They are considered a symbol of good fortune by the Thais. Many good luck traditions surround the Korat: they are the color of silver, signifying wealth; they are the color of rain clouds, with eyes the color of young rice, meaning good crops. The gift of a pair of Si-Sawat cats to the bride ensures a fortunate marriage.

The first pair of Korats came to the United States in 1959 and was recognized for show in 1966 in the U.S. and 1975 in Britain.

There’s no changing the color of the breed. Korats are silver-blue from their first day until their last; a cat of any other color is not a Korat. Their coats are soft and close-lying, with each blue hair tipped with silver.

The overall impression of the Korat is very different from that of other blue breeds. The body is excellently muscled and has a surprising heft, and the fur has the texture and sheen of silk— results of good health, exercise and excellent nutrition. Another unique feature of the Korat giving it a captivating mystique is the head structure. This is the cat with five hearts, three of which are on the head. Looking at the Korat straight-on, you see the Valentine-shaped heart of the head, which can be gently traced around the head. The second heart is found by looking down over the top of the Korat's head, and the third heart is the nose. The other two hearts, which are not part of the head, are the muscular area of the chest when the cat is sitting, and the most-commonly-forgotten one, the heart inside the cat! As the cat matures, the heart shapes on the head become more pronounced.

The remaining features complete the overall beauty of the Korat. The eyes are large, wide-open, luminous, alert and always observant. The color is peridot green in the mature cat (two to four years of age), but kittens have an amber to golden-green eye color which gradually changes as they mature. The eyebrow ridge across the top of the eyes further accentuates and clarifies the heart-shaped face, and the ear set is a continuation of this heart-shape. The ears have rounded tips, with a large flare at the base. They give the Korat a very "alert" expression, complementing the heart shape, and not sitting too low or too high on the head. The legs are thin but proportionate to the body. The front legs are shorter than the back legs

The Korat is a gentle cat that likes play but is not fond of loud noises. They are known to be good with children. It is said they have exceptional hearing and a keen sense of smell and sight.