Is the Korat's blue coat easier to distinguish from Russian Blue when you know the body shape?

Yes, knowing the body shape helps a lot. The Korat has a more muscular, compact, and rounded build, with a heart-shaped head and a shorter, thicker tail. The Russian Blue is longer, leaner, and more graceful, with a wedge-shaped head and a longer, tapering tail.

That said, even with body shape, the coat alone isn't a reliable way to tell them apart. Both are blue with silver-tipped guard hairs, but the Korat's coat often has a more "glowing" or "luminous" quality, while the Russian Blue's is uniformly dense and plush. For quick identification, look at the overall silhouette and head shape first, then check the eye color-Korats have amber-green eyes, Russian Blues vivid green.

Body shape helps, but coat texture and density are actually more reliable than the shade of blue. Korats have a single coat that lies flat and close to the body, with each hair tipped in silver, which gives a more lustrous, almost glittering sheen under light. Russian Blues have a dense, double coat that stands out from the body, making the fur feel plush and look softer, with less of that sharp silver shimmer.

Look at the eyes first, then the body shape. Korats have large, luminous green eyes that are more rounded and wide-set than the Russian Blue's almond-shaped, vivid green eyes. The Korat's head is distinctly heart-shaped, with a prominent stop between the eyes, making the face seem softer and sweeter. The Russian Blue's wedge-shaped head and angular muzzle give it a more refined, elegant expression. Once you notice these differences in head and eye structure, the coat color becomes secondary.

Knowing the body shape absolutely makes it easier, but not because of the coat color itself-both are a similar blue. The real giveaway is how the coat behaves on that body. A Korat has a single coat that lies very flat, so you see the muscular, compact body underneath clearly; the fur almost looks painted on, with a strong, glossy silver sheen. A Russian Blue’s dense, plush double coat stands away from the body, hiding the slim, fine-boned frame-the cat looks softer and rounder in silhouette, even though it’s actually more slender. So when you see a sturdy, rounded cat with a flat, slick blue coat, that’s your Korat.