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Khao Manee |
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TranslationFrancis Vandersteen |
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OriginThe Khao Manee is a breed of cat native to Thailand. |
| This cat is characterized by its white shorthair coat. Its eyes can be yellow, blue or mint. |
Standard |
| Official recognition of the Khao Manee is underway, notably through TICA and GCCF. It has been possible to register adult and juvenile Khao Manee with TICA since May 2009. TICA referent Janet Poulsen, who has been working on the breed's development for several years, has the largest Khao Manee cattery in the West. Globally, only a handful of breeders in the U.S.A., Thailand, the UK and France are working to safeguard and develop the breed. The first official Khao Manee club, The Khao Manee Cat Club, was founded in the UK in 2009. |
A brief historical overview |
| The Khao Manee was a lucky breed in its homeland and a favorite of King Chulalongkorn of Siam (Rama V). Formerly known as Khaao Plort (all white), its current name means precious stones, due to its eyes, each of which can be a different color. The Book of Cat Poems, a collection of Thai texts, is the oldest supposed record of the breed, described from the 14th century onwards. According to legend, for fear of theft, King Rama V had all the Khao Manee hidden away in the palace when the English and French arrived. The race was kept apart by members of the royal family. To these foreigners, he allegedly offered Siamese, presented as the royal race, in order to preserve the true royal race, the Khao Manee. Threatened with extinction, this breed is one of the rarest in the world. Until 1999, there were no individuals outside Thailand. That year, Colleen Freymuth, an American specialist in the preservation of endangered species, received the first Khao Manee to leave Thailand. She set up a program to save the breed through breeding and distribution. In all, she imported twelve animals. These animals and their offspring were then passed on to Frédéric Goedert, who for many years was the only French breeder of Khao Manee in the West. |
General appearance |
| The Khao Manee is an elegant, graceful cat, without excess. The Khao Manee can in no way be confused with any other breed of white-coated cat. Although some Khao Manee may have a black coat, these are not recognized and are only used for selection purposes. It's also important to note a rather marked dimorphism between males and females, the former generally being a little more massive. Khao Manee Chattons often have a tuft of gray hair between their ears, which they lose completely as adults. |
Behavior / characteristics |
| The Khao Manee is generally described as a very affectionate cat, very attached to its owner. It is generally very sociable, lively, curious and intelligent. In fact, its character is similar to that of the Siamese. The term “dog-cat” suits them very well: they are quite talkative by nature, love to communicate with their owners, whom they adore, and often recognize their master's name. |
Health |
| Unlike the foreign white, the Khao Manee is little affected by deafness, which, for a white cat, suggests a long selection process, in this case by Thai breeders, and thus reminds us of the breed's age, contrary to what some fanciful comments published on the Internet have long led us to believe. The fact that Khao Manee cats, unlike other cat breeds, are free from serious genetic faults and diseases is further proof of the breed's long history of selection in its country of origin, and contributes to the growing appeal of this healthy, hardy breed. |
Head |
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Cranial region |
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Head |
The head is triangular. | |
Facial region |
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Eyes |
Another distinction is their magnificent eyes, for which they are rightly renowned: Khao Manee cats can be minnows (yellow and blue), blue-eyed or yellow-eyed. It's worth noting that minnows are the most sought-after, followed by blues and yellows. A few other, rarer colors are possible. English and Thai speakers refer to their eyes as “diamond eyes”. | |
Body |
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Generality |
The Khao Manee can also be recognized by its oriental gait: wiry, slender, supple and fine. | |
Limbs |
| The front legs are slightly shorter than the hind legs. | ||
Forequarters |
Hindquarters |
Coat |
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Hair |
Must be short all year round. | |
Important |
| Advice for future Khao Manee buyers As the Khao Manee is probably the rarest cat breed on the market today, prices are accordingly high: an adult subject with yellow eyes and defects (“broken” tail, strabismus, deafness, non-white subject, etc.) will sell for around 1,000 euros. At the other end of the scale, a young breeding bird from a prestigious breeding farm in Thailand, with minnow eyes and fine features, can fetch up to 3,000 euros. In addition to the price, the future buyer must obtain a number of essential guarantees. In particular, the buyer must ensure that the animal is in perfect health and has been vaccinated up to date. In addition, the pedigree of both parents must be registered with TICA, the only cat registry that currently recognizes this breed. An online register, which has no legal value, can also be consulted. We strongly advise against acquiring a Khao Manee without proof of its origins (pedigree), as there are many examples of usurpation, particularly on online pet sales sites. Finally, the breeder must commit to the perfect sociability of the subject sold, and provide biographical and character details. The buyer is strongly advised to visit the kennel to make his choice in situ, and thus ensure compliance with certain fundamental health rules. |
English (United Kingdom)