potatoes and cabbage: they cause increased gas formation.
• Seasonings, ketchup, adjika and other sauces: they are too hot and salty.
• Bones, meat trimmings, chicken skin, fat: they have no nutritional value - they are ballast for the stomach. The bones can puncture or scratch the lining and larynx.
• Sausages, sausages, sausages, ham, human canned food.
• Snowballs, yoghurts with additives, ice cream: they contain so much sugar that it negatively affects the functioning of the pancreas and causes the development of diabetes.
• Baked goods (bread, buns, cookies) are poorly digestible and have no benefit.
• Tea: The caffeine in its composition has an stimulating effect, causing hyperactivity and anxiety.

Photos of Himalayan cat kittens

Recommended food

Among industrial feeds, we can recommend the brands Bozita, Pronature Holistic, Barking Heads.

Below are recommended premium foods, links with food names are clickable. Using them, you can, within our website, read descriptions of food and read reviews from owners of the Himalayan cat breed.

When choosing food, always consider the characteristics of your pet. Oriental breeds and “Siamese” eat a lot, so the diet should be more dietary. Long-haired cats need maximum fiber, kittens and adolescents need more high-calorie food. Take into account concomitant diseases.

Personality traits and care of Thai cats

There is, perhaps, no more loyal breed of cats. They are tied not to a place, but to their owner. They are close by all the time, but at the same time they emphasize their independence. They have very developed facial expressions. You can read everything your cat is thinking about at the moment on its face.

Thai pets are very inquisitive, smart and active. They love games even as adults. They follow the owner, “helping” him in everything, no matter what he does. They do not like loneliness and are always nearby.

Maintenance and health

This breed is a long-living breed. They are stress-resistant with a strong nervous system and immunity. Good care will ensure many years of joy next to your beloved animal.

No special conditions are required. Cats need warmth, toys for an active life and timely vaccinations. The cat's short fur does not require any special care. Animals can handle this quite well on their own.

Food and walks

But four-legged animals must eat high-quality and good food. Those who feed their cat natural food must remember that fish and liver affect the color, turning it from bright to brown. You just need to go for a walk with your “Thai”! They love this activity very much.

Cats get along well with all people and animals. But they always want to dominate and occupy dominant positions not only in relation to the owners, but also to the dogs living with them in the house. The Thai cat and its history of centuries-old existence is perhaps one of the most interesting and impressive.

Reproduction of Himalayan cats

The breed is considered difficult to breed because the color may not be fixed in subsequent generations. The probability of marriage is approximately 40%, so animal owners often turn to specialized nurseries for help. As a rule, a related individual is selected for mating so that the breed characteristics are fully preserved. The owners of Himalayan purrs negotiate this possibility when purchasing a kitten from professional breeders.

Himalayan cats may start wanting a male cat before puberty if they are not neutered.

If you plan to sell kittens, you need to register your nursery with an international felinological organization. To do this, contact the felinological center and submit documents - an application, pedigree and veterinary passport for each existing animal, a diploma of appropriate education or completion of special courses (veterinary, medical).

Peculiarities of breeding of Himalayan cats:

• first mating of cats at 8 months, males at 10 months (time of puberty);
• the partner for mating must be completely healthy and not aggressive, well-groomed and purebred;
• gestational age - 63–72 days (about two months);
• There are 2–4 blind kittens in the litter.

Babies have a uniform color - white or cream. Dark markings appear after 3-4 weeks, the final color is formed by the age of 2 years.

If there are no plans to breed Himalayans, the pet will be castrated or sterilized. The optimal age for surgery is 5–6 months.

Don Sphynx

The Don Sphynx is a hairless cat breed that began its history in 1986, when a woman named Elena Kovaleva saved a small kitten from death that was losing its fur on its back. The owner tried to treat the pet for quite a long time, turned to professional veterinarians for help, but to no avail. The kitten was bald (it was a female). In February 1990, after mating with a European cat, the hairless cat gave birth to three furless kittens. From that moment on, Kovaleva seriously began breeding a unique breed. In 1996, a new breed of cat was officially registered - the Don Sphynx. These animals are divided according to the type of coat, namely:

• naked: the skin is slightly sticky, without hair, hot and has a huge number of small folds;
• flock: the surface of the body is covered with a small fluff, which usually disappears by the age of 2 years from birth;
• velor: slightly noticeable wool (length 1-2 mm), velvety leather, reminiscent of suede;
• brush: small thin hairs (length 2-3 mm), their structure is hard and elastic.

Petersburg Sphinx

The Petersburg Sphynx is a breed of hairless cat that was developed by crossing the Don Sphynx and an Oriental cat. The second name of this breed is “Peterbald”. The first offspring of Peterbalds was obtained in 1994 in St. Petersburg. Their oriental appearance is the complete opposite of their Slavic origins. The distinctive features of the St. Petersburg Sphynx are: a long thin neck, a narrow elongated head shape, large wide-set ears, a flat forehead and cheekbones. Peterbalds have several types of skin, namely:

• flock point and velor point: there is a small coat of wool (length 1-2 mm) on the paws, at the tip of the tail and near the ears;
• varietta: light fluff covering the entire surface of the body;
• hairless: cats that are born with little hair but have lost it completely by the time they reach adulthood.

St. Petersburg sphinxes are very kind, affectionate and friendly creatures. They get along well with small children and other pets, including dogs. The average height of an adult is 20-22 cm and weight 5-7 kg.