Korean Street Cat

Korean street cats come in all shapes and sizes. Signs of a life-long street cat— versus a stray cat who may be lost— include a clean, well-kept coat (thanks to their meticulous self-grooming), protective body language, and lack of eye contact. Because they're intact, male street cats may have thick necks, muscular bodies, and scars from fighting.

Korean street cats' coats can come in all colors, patterns, and lengths.

Korean street cats do not follow a breed standard. So, any combination of features is genetically possible. Some Korean street cats have short or kinked tails. That's why some experts believe cats from Korea contributed to the Japanese Bobtail breed.

Like all domesticated cats, Korean street cats can trace their roots back to the African Wildcat.

Remains of cats found buried in tombs in ancient Egypt suggest the relationship between humans and felines began thousands of years ago. As civilizations developed, cats became helpful partners in pest control. But before selective breeding began in the 19th century, cats were—and mostly still are—non-pedigreed.

Feral cats are very common in Korea, with populations running rampant in big cities. Historically, many people in Korea had a negative perception of cats. Some viewed them as bad luck, while others considered street cats messy and noisy nuisances. Though attitudes have shifted in recent decades, mistreatment at the hands of humans has left many Korean street cats fearful of people.