Thai Cat Genetics
Burmese, Tonkinese and Siamese cats: A Natural Breed - Genetic Origins Explained
Burmese, Tonkinese and Siamese cats have a rich history in Thailand dating back many centuries and are a Natural Breed. This means that Thai cats have origins in the region of Thailand and developed naturally on its own by mating with other cats in the region. The other type is a Man Made Breed created by cat breeders through a selective breeding program to create a certain aesthetic or goal.
TIMBA (The International Maew Boran Association), is an organization based in Thailand working to keep the natural breed of Burmese, Tonkinese, Siamese and other Thai cats alive and preserved in Thailand. In the United States, Dr. Schar of Indian Spring Cats has spent decades improving the genetic diversity and therefore the health of Burmese, Tonkinese and Siamese cats. Our cats have parents, grandparents and/or recent ancestors that are the result of TIMBA’s preservation efforts and Dr. Schar’s Breed Improvement Program.
While Burmese, Tonkinese and Siamese cats are the most well known Thai cats in America, there are other types of Thai cats with the same dog-like temperament and health such as Korat, Suphalak, Bangkok, and Khao Manee.
New Gene Discovered
Dr. Schar and Sarah Hartwell authored this article about the discovery of the cm gene, and includes pictures of our Mama cat Goldie who has a genetic code of bb cbcm DD. More information can also be found here and here.
TIMBA: Preserving the Natural Thai Cat
In early fall 2023, I was fortunate to spend a week with Panarat Kamchat, President of TIMBA, which seeks to preserve the Thai cat in Thailand and throughout the world. During my time with Panarat Kamchat, I learned so much about the history of Burmese, Tonkinese and Siamese cats and the importance of preserving Thai cats as they naturally are in Thailand.
The Bangkok Post published a video featuring Panarat Kamchat and Preecha Vadhana detailing their preservation efforts and speaking about how the face shape and other characteristics of contemporary American Burmese cats deviates from the natural breed of Thai Burmese cats.
I realized from my studies of Thai cats that the face shape of many contemporary Burmese cats in America and other parts of the world sometimes deviate from what the Burmese cats in Thailand naturally look like. Further, I learned that this wide flat face shape could cause breathing and health issues. If you study the face and build of the mother of American Burmese cats, Wong Mau, she looks VERY similar to our mama cat Lady Gaga and the other Burmese cats in Thailand.
Basic Genetic Cat Code
The genetic code for Thai cats is made up of a string of letters, each one is a marker for a certain characteristic. The basic code components are as follows:
Non-agouti: a
Black: B
Champagne or chocolate gene: b
Full color: C
Siamese coat color: cs
Burmese coat color: cb
Tonkinese coat color: cbcs
Dilute gene: d
Coat Color Specific Genetic Code Examples:
Sable Burmese: aa BB cbcb DD
Blue Burmese: aa BB cbcb dd
Champagne Burmese: aa bb cbcb DD
Platinum Burmese: aa bb cbcb dd
Seal Point Siamese: BB cscs DD
Blue Siamese: BB cscs dd
Sable Tonkinese: BB cbcs DD
Blue Tonkinese: BB cbcs dd