The Thai cat, also known as the traditional Siamese, originated in Thailand and is referred to as Wichien-Maat in its home country. In the 19th century, this breed was brought to England and first showcased at the London Crystal Palace in 1871. This exhibition marked the distinction between the traditional Thai or Siamese, characterized by a round head (applehead Siamese), and the modern Siamese, which features an elongated and triangular head shape (long-headed type).
To differentiate the ancient Siamese breed with its more rounded features and sturdier build, the name Thai was chosen, as it reflects its origin in Siam, now known as Thailand (Land of the Thais). Despite its long history, the Thai breed only gained recognition in 1950 when breeders began actively promoting it. The 1980s saw the establishment of the first clubs dedicated to Thai cats in the United States and Europe.
It was not until the late 20th century that formal recognition of the Thai breed was achieved by organizations like TICA and WCF, which developed specific standards for the Thai breed distinct from the modern Siamese. Since 2001, breeders have been importing original Thai cats from Thailand to expand and preserve the Thai gene pool, as well as to distinguish it from Western or modern Siamese breeds.
