Khao Manee
The Khao Manee is an ancient Thai breed, mentioned in the Tamra Maew — the Thai cat treatise compiled between the fourteenth and eighteenth centuries — and historically kept by Thai royalty.
The name means white gem.
It weighs 3.5 to 5.5 kilograms, is muscular and moderate in build, and is always pure white with a short, close, glossy coat. The eyes are the point of the breed: blue, gold, or most prized of all odd-eyed, with one of each. It only left Thailand in the 1990s and remains rare in the West. The one health matter that follows directly from the breed standard is the link between a white coat, blue eyes and congenital deafness.
- Origin
- Thailand; documented for centuries
- Size
- 3.5–5.5 kg
- Lifespan
- 10–12 years
- Coat
- Always pure white, short and glossy
- Eyes
- Blue, gold, or odd-eyed — one of each
- Health
- Congenital deafness linked to white coat and blue eyes
Related: Thai
2 khao manee photos, newest first
Living with a khao manee
Have hearing tested. The dominant white gene that produces the coat can cause degeneration of the inner ear, and the risk is substantially higher on the side of a blue eye — so an odd-eyed cat may be deaf in one ear only. A BAER test gives a definitive answer, and reputable breeders test their kittens.
A deaf cat lives a full life indoors. It cannot hear traffic or being called, so outdoor access is not appropriate, and it startles if touched while asleep — wake it with a light vibration rather than a sudden hand.
The white coat sunburns on the ears and nose. Shade, and sunblock if the cat sits in sun.
Grooming is a weekly once-over.
They are active, vocal and sociable, and they want company and involvement.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual cats vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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