SURPRISE KITTENS

In 1989 Jenanca Lilac Lillee was born from two Korat parents. The following year a repeat of this mating was made, with more lilacs resulting, and, even more surprisingly, another pair, a hundred miles away, gave birth to a young male. For both breeders it was an event that was totally unexpected. These little pink kittens had turned up quite literally 'out of the blue'.

The simplest explanation was that both sets of parents, who were related to each other, carried the recessive colour gene for chocolate. For many years it's been known that if chocolate is inherited in dilute form from BOTH parents lilac results.

ORIGINS

So where did these genes, 'alien' to the Korat, come from? The origins of the Thai Lilac must lie somewhere back in the mists of time in Thailand. Sealpoint Siamese (Wichienmaad), Korats (Si-sawats) and Copper cats (Thong Daeng) all existed as recognised Thai cats several hundred years ago, at the time when the cat book poems were written. Although they have been developed as distinct and separate breeds in the west since the beginning of the 20th century, each breed carries a genetic legacy from their country of origin. It is on record that the Korat is thought to have added the ‘blue’ to the Bluepoint Siamese, possibly the Burmese acquired their blue genes from this source too. It’s not really very surprising that a few Korats gained added extras in return.

Although Lillee's birth caused something of an uproar it's probable that Thai Lilacs have been born in other parts of the world. In one of the earliest US litters lilac points were described, and certainly a lilac self was described in a some detail in an Indonesian litter from Bangkok imported parents. Two interesting facts emerged from recently discovered correspondence. The lilacs were known in their native country, the writer had seen one in a book binders's shop in Bangkok. The Thai nomenclature isn't given, but by westerners they were called lavender, or champagne copper, given their pinky beige appearance. Also, one well known Thai breeder, Mr Chompoo Arthachinda, whose lines are common to many of the early Korat imports to USA, was actually endeavouring to breed a lilac cat, using Korat and Siamese stock.

More convincing than ancient correspondence though, was the news in 1996 that recent matings with new Thai bloodlines (mother/son and and mother's half sister) had both produced lilac offspring. The three imports were not closely related to each other, or to Korats already in this country,

At least one is now known to be a chocolate carrier, proved by planned test matings . There are now several lilac descendants from her line.

THE BIG ISSUE

The most frequently asked question is:
If the parentage of these cats is Korat, why not simply call them Lilac Korats, instead of Thai Lilacs?

Agreed, this is perfectly logical if nothing is known of Korat tradition. However, the word Korat in Thai (Si-sawat) means blue cat, and indeed, the Korat is defined as the blue cat of Thailand. That means any other coloured cat, regardless of parentage, cannot qualify for this definition. Therefore a name was coined that described both the colour and origin, but also respected tradition, according to the breeders' wishes.

THE FUTURE

The existence of the Thai Lilac was acknowledged by the Korat Breed Advisory Committee and included in the Korat Registration Policy in 1993. It was then left for breeders to decide whether they wanted to select for the new colour, or to ignore and try to breed away from it. From the time when lilac occurred in the new Thai lines it gained greater acceptance and increasing interest. The overwhelming majority voted in favour of recognition being applied for at the KCA's AGM in 2000.

There was one condition. The lilac cats should qualify for a show bench place on their own merits, as a separate entity from the Korats. For those working with them this is a long hard road to follow, but the Thai Lilac is a unique cat who will eventually get the awards it deserves.

Preliminary Recognition was granted by GCCFl in February 2002 and Thai Lilacs can now be shown in the Thai assessment class (Standard of Points).

A lilac cat with a silver tipped coat and large, expressive, clear green eyes - truly winning and appealing qualities.

• • • •
• • • • •  • •
•