Felis catus
Suphalak Longhair
The Suphalak Longhair is the longhaired division of the Suphalak, one of ancient Thailand's most auspicious breeds, documented in the Tamra Maew as a cat with a solid, deep reddish-brown (copper) coat. The Thai cat fancy and WCF recognize the breed. The standard describes a medium-sized, elegant cat with a rich solid copper coat and a semi-long silky expression.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- Thailand
- Origin period
- Documented in the Tamra Maew (c. 14th–18th century); Thai cat fancy recognition
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- Deep reddish-brown / copper solid (the only accepted colour)
- Size category
- Medium
- Average lifespan
- 12–16 years
- Recognition
- —
Origin
The Suphalak is one of ancient Siam's most auspicious breeds, documented in the Tamra Maew as a cat valued for its uniform deep copper coat. The breed was nearly lost in the 20th century but was revived by Thai breeders using descendants of the original Thai domestic cat population. The Thai cat fancy and WCF have standardized the breed. The longhair division reflects semi-long coat expressions in the Thai gene pool.
Standard
The working standard describes a medium-sized, lean, elegant cat with a slightly wedge-shaped head, medium ears, and oval eyes with a warm golden colour. The coat must be a uniform, deep reddish-brown or copper — no tabby ghost markings or white hairs permitted. The longhair division has a semi-long, fine, silky coat with the same solid copper colour and a plumed tail.
Near-Extinction and Revival
The Suphalak was nearly lost during the 20th century, when Thai domestic cats of the traditional Tamra Maew breeds intermingled broadly with imported Western breeds and non-traditional types. Thai breeders undertook a revival effort beginning in the 1990s, searching for cats matching the Tamra Maew description — uniform deep reddish-brown with no tabby ghost markings — and establishing a dedicated preservation breeding programme. The revival success has been modest; the Suphalak remains one of the rarest Thai Tamra Maew breeds.
Sources & further reading (2)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-27
- registry-breed-profile — accessed 2026-05-27
Frequently asked questions
Is the Suphalak related to the Burmese?
Both the Suphalak and the Burmese have warm brown solid coats, and they share Thai origin. Some researchers believe the Burmese breed may descend partly from Suphalak-type Thai cats. However, the Suphalak is standardized as a separate breed by the Thai cat fancy and WCF, with a distinctly darker, more intensely coloured coat than the Burmese sable.
Which registries recognize the Suphalak?
The Thai cat fancy and WCF recognize the Suphalak. CFA, TICA, GCCF, and FIFe do not currently carry the breed.
Why is the Suphalak so rare?
The Suphalak's rarity reflects the strict colour requirement — uniform deep reddish-brown with no tabby ghost markings or white hairs — which eliminates most of the Thai domestic cat population from the breed pool. Additionally, the breed was nearly lost in the 20th century before the Thai cat fancy's revival effort. The small, isolated breeding population and the rarity of the specific phenotype in the general Thai cat population keep numbers low.
