Draft:Wila Krungthep

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Wila Krungthep

The Wila Krungthep (Thai: วิฬาร์กรุงเทพ or old name Mocha cat แมวมอคค่า) is a newly discovered cat breed in Thailand. It has variations of blue hue eyes with an unusual light golden-brown fur despite its gene, which attracted the attention of  The International Maew Boran Association (TIMBA) association.

The DNA of Wila Krungthep cats is unique from that of any other breed. Research on Wila Krungthep cats is ongoing, as it is unknown if the color of their fur is a mutation or not.

History

The Wila Krungthep Thai cat breed was first discovered as a stray on the streets of Silom, Bangkok. However, the breed's unique characteristics were formally studied through a cat named Mai Thong, another stray adopted by a member of the International Maew Boran Association (TIMBA). Mai Thong's distinctive light golden-brown coat led to a genetic investigation, which was sent to the United States for DNA analysis. The results indicated that, genetically, the cat should have had black fur, creating a puzzling discrepancy with its actual coat color. This inconsistency led to further research into the breed's genetics. As the Wila Krungthep is a relatively recent discovery, much of its genetic background remains unclear, and further study is ongoing to better understand the breed's traits and origins.

Breed Development

The development of the Wila Krungthep cat breed initially began as part of a Supalak breeding program, with the International Maew Boran Association (TIMBA) sending a cat named Mai Thong to the United States in January 2015 for DNA analysis. Despite the cat's brown-golden-orange coat, DNA testing conducted by the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) identified it as genetically black with aa BB CC DD gene code (Non-Agouti, Black, No Colourpoints, No Dilution). This unexpected result prompted further investigation into whether this cat represented a new breed, and whether the coat color discrepancy was the result of a genetic mutation.

The project was subsequently named “Black Not Black” by researchers Sarah Hartwell, a PhD candidate at Exeter University, and Nolan Betterly. At the time, the cat was informally referred to as “Mocha.” In April 2016, it was hypothesized that the unusual color could be due to a crossbreeding between a non-black kitten and black cats, or potentially linked to an albino gene variant.

The research led to the discovery that the cat possessed a CMCM gene code, also unofficially known as the Cat of Mai thong gene code, named in honor of Mai Thong, the first Wila Krungthep cat to be identified. However, TIMBA later discontinued its collaboration with the U.S. team, citing differences in research methods and the approach to naming the breed. As a result, the cat, formerly known as Mocha, was officially renamed “Wila Krungthep” following a voting process conducted on the “Cats of Thailand" Facebook page, a platform associated with TIMBA. Despite this shift in direction, Sarah Hartwell continued her research into the genetic origins of the breed, focusing on the gene combinations between Siamese, Tonkinese, and Wila Krungthep cats.

In addition to the research efforts, TIMBA has sent several male and female Wila Krungthep cats to breeders in Thailand, including PP Thai Cattery, which received recognition at the TIMBA Cat Show in 2022 for "Thai Cat with Unusual Color" and "Best of the Best" for a Lilac cat, once mistaken for a Wila Krungthep. Another Thai breeder, Konja Cat, was also involved in this initiative. This cooperation is facilitated by TIMBA's network of breeders and researchers.

TIMBA offers a registry service through its official website, allowing breeders to register their cats in two categories: the Thai World Registry, for international breeders, and the Thai Registry, for domestic breeders. This registry system supports ongoing efforts to preserve and develop the Wila Krungthep breed.

Naming

The name Wila Krungthep is derived from two words in Sanskrit and Thai: Wila (วิฬาร์), meaning "cat," and Krungthep (กรุงเทพ), meaning "the capital city of Thailand," also known as Bangkok. In Thai culture, Sanskrit is often used in names to invoke fortune and blessings, as it is considered a high-level language traditionally employed for naming not only people but also animals, places, roads, and other significant entities.

In 2017, a voting process was conducted among researchers to select a name for the breed, but no consensus was reached. As a provisional measure, the breed was referred to as the "Thai Mocha," as it was initially thought to be a color variation of an existing cat breed rather than a distinct new breed. This temporary name was derived from the color gene, as the cat's coat color was reminiscent of the "mocha" hue. Similarly, the Burmese cat (Supalak) is known internationally for its "chocolate" coat color gene.

The term "Mocha" itself was first used by a foreigner who created a Facebook page called "Bangkok Mocha Cat" to showcase their cat, which had been imported from Thailand. This cat was a mix of Tonkinese, Siamese, and Burmese breeds, and one of its kittens exhibited a distinctive mocha-colored coat, thereby popularizing the name.

On February 5, 2018, the แมวสยาม Cats of Thailand Facebook page officially announced that, effective immediately, the cat previously known as the "Mocha cat" or "Thai Mocha" would now be referred to as Wila Krungthep (วิฬาร์กรุงเทพ). Several key reasons were provided for this name change:

• Newly Discovered Thai Breed: The breed was first identified around 2014–2015 and had no record in the ancient cat books of Ayutthaya. This established the breed as a new addition to Thailand's feline heritage.
• Geographic Origin: The breed was originally discovered in Bangkok (Krungthep), specifically in the Silom district, which is considered the heart of the city. By 2018, 15 out of 25 individuals of the breed found in Thailand were located in Bangkok, reinforcing the breed's strong ties to the capital.
• Clarification of Origin: The name change aimed to prevent confusion and avoid the misappropriation of the breed by other parties. Often, cats with names that are not tied to their geographical origins—such as the Burmese, Bali, and Himalayan—are misunderstood, with people assuming the names represent the breed's place of origin rather than their actual roots. The name Wila Krungthep helps clarify the breed’s true Thai heritage.
• Consistency with Naming Conventions: The name Wila Krungthep aligns with the common naming convention for cat breeds, where the name reflects the breed's place of origin. This is similar to how other breeds are named, such as the Korat cat (from the Korat region in Thailand) or the Scottish Fold (from Scotland).

Additionally, the first Wila Krungthep cat was named "Mai Thong." While Mai Thong was initially considered as the breed name, researchers decided to reserve it for a future purpose—specifically, to name the gene responsible for the breed’s unique characteristics once its genetic code was fully understood. This gene would be referred to as the "Mai Thong gene."

Appearance

The most noticeable feature of Wila Krungthep cats is their light golden-brown fur. Their eyes vary in color, ranging from blue to greenish-blue to yellowish-green. The fur around their nose is more pigmented, while the area around their eyes is paler. Their nose and toe beans are a delicate light pink.

When looking deeper into their genetics, the fur color genes are shown to be similar to those of black cats. However, their pink nose and toe beans are unique traits that black cats typically do not possess. Additionally, they have discoloration in nine points on their body, similar to a Siamese cat.

Behavior

They have a more dog-like personality than usual cats, which is a typical trait of Thai cats. On some media such as TV shows or Youtube interviews, it appeared to be a little skittish yet still extremely playful when meeting with a crowd of people.

Health Issue

With the current research and discovery, there are no known or published health issues with the Wila Krungthep. However, it might be prone to common diseases like other cats.

Popularity

The Wila Krungthep cat has gained notable visibility on social media and in various media outlets. Updates on the breed’s research and development have been regularly shared through platforms such as Blogs and Facebook by TIMBA (The International Maew Boran Association). Additionally, the breed has been featured on the Thai TV show ปัญญาตลาดแตก ("Panya Talad Taek") and in an interview with TIMBA on YouTube, conducted by SpokeDarkTV

During its appearance on ปัญญาตลาดแตก it was revealed that a Wila Krungthep kitten bred by PP Cattery was valued at 20,000 baht. This high price was attributed to the breed's status as a newly discovered species with limited availability, further emphasizing its rarity and the growing interest in this unique Thai breed.

External Link

• https://catsofthailand.wordpress.com/wilakrungthep1/
• https://bangkokmochacat.com/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6590430/