The Khao Manee is a distinctive and elegant cat breed originating from Thailand, known for its striking appearance and captivating eyes. Recognized for their pure white coat and gemstone-like, usually blue or odd-colored eyes, Khao Manees have a distinct allure. The breed has a short to medium-length coat that is smooth and lies close to the body. What sets the Khao Manee apart is its unique genetics, resulting in a high likelihood of having heterochromia, where each eye is a different color. Their name, which translates to “White Gem” in Thai, reflects their regal and precious demeanor.
Beyond their stunning physical characteristics, Khao Manees are cherished for their friendly and affectionate nature. They are also known to form strong bonds with their human companions, and their sociable personality makes them well-suited for family life. Khao Manees are often described as intelligent and playful, enjoying interactive activities and engaging with their owners. This breed has gained popularity for its unique combination of beauty and loving temperament, making it a sought-after choice for those seeking an enchanting and affectionate feline companion.
When considering a Khao Manee cat, it’s advisable to prioritize adopting from rescue organizations or shelters to provide a loving home to a cat in need. However, if you decide to purchase, it’s crucial to choose a reputable breeder. Conduct thorough research to ensure that the breeder follows ethical practices and prioritizes the well-being of their cats. Reputable Khao Manee Cat breeders prioritize the health and temperament of their cats, conduct necessary health screenings, and provide a nurturing environment for the kitties. This active approach ensures that you bring home a healthy and happy kitty while discouraging unethical breeding practices.
Quick Facts
- Origin: Thailand, with a lineage possibly extending back centuries, considered an ancient and sacred breed.
- Size: Small to medium (6-10 pounds)
- Breed Group: Landrace (naturally occurring breed)
- Lifespan: 10-12 years
- Coat: Short, pure white, with no undercoat, and velvety soft.
- Temperament: Playful, intelligent, curious, social, affectionate, enjoys human interaction and playtime.
- Exercise Needs: Moderate – thrives on daily playtime and mental stimulation.
- Training: Trainable with positive reinforcement due to their intelligence and desire to please.
- Grooming: Minimal, weekly brushing to remove loose hair.
- Health: Generally healthy, but some potential for hearing issues and genetic health conditions
- The Khao Manee cat is thought to bring good luck and fortune to its owner.
- Due to their rarity and the expense of importing them from Thailand, it can cost up to $10,000 to buy a Khao Manee kitten. Adopt, don’t shop!
- The Khao Manee is related to the Siamese cat, but much more ancient.
Khao Manee Pictures
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Affectionate with Family
Some cat breeds are typically independent and aloof, even if they’ve been raised by the same person since kittenhood; others bond closely to one person and are indifferent to everyone else; and some shower the whole family with affection. Breed isn’t the only factor that goes into affection levels; cats who were raised inside a home with people around feel more comfortable with humans and bond more easily.
See Cats Less Affectionate with Family -
Amount of Shedding
If you’re going to share your home with a cat, you’ll need to deal with some level of cat hair on your clothes and in your house. However, shedding does vary among the breeds. If you’re a neatnik, you’ll need to either pick a low-shedding breed or relax your standards. This furniture cover can make it easier to clean up cat hair and keep it off your sofa!
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General Health
Due to poor breeding practices, some breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems. This doesn’t mean that every cat of that breed will develop those diseases; it just means that they’re at an increased risk. If you’re looking only for purebred cats or kittens, it’s a good idea to find out which genetic illnesses are common to the breed you’re interested in.
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Potential for Playfulness
Some cats are perpetual kittens—full of energy and mischief—while others are more serious and sedate. Although a playful kitten sounds endearing, consider how many games of chase the mouse-toy you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other animals who can stand in as playmates. A classic wand cat toy like this one is perfect for playful felines!
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Tendency to Vocalize
Some breeds sound off more often than others with meows, yowls, and chattering. When choosing a breed, think about how the cat vocalizes and how often. If constant “conversation” drives you crazy, consider a kitty less likely to chat.
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Kid-Friendly
Being tolerant of children, sturdy enough to handle the heavy-handed pets and hugs they can dish out, and having a nonchalant attitude toward running, screaming youngsters are all traits that make a kid-friendly cat. Our ratings are generalizations, and they’re not a guarantee of how any breed or individual cat will behave; cats from any breed can be good with children based on their past experiences and personality.
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Friendly Toward Strangers
Stranger-friendly cats will greet guests with a curious glance or a playful approach; others are shy or indifferent, perhaps even hiding under furniture or skedaddling to another room. However, no matter what the breed, a cat who was exposed to lots of different types, ages, sizes, and shapes of people as a kitten will respond better to strangers as an adult.
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Easy to Groom
Some breeds require very little in the way of grooming; others require regular brushing to stay clean and healthy. Consider whether you have the time and patience for a cat who needs daily brushing. You should definitely pick up this awesome de-shedding tool for cats of any hair length!
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Intelligence
Some cat breeds are reputed to be smarter than others. But all cats, if deprived the mental stimulation they need, will make their own busy work. Interactive cat toys are a good way to give a cat a brain workout and keep them out of mischief. This scratcher cat toy can keep your smart kitty busy even when you’re not home!
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Pet Friendly
Friendliness toward other household animals and friendliness toward humans are two completely different things. Some cats are more likely than others to be accepting of other pets in the home.
Khao Manee History
The Khao Manee has regal roots, originally being kept by royal families in Thailand many centuries ago. In fact, the breed appears in a classic book of cat poetry from the 14th Century called the Tamra Maew!
The breed’s name translates into English as “White Gem.” It’s said that the Khao Manee was kept native to Thailand until 1999, when a breeder named Colleen Freymuth decided to bring the cat to the United States of America. These days, you can find Khao Manees in shelters or in the care of rescue groups. So make sure to consider adoption if you decide that this is the breed for you!
Khao Manee Size
The Khao Manee is a small- to medium-sized cat. As is always the case, exact size standards might vary.
Most Khao Manees weigh in at eight to ten pounds. They’re usually ten to twelve inches in length when fully grown.
Khao Manee Personality
When it comes to the Khao Manee’s personality, you’ll instantly realize that this is one super playful and curious cat! This breed will happily play fetch games and never think twice about exploring every nook and cranny of an environment–so make sure you have at least one cat tree installed for the kitty and preferably lots of safe furniture that can be scaled.
The breed bonds well with children and other small pets, and will quickly become your kids’ best new playmate. Adding on to the Khao Manee’s playful side, this is a sociable cat who always wants to be at the center of any action going on. If your home is empty for large parts of the day, the cat could suffer from loneliness.
In fact, Khao Manee’s have also become known for being very talkative and verbal kitties–so be prepared for many back and forth conversations with your new feline friend!
Khao Manee Health
Khao Manees are generally considered to be healthy cats–but always schedule regular wellness visits with your cat’s vet. One breed-specific health problem that’s associated with the Khao Manee is potential deafness. This is actually something that any cat with the combination of a white coat and blue eyes might suffer from.
- Deafness: Deafness in cats is not an uncommon condition and can be congenital or acquired later in life. Understanding the causes, signs, and management of feline deafness is crucial for cat owners and caregivers.
Khao Manee Care
As with all cats, it’s important to keep up your Khao Manee’s regular veterinary checkups to detect any health concerns early. Your vet can help you develop a care routine that will keep your cat healthy.
Beyond scheduling yearly wellness visits with your vet, make sure that you pick up a scratching post for your Khao Manee’s living environment–this can help promote healthy scratching and keep the cat’s nails in good condition. The Khao Manee’s ears should also be examined regularly for signs of dirt building up or possible infection. It’s also vital to check the cat’s skin regularly, especially around the ears, as white cats are often more prone to developing skin cancer.
Talk to your vet about starting a regular teeth brushing regimen that will suit your Khao Manee. Your vet can advise you about specific brands and techniques. Finally, for such an active cat, the Khao Manee definitely needs to be provided with enough space to be able to run around and satisfy their exercise needs.
Khao Manee Coat Color And Grooming
The Khao Manee is a white cat. The breed’s plain white coat also has the effect of making their eyes stand out and sparkle! When it comes to grooming, most Khao Manee cats are very low maintenance–because this is such a short haired cat, you can get by with brushing them just once a week. This will help lessen the likelihood of hairballs and mats forming.
In terms of climate, the Khao Manee generally prefers to be around warmer temperatures rather than cold ones. Although you should always make sure that there’s enough shade and fresh water available during the hotter months.
Children And Other Pets
The Khao Manee is a great fit with young children, not least because the breed is so outgoing and playful. Just be sure that early socialization takes place and boundaries are properly set on both sides–and supervise early interactions between kids and cats.
When it comes to other household pets, the Khao Manee fares well with many domestic animals, including dogs. Always supervise early interactions between the new cat and existing pets, as well. Ultimately, early socialization really pays off with this breed. Make sure to reward your Khao Manee for good behavior when you bring them home to your family!
Khao Manee Rescue Groups
It may be hard to find a breed specific rescue for Khao Manee cats because they are a fairly uncommon breed. However, you may want to try shelters and rescues that cater to all types of cats, including Khao Manees, as well as your local shelter. Here are some nonprofit rescues you can try:
More Info For You
If you’re also looking for a dog, check out DogTime’s dog breed page!
