Suphalak Cat: Breed Info, Pictures, Temperament & Traits

The Suphalak is a rare sight to behold. This breed is endemic to Thailand and hasn’t made a splash outside of Asia. Unfortunately, importing the cat isn’t a viable solution due to the problem of their scarcity.

Breed Overview

Those privileged enough to meet a Suphalak in their life will enjoy the company of one of the most unique and heralded cats in the world. This breed isn’t just intelligent, playful, and friendly (though they are indeed all those things), but they’re also thought to bring good fortune to people who are kind to them!

Suphalaks have gotten a fair bit of attention in modern media because of their rarity, and many people are scrambling to get even a glimpse of their gorgeous coats and playful attitudes.

Suphalak Cat Characteristics

Suphalak Kittens

Suphalak kittens are rare, even in their native country. Getting a purebred Suphalak in the U.S. will require you to import the cat from Thailand. If your heart is truly set on this breed, make sure to do your research, find ethical breeders in Thailand, and expect high prices due to the rarity of the cat and the cost of transportation.

Suphalaks are known for being playful and energetic. They’re also highly intelligent and make a great fit for experienced owners because they can have strong personalities.

Temperament and Intelligence of the Suphalak

The Suphalak is intelligent and friendly. Like many other Eastern cat breeds, they are affectionate and vocal. As they “talk” to their owners, they may seem like they’re trying to converse with you.

They are high energy, so you won’t be able to keep your Suphalak busy with just a few stuffed mice. Instead, you’ll need to dedicate time and energy to play with your pet, or they may become destructive out of boredom.

This breed needs a lot of attention. They won’t be happy with a home where they’re left alone all day. One option is to get your cat a housemate, but it is best if they have you around to interact with too.

Are Suphalaks Good for Families? 👪

Suphalaks make good family pets if you can afford one. Their high energy means they’ll be able to keep up with your kids during playtime, and since they’re affectionate and social, they’ll be up to play whenever your kids want to.

Singles who work from home can make good owners for Suphalak, but they need a lot of space to run around. So, if you live in a smaller apartment, consider leash-training your cat or getting an exercise wheel.

Do Suphalaks Get Along With Other Pets?

Suphalaks tend to get along well with other felines and dogs since they get lonely quickly and enjoy the company. Just ensure that you spend enough time one-on-one with your pet to avoid any jealousy that may arise.

Additionally, while this breed doesn’t have a high prey drive, they have an exceptionally playful attitude, and they will chase anything that they can to try to play with it. So, if you have a bird or other small animals, keep them away from your Suphalak for their well-being.

Things to Know When Owning a Suphalak

Food & Diet Requirements 🐡

Suphalaks don’t have any specific dietary needs that need to be addressed by their owners. However, you must feed them high-quality food that features high protein levels.

This breed may require more food than what’s average for a cat. Since they’re so active, they’ll need an appropriately large amount of food to sustain that activity level.

Giving your cat a combination of wet and dry food will ensure that they have enough moisture in their diet to sustain their high activity levels. Felines often forget to drink enough water on their own, and including moisture in their diet through their food may be necessary to preserve kidney function.

• You might also want to check out: Best Cat Food Bowls

Exercise 🐈

Supahalaks require a lot of exercise to be happy. These animals need to be able to get their energy out somewhere. This means you’ll need to provide your pet with ample space to run around, toys, and plenty of playtime to keep them from becoming bored.

Training 🧶

Suphalaks should quickly take to common cat training, such as litter boxes and scratching posts. After that, they can be trained to be on a leash and go on walks around the neighborhood if you don’t have enough space for them inside your home.

This breed is highly intelligent, so you can also teach them to perform tricks. But first, you’ll have to figure out what motivates your cat and provide them with the proper motivation and rewards when they perform well.

Grooming ✂️

The Suphalak has a short coat that doesn’t require excessive grooming. However, brushing your cat twice a week will ensure that their coat looks glossy and silky at all times.

You’ll also want to ensure that your pet’s nails stay trimmed. Since they’re so active, they can accidentally damage their surroundings with their claws if they aren’t trimmed down.

Health and Conditions 🏥

The Suphalak is a relatively new breed in the Western world. So, we don’t have much information about their overall health outcomes since we haven’t had much time to perform empirical studies on them.

Still, owners should keep their eyes peeled for common illnesses found in cats, such as feline lower urinary tract disease and cardiomyopathy.

Male vs. Female

The most notable difference between male and female Suphalaks is their size. Males tend to be a bit taller, longer, and heavier than females. Aside from this, though, there are not many differences to speak of.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Suphalak Cat

1. Suphalaks are thought to bring wealth and good fortune to their owners.

Thai legends published in the “Tamra Maew,” or “The Book of Cat Poems,” posit that the Suphalak brings wealth and good fortune to their owner. This legend is also the reason that this breed is so rare.

2. Legend has it that Suphalaks were kidnapped to bring fortune to an invading king.

According to Thai legends, back when the Ayutthaya kingdom inhabited the land, it was invaded by the Burmese in 1767. During the invasion, the king of Burma was introduced to the legends of the Tamra Maew and ordered his soldiers to capture all the Suphalak cats and bring them to Burma with the other treasures that they’d taken from the nation.

3. The International Maew Boran Association (TIMBA) is working to bolster the population of Suphalaks.

In 2014, TIMBA announced that it would work to preserve the Suphalak’s population by boosting domestic breeders and aiding the introduction of the breed to other nations, especially those in the West.

Final Thoughts

Suphalaks may be rare, but they’re gorgeous cats and delightful to be around. So, it’s heartwarming to see an active effort by TIMBA to preserve the breed. Hopefully, its efforts will bear fruit, and the species will see a successful introduction to the West and propagate a substantial population both in and out of Thailand.

• See Also: Khao Manee (Diamond Eye Cat)

Featured Image Credit: Nattakorn Suphatheera, Shutterstock