World Cat Federation recognises Thailand’s Suphalak cat breed

The World Cat Federation (WCF), at its General Assembly in Germany, has recognised the rare Suphalak cat (Maew Suphalak) as an ancient Thai breed.

According to the Association of Registered Cats (ARC), which proposed the Suphalak breed to the WCF, the association must meet the requirements set by WCF, which include a detailed history of the breed, its unique characteristics and genetic information.

The Suphalak cat is a solid reddish-brown copper coloured short-haired breed of domesticated cat originating in Thailand. The description and depiction of the cat fist appears in a collection of ancient manuscripts, called the Tamra Maew, thought to originate from the Ayutthaya Period (AD1351 to AD1767).

The Suphalak cat is often mistaken for the sable-coloured Burmese cat. The cat is so rare that few have ever seen one.

Prior to 2013, there was only one in a breeding program, a male named Samsen, which lives at the Thai Cat Preservation Centre in Ampawa, Samut Sakhon. Samsen belongs to Preecha Wattana, a breeder renowned for his efforts to preserve the Thai cat described in the Tamra Maew.

In 2014, an association dedicated to the preservation of Thailand’s heritage cats was established. The International Maew Boran Association (TIMBA).

TIMBA focused its efforts on understanding the genetics responsible for the Suphalak and searching throughout Thailand for cats suitable for the Suphalak breeding program.

Suphalak cats have made appearances at several cat shows in Thailand, including the first WCF Thailand National Show.

Preecha said he is proud with the WCF’s recognition, after nine years of efforts to breed a pure-bred Suphalak cat, adding that, during the previous years, several pure-bred Thai cats had been internationally recognised, among them Wichien Maat, Maew Khao Manee and Korat.