Felis catus
Korn Ja
Featured photokorn-ja.jpgThe Korn Ja is an ancient Thai breed documented in the Tamra Maew manuscripts of the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767) alongside the Siamese, Korat, Khao Manee, and Suphalak as one of the auspicious cats of Thai royalty. The Korn Ja is a solid-black breed with golden eyes, regarded historically as a symbol of prosperity and good luck. Modern preservation efforts began in Thailand in the 2000s. The breed is not currently recognized by CFA, TICA, GCCF, or FIFe under championship status. The standard describes a medium-sized, athletic cat with a solid-black coat.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- Thailand
- Origin period
- Ancient Thai breed documented in the Tamra Maew manuscripts as a black good-fortune cat
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- Solid Black (the only recognized colour — jet-black throughout, golden eyes)
- Size category
- Medium
- Average lifespan
- 12-15 years
- Recognition
- —
Origin
The Korn Ja is documented in the Tamra Maew manuscripts of the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767) alongside the Siamese, Korat, Khao Manee, and Suphalak as one of the auspicious cats of Thai royalty. The Tamra Maew describes the Korn Ja as solid black with golden eyes, regarded historically as a symbol of prosperity and good luck. Through the 20th century the breed was nearly lost in Thailand.
Recognition
Modern preservation efforts began in the 2000s, primarily through the Royal Forest Department and Thai academic researchers documenting the breed. The Korn Ja is not currently recognized by CFA, TICA, GCCF, or FIFe under championship status. Some Thai breed clubs maintain registries; the breed is recognized in Thailand as a national heritage breed.
Standard
Thai breed-club standards describe a medium-sized, well-muscled, athletic cat with a moderate-foreign body type and a moderately wedge-shaped head. The defining characteristic is the coat: solid jet-black throughout, with no white markings or undercoat lightening. The eyes are golden to amber. The coat is short, fine, and close-lying with a glossy sheen. No other coat colour is accepted; the Korn Ja is by definition a single-colour breed.
Sources & further reading (3)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
What does Korn Ja mean?
Korn Ja is the Thai name for the breed, derived from a Tamra Maew description as a black cat associated with good fortune. The English-language nickname 'Black Pearl' is sometimes used informally, referencing the breed's jet-black coat and historical association with prosperity. The Tamra Maew name is the formal Thai designation used in modern Thai breed-club registries.
Is the Korn Ja recognized internationally?
No. CFA, TICA, GCCF, and FIFe have not published Korn Ja standards. The breed is recognized in Thailand as a national heritage breed and is the subject of preservation efforts through the Royal Forest Department and Thai academic researchers.
Is the Korn Ja the same as the Bombay?
No. The Korn Ja is an ancient Thai natural breed documented in the Tamra Maew manuscripts since at least the 14th century. The Bombay is a 1958-developed Western breed (Nikki Horner, Louisville) created from Burmese x American Shorthair crosses. The two breeds share the jet-black coat colour but have distinct origins, body types, and pedigree histories.
