Suphalak
The Suphalak is one of Thailand's ancient natural breeds described in the Tamra Maew ("Cat Book Poems") alongside the Siamese and Khao Manee — a richly coloured, solid reddish-brown cat with brilliant copper eyes.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Origin
Thailand
Lifespan
12–15 years
Weight
3–6 kg (6.5–13 lbs)
Height
25–30 cm (10–12 in)
Diet
Obligate carnivore — high-quality wet and dry food.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Felidae
Genus
Felis
The Story
The Suphalak is one of Thailand's ancient natural breeds described in the Tamra Maew ("Cat Book Poems") alongside the Siamese and Khao Manee — a richly coloured, solid reddish-brown cat with brilliant copper eyes. The name "Suphalak" translates loosely as "beautiful quality" or "auspicious golden" in Thai. The breed has been present in Thailand for centuries but is extremely rare — even in Thailand, only a handful of breeders maintain pure Suphalak lines. The colour — a warm, rich copper-red brown — is almost unique in domestic cats and is achieved without the use of the typical "chocolate" or "cinnamon" genes.
Also Known As
Quick Facts
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Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
The Suphalak has a medium-sized, semi-foreign body type similar to the traditional Siamese (Thai) — an elegant but moderately built cat. The coat is exclusively a rich, warm reddish-brown — described as the colour of copper or warm sable — with brilliant copper, gold, or amber eyes. The contrast of the warm brown coat and vivid copper eyes is striking.
Grooming
Low
Shedding
Low
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Affectionate, loyal, and devoted — the Suphalak is described in Thai texts as bringing great fortune and loyalty to its owner. Social and vocal without being as demanding as the Siamese.
Living Profile
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •Minimal grooming. Regular dental care. The breed's rarity means finding a specialist breeder is challenging — only a handful of breeders exist globally.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Health Overview
Very limited health data due to extreme rarity. No documented breed-specific conditions. HCM may occur. Generally considered robust from natural selection.
Common Conditions
Fun Facts
The Suphalak is so rare that even within Thailand, fewer than 100 pure individuals may exist — making it potentially one of the rarest domestic cat breeds on Earth.
The Tamra Maew describes the Suphalak as bringing its owner great wealth and fortune — it was historically kept by Thai royalty and considered a highly auspicious companion.
The Suphalak's rich copper-red coat colour is achieved through a combination of genes that produces a warm, almost metallic reddish-brown sheen distinct from the cooler chocolate colour of breeds like the Havana Brown.
