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View 8 More +It wouldn’t be surprising if you’ve never heard of a Suphalak cat before. Suphalak cats are an extremely rare breed that originated from Thailand over three centuries ago. They have gorgeous brown and copper coloring to them, leading them to often be confused for Burmese or Havana Brown cats, but they are a breed of their own.
Breed Overview
Length:
9–10 inches
Weight:
12–15 pounds
Lifespan:
10–12 years
Colors:
Light brown, dark brown, black, copper
Suitable for:
Families or singles
Temperament:
Active, curious, loyal, social
Whether you’ve known about these cats for years, or are just now discovering them, these are unique and beautiful cats that make the perfect house companion.
Suphalak Cats Characteristics
Suphalak Kittens
Suphalak cats are a well-rounded cat breed. They are a little more energetic, but they are intelligent and have minimal health problems. There aren’t too many issues with socialization as long as you start from a young age. The lifespan of this breed is slightly less than other breeds, which is the only category where they lack compared to most other felines.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Suphalak Breed
The Suphalak cat breed is intelligent and people-oriented. They are moderately active but like being around their owner as well. You can expect them to be as loving towards you as you are to them. This also means that leaving them alone for too long could come with some separation anxiety. They bond quickly with all of their family members and are likely to follow you around throughout the day. Some even say they have a dog-like personality instead of acting like other cats.
Are These Cat Good for Families? 👪
The Suphalak breed is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a family pet. These cats aren’t just affectionate towards one person; they are affectionate towards the whole family. While we don’t recommend leaving young children alone with any cat breed, these are cats you can often trust around children. Regardless, it’s important to teach children how to treat cats with love and respect.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?
A lot of times, how a cat acts around a dog is entirely dependent on the individual. While this is true for most cats, it is more likely that your Suphalak will get along with other pets in the house as well. It is more common for all the family pets to get along if you socialize them from a young age. The more you expose them to people and animals, the more willing they are to be friendly with them.
Things to Know When Owning a Suphalak:
Every breed is different. The food, exercise, and grooming demands of one cat are not exactly the same for all other cats. Here is everything you need to know about caring for a Suphalak:
Food & Diet Requirements 🐡
Suphalaks are no different than other cats in that they need to have a rich source of animal protein available to them. Cats require a healthy balance of protein, carbs, vitamins, and minerals, and we recommend giving them a mix of high-quality wet and dry food. Read the ingredient list carefully to make sure that an animal protein is listed as the first ingredient.
Exercise 🐈
Cats do need exercise, but it isn’t as easy to take them for a walk as a dog is. That is, of course, unless you leash train them. Instead, try to spend roughly 15 to 20 minutes playing with them every day. This could include purchasing exciting toys that keep them moving, or it might take a little more effort from you. Either way, daily movement is crucial for helping them maintain body weight and keep their muscles toned and strong.
Training 🧶
Most people will tell you that training a cat isn’t easy. This is true, but it’s not impossible. Suphalak cats are moderately intelligent and it is possible to train them to perform simple commands when you use positive reinforcement. You have to be careful that you aren’t overdoing it on the treats, though, and contributing to weight gain.
Grooming ✂️
Cats usually groom themselves and keep their coats in good shape and you don’t need to bathe them unless they get into something particularly messy. Their mother often teaches them grooming habits from a young age. The most that cat owners need to do is brush them a couple of times per week to keep their shedding to a minimum. Don’t forget to brush under their necks and stomachs. Aside from brushing, make sure to keep your cat’s nails clipped at an appropriate length.
Health and Conditions 🏥
Surprisingly, Suphalak cats don’t have any known serious health conditions related to their breed. Aside from a few genetic diseases that are common among all domestic cat breeds, anything more specific is still unknown. Suphalak cats are generally very healthy cats.
Male vs. Female
There seem to be very few differences between male and female Suphalak cats. Regardless of which sex you choose, it is important to have your Suphalak cat spayed or neutered. This can help prevent unwanted litters, undesirable behaviors, animal homelessness, and even certain cancers. Speak to a vet about the advantages and disadvantages of spaying and neutering and the best time to do so.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Suphalak Cats
1. The first solid copper-chocolate Suphalak born outside of Thailand was a female born in the United States.
Suphalak cats all originally come from Thailand. Often a breed spreads out across the world, and the United States is one of the last places on their journey. This isn’t the case for one specific color of the Suphalak—the first solid copper-chocolate outside of Thailand was born in the United States on September 15, 2015.
2. They were first mentioned in pictorial and written Thai manuscripts.
The first mention of the Suphalak breed was in a Thai manuscript that existed between 1351 and 1776 AD. The book talked about different cat breeds and their heritage and also included cats like the Seal-Point Siamese.
3. They made their first appearance in the United States in 2013.
Believe it or not, these cats are so rare in the west that they didn’t even make an appearance until 2013. The first Suphalak in the US that was seen in cat shows and registered with the ACA was named Thonga.
Final Thoughts
The Suphalak cat breed isn’t something that you can find walking into most households here in America. They are rare on this side of the world, but we think more people give them a chance. These cats are affectionate and charismatic, not to mention have a beautiful chocolatey-copper color that you don’t see too often. If you’ve been curious to learn more about this breed, we hope that this article helped explain everything you need to know about the Suphalak cat.
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Featured Image Credit: Nattakorn Suphatheera, Shutterstock
