Thai Cat Breed Information

Group

Short Haired

Weight

3.6-6.8 kg

Length

53-58 cm

Lifespan

12-15 years

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About the Thai Cat

Reviewed by:

Dr. Cristina Alice Vulpe

Veterinarian

Thai Cats are an old cat breed with a new classification. If you would like a feline companion that is dedicated, intelligent, and very talkative, then the Thai Cat should be near the top of your considerations.

Thai Cats go by many names, including Wichien Maat (meaning ‘diamond gold’), Classic Siamese, Traditional Siamese, and Old-Style Siamese. Given these last few nicknames, it’s easy to decipher that Thai cats are somehow linked to Siamese cats (on top of the fact they look exactly like them, too!). That’s because Siamese Cats are an offshoot breed of Thai Cats.

This can make a great addition to any family – but are they best for yours? Use this breed guide to find out!

What Is the History & Origin of the Thai Cat?

Thai cats are an ancient breed that originated from an old region called Siam (like Siamese), which forms part of modern-day Thailand. They are a completely natural breed of cat, which means wild Thais must have existed here before they were domesticated. They have been treasured pets in Thailand for centuries, having first been domesticated some 700 years ago.

Thai cats were first introduced to the western world in 1878 when they were brought back from Thailand to the U.S. and presented as a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes by a U.S. diplomat.

They were later gifted to the Royal Family in 1884. At this point, they were given the rather clunky name of the Royal Cats from Siam. News of this new, exotic and totally unique looking cat spread around, and breeding programs were started.

Excessive breeding gradually altered the appearance of this breed, as they developed longer and more triangular heads, long legs, and slender bodies. The Cat Fanciers’ Association recognised the breed as the Siamese cat in 1906.

Around the 1950s, the original appearance of the Siamese cat came into demand, and efforts were made to save the old-style look. The World Cat Federation recognised the original appearance of the cat as a separate breed in 1990, registering it under the name of Thai cat. Then, in 2009, the breed was finally given advanced new breed status.

What Is a Thai Cat Breed?

The Thai cat breed is medium-sized and short-haired. They are graceful, energetic, loving, and very curious. Besides from loving their owners, a Thai cat loves to explore their home. You’ll often find a Thai cat in cupboards and on top of furniture – pretty much anywhere they can gain access!

They enjoy exercising both indoors and outdoors and particularly enjoy it when their owners get involved.

Who Is a Thai Cat Best For?

Thai cats are best suited to those with cat experience who know they can provide enough attention to this needy feline. Leaving a Thai cat alone for an extended period of time could cause them severe anxiety. For this reason, they may not be a good idea if you work away from home for most of the day.

Given their attention-seeking nature, Thais are best for bigger families. They get along well with younger kids and even other cats. It may even be better for Thai cats to join a family that already has other felines, as having other cats around could help with their separation anxiety.

What Does a Thai Cat Look Like?

Thais are typically characterised by their pale bodies, dark, pointed faces, and piercing blue eyes. A Thai cat can be distinguished from a Siamese cat by its shorter tail, rounded body shape, and thick paws. Their faces are apple-shaped and feature a wedge-shaped muzzle.

Interestingly, despite being older than the Siamese breed, Thai cats are closer to American short hairs than they are to most other oriental cat breeds in terms of body shape. Thai cats feature medium bones throughout their bodies and are not as elongated as Siamese.

Coat

Thai cats have one of the most striking coats around, featuring off-white as the base colour and dark colourpoints in areas over their body.

Colours

A Thai will always feature an off-white base colour on its coat, but the shade of the colour points is unique to the cat and can be basically anything! The off-white combines with the colourpoints to give the cat an overall colour of the seal, chocolate, lilac, or even blue.

Thais are born almost completely white and develop dark colourpoints over the course of their first year.

Patterns

The only pattern on a Thai cat is the contrast between their pale bodies and their dark colour points. These shaded areas can be found in their face, ears, legs, paws, and tails.

Thai Cat Grooming & Shedding

Thais have short coats, so they require minimal grooming. A weekly brush would help to prevent mats from forming, reduce hairballs, and remove loose hair. Although, this isn’t always necessary, as Thais are particularly excellent at cleaning themselves!

Given their short coats, Thai cats are considered to be low-shedding cats.

How Do Thai Cats Behave? A Look at Their Temperament and Personality

Thai cats have a great temperament as long as they are given plenty of attention. If nobody is around to pet them, they’ll prowl from room to room, seeking company, often meowing along the way. Generally, these cats like to vocalise their thoughts and feelings at all times, whether good or bad. Constant meowing may become annoying, but they can be trained to do it less.

If you provide a Thai with plenty of socialisation early in their lives, they will grow to be extroverted and very friendly towards other pets. They live to socialise and need someone else around to keep them happy.

They love being petted and don’t mind being handled.

Living Needs

Being naturally curious, they need plenty of safe space to explore. You need to make sure harmful substances are completely out of their reach or locked away. They will try everything in their might to open doors or climb on top of high furniture. Make sure your whole house is safe to play in!

Big indoor and outdoor spaces are preferred in order to satisfy their exploration needs.

What Are Common Habits and Activity Levels of Thai Cats?

Habits

Thais like to spend as much time as possible with their owners and enjoy constant stimulation. They’ll make a habit of curling up on your lap whenever the opportunity arises! The other practices of the Thai breed include meowing and exploring.

Activity Level

These cats love games as long as it involves one of their owners. They’ve got plenty of energy to burn and can get through most of it by climbing and exploring or playing fetch.

Vocalness

Thai cats are noted for being particularly vocal, especially when they’re not getting enough attention. When in company, they are less likely to talk, but the stray yowl is to be expected!

They are quite happy to vocalise their feelings to their owners, strangers, and other pets.

What Is the Weight, Height, and Size of a Thai Cat?

Height

A fully grown Old Style Siamese tends to be between 53cm and 58cm, although this varies.

Weight

A healthy Thai cat should weigh between 3.6kg and 6.8kg.

Size

Thais are medium-sized cats.

Are Thai Cats Easy to Train?

Training Thais is easy because they are both intelligent and social cats. Positive reinforcement and patience are all you need to train a Thai. They can learn to respond to their name, give you a paw, walk on a leash, and play fetch.

Does the Thai Cat Have Any Common Health Issues?

Thai cats do not suffer from any breed-specific health issues, but that doesn’t mean they are immune to standard health concerns. You’ll need to keep an eye on your cat’s well-being and schedule them in for regular check-ups with their vet.

What Is the Lifespan of a Thai Cat?

Like their Siamese cat cousins, Thai cats have an average life expectancy of 12-15 years. However, it is not uncommon for them to live much longer than 15, with some even reaching their 20s!

How Much Does a Thai Cat Need to Be Fed?

Thais need a balanced diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. They should be fed two meals per day and regularly contain real meat and fish.

How Much Can You Expect to Pay for a Thai Cat in Australia?

The Thai cat breed is rarer than Siamese cats, making them pricier. You may find yourself spending over $2,000 for an Old Style Siamese in Australia.

Thai Cat FAQs

Are Thai cats rare?

Thai cats are a lot rarer than Siamese cats, but not impossible to find. There are plenty of registered Thai cat breeders throughout Australia.

Do Thai cats like to play in the water?

Thai cats are a breed that doesn’t like getting wet – like most breeds! – but they do get a lot of enjoyment from playing with water. They don’t want to take baths or get caught in the rain, but you may see them pawing puddles.

Are Thai cats hypoallergenic?

It’s impossible to find a 100% hypoallergenic cat, as all cats produce a protein in their saliva that can trigger an allergic reaction. However, Thai cats are pretty close to being hypoallergenic, given that they shed minimally.