The most depressing sight I have ever encountered was here. No fewer than six dried, polythene-wrapped tiger's penises were on sale. Yai, who had worked for a Thai wildlife rescue organisation in the past, was as shocked as I was. But to see the main reason for the creature's loss of life reduced to such a small sum was devastating. Back to Thai cats, though the smaller kind seemed less significant while I contemplated the terrible fate of the larger.
Persian kittens are regularly on sale, the breed of choice for wealthy Thais, and an exotic novelty.
Long-hair is absent from the native gene pool and most Thai people have never seen a fluffy cat of any sort. Sadly, most of the pets sold at the market are destined to succumb to serious disease before long. While the Thai Ridgeback dog has an assured future, only a few cat lovers are willing to perpetuate the traditional Thai cat breeds. The Roses admit they would like to retire from cat breeding, and when they do, a important bridge between Eastern and Western cat culture will be lost. It might be down to us to ensure that none of Thailand's cat heritage is lost to future generations.