Khao ManeeCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

Although it looks like a new breed, the Khao Manee is very old: it is mentioned as a lucky cat in the old Thai manuscript Tamra Maew (the Cat Book Poems), from the Ayutthaya period (1350–1767), alongside the Siamese and the Korat.

Legend says the Thai royal family hid it from visitors, to keep it for themselves. The breed stayed only in Thailand until 1999, when its numbers had fallen and the endangered species specialist Colleen Freymouth was allowed to take the first Khao Manee to the USA, where a conservation programme began. CFA accepted it for registration in 2018.

How the breed developed

• 1350–1767 – mentioned in the Tamra Maew manuscript as a lucky cat.
• 1999 – the first Khao Manee reaches the USA.
• 2018 – accepted for registration by CFA.

• Anyone who wants a close companion. It loves its owner's lap and shoulders.
• Active families. It is active, athletic and curious.
• People who can put up with mischief. CFA says it is always up to something.
• Check its hearing. Like many white cats, some can be deaf.

It is a muscular, athletic cat of moderate build. The paw pads and nose are pink.

General appearance

Its most striking feature is its bright, intensely coloured eyes: any shade of blue, green or yellow, or odd-eyed.

It is only ever completely white, with a short, smooth, close-lying coat without undercoat.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

It is related to the other old breeds from Thailand: the Siamese, the Thai and the Korat, all described in the Tamra Maew manuscript. Other white, odd-eyed cats are also found in the Turkish Angora and the Turkish Van.

CFA says that, like the Siamese and the Korat, it is extremely intelligent, but very easy to win over, because it is friendly and sociable. It loves playing fetch and carrying toys (or your socks) in its mouth. It is very curious, interested in everything you do and always ready “to help”. Owners say it is active and athletic, but adores laps and shoulders.

Socialisation

German Wikipedia says it has a strong bond with people and, like many Asian cats, can be quite talkative.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is active and athletic; it loves fetch and taking part in everything that goes on in the house.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The short coat, without undercoat, is easy to care for: a weekly polish.

Common health problems

French Wikipedia says that, being a natural breed, it is robust and not prone to genetic diseases, but it has more sensitive eyes and gums and a risk of deafness; as in many white cats with blue eyes, some are born deaf.

Recommended genetic tests

In white cats, hearing can be checked with a special test (BAER). Ask for the kitten's result.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, CFA or TICA).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Ask for the kitten's hearing test.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• “White gem”. That is the translation of the Thai name Khao Manee.
• Diamond eyes. Odd-eyed cats are the rarest and most prized.
• Kept for royalty. Legend says the Thai royal family hid it from visitors.
• It steals socks. CFA says it likes to carry toys or socks in its mouth.

The Tamra Maew manuscript

The Khao Manee is mentioned as a lucky cat in the old Thai manuscript Tamra Maew, from the Ayutthaya period.

Is it only white?

Yes, the Khao Manee is always completely white.

What colour are its eyes?

Blue, green, yellow, or one eye of each colour.

Is it deaf?

Some white cats can be deaf; the kitten's hearing can be tested.

Where does it come from?

From Thailand; it only reached the USA in 1999.