Alright, so folks often get the Korat and the Russian Blue mixed up. I kept seeing pictures online, reading descriptions, but honestly, it all felt a bit theoretical. You know me, I like to get my hands dirty, figure things out for myself rather than just taking someone else’s word for it. So, I decided it was time to actually see these cats side-by-side, or at least spend some real time with each breed to get a proper feel for them.
Getting Started with the Comparison
My first step was finding the cats. Luckily, I have a friend who’s absolutely mad about his Korat, ‘Silver’. I basically invited myself over for a long weekend, under the guise of catching up, but really, I was there to observe Silver closely. I watched how he moved, how he interacted, what his coat felt like, the whole shebang. I took mental notes, trying not to be too obvious about staring at the cat the whole time.
Finding a Russian Blue took a bit more effort. I asked around, checked with some local cat enthusiast groups I’m vaguely part of. Eventually, I got put in touch with a lady, let’s call her Martha, who bred Russian Blues and had a lovely adult female, ‘Misty’. I arranged a few visits over a couple of weeks. Couldn’t stay over like with my buddy, but I made sure each visit was long enough to really interact with Misty and compare her against my memory and notes of Silver.
Observations: Korat vs. Russian Blue
Okay, here’s what I actually found from spending time with them, not just looking at fancy photos:
- The Coat: This was a big one. Silver, the Korat, had this single layer coat. It was short, fine, and lay really flat. Felt silky, sure, but not dense. When the light hit it, it had this amazing halo effect, silver tips really shining. Misty, the Russian Blue? Totally different feel. Her coat was thick, dense, plush. You could feel it was a double coat. It stood out from her body more, like soft velvet. Still silver-tipped, but the overall texture was much plusher. She also seemed to shed a bit more noticeably than Silver, probably because of that undercoat.
- Head Shape and Eyes: Silver’s head was distinctly heart-shaped when you looked straight on. You could really see it. And his eyes were massive, round when fully open, and a super vibrant peridot green. They really popped. Misty’s head seemed more wedge-shaped, broader at the eyes. Her eyes were green too, definitely green, but maybe a slightly deeper, more almond shape? They felt less ‘startling’ than Silver’s, more of a vivid emerald green.
- Body Type: Silver felt surprisingly muscular and solid under that sleek coat, kinda semi-cobby but still graceful. Misty felt finer-boned, more elegant and ‘longer’ in her body lines. Both were agile, but Misty seemed a touch more… refined in her movements?
- Personality Up Close: This is where pictures tell you nothing. Silver was a velcro cat. He needed to be near my friend, followed him room to room, always wanted attention or a lap. Super affectionate, but demanding about it. Misty was friendly, enjoyed a good petting session, and would definitely seek out attention, but she was also more independent. She’d happily chill on her own, observe things from a distance. Seemed a bit more reserved initially with me, whereas Silver was pretty much instantly friendly. The Korat felt more intense, the Russian Blue calmer overall.
- Voice: Didn’t hear them ‘talk’ a huge amount, but Silver had a typical cat meow, maybe a bit chirpy. Misty’s voice was noticeably quieter, softer.
Wrapping it Up
So, yeah. After actually spending time handling and watching them, the differences became pretty clear. At first glance, especially if you just see a quick photo of a blue-grey cat, I get why people mix them up. But the coat texture, head shape, eye intensity, and definitely the personality – they’re distinct. The Korat’s heart face and single coat, plus that intense bond, versus the Russian Blue’s plush double coat, wedge head, and slightly more reserved elegance. It’s one of those things where reading about it is fine, but actually experiencing it makes all the difference. Glad I took the time to check them out properly myself.
