The Siamese is an easily recognizable cat, originating in Thailand (Siam) at least as early as the 14th century. The British where fascinated when they noticed these cats in their travels to Thailand with their long bodies, distinctive markings, and short, soft coats. They took a number of Siamese home where their wives kept them in heated conservatories surrounded by tropical plants brought back on previous voyages. The first imported Siamese were Seal Points, but breeding produced later colors of Blue Point, Chocolate Point, and Lilac Point. These four colors are the only ones recognized in the USA. Other colors; the result of cross breeding such as the Tabby Point, Tortie Point, Red Point, Cream Point, and the Cinnamon Point are classified as a separate breed under the name Colorpoint Short-Hair. Siamese kittens are all white when they are born - the color points that appear in the face, tail, legs and ears don't fully appear until they are about three years old. The Foreign White is a separate breed which in actuality is a Siamese cat. The white kitten retains its white into adult hood. Many white cats are deaf due to the genes that causes the white hair but not the Foreign White. Its white is due to its Siamese breeding. Source: Encyclopaedia of Cats by Esther J. J. Verhoef - Verhallen  © 1998

 The rare Korat is a short-haired cat originating in Thailand. It is strictly forbidden to breed a Korat with any other kind of cat in order to keep the breed pure. The Korat is named after the province of Cao Nguyen Khorat where the breed originated. Centuries ago in the Cat Book of Poems written in Thailand (then Siam), the Korat is described as having "smooth hairs, with tips like clouds and roots like silver, and eyes that shine like dewdrops on a lotus leaf." The first Korats to leave Thailand were taken to the USA at the end of the 19th century. Nowadays the breed is found all over the world but still remains rare, even in Thailand. The correct shade of blue is highly rated at cat shows, The hair is lighter at the roots, darkening along its length; the tip of each hair has a silvery sheen creating a very unusual effect. The adult cats have clear green eyes which may take two to four years to develop from the kitten's amber eyes. A rare cat breed indeed. Source: Encyclopaedia of Cats by Esther J. J. Verhoef - Verhallen  ⓒ 1998

 The Russian Blue cat originated in an area of the White Sea named Archangel and was brought to England early in the 19th century. It appeared in cat shows as the Archangel Blue. At the end of the 1800's the cat became known as the Russian Blue. After a long history of of being rejected at cat shows because the judges preferred British blue breeds, and the distain for the name Russian due to politics; the breed almost died out. By the end of the Second World War, there were so few individuals left that inbreeding was a fear, so they were bread with Siamese Blue Points which caused them to take on the look of a Blue Oriental Shorthair. In the mid-sixties, a group of breeders succeeded in breeding the original characteristics back into them. The coat on these cats is blue-grey, and the nose and paw leather are also blue-grey. but some are being born with an all black coat or an all white coat. These anomalies are not recognized by most cat associations as pure Russian Blues. All Russian Blues have intense green eyes. These are very agreeable, gentle, and docile cats that love peace and quiet.  Source: Encyclopaedia of Cats by Esther J. J. Verhoef - Verhallen  ⓒ  1998