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The Khao Manee cat ( th, ขาวมณี, , lit. "white jewel"), or Khao Plort ( th, ขาวปลอด, lit. "complete white"), also known as the Diamond Eye cat, is a rare, natural
breed A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...
of
domestic cat The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members o ...
originating in
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
, which has an ancient ancestry tracing back hundreds of years. They are mentioned in the ''
Tamra Maew The Treatise on Cats ( th, ตำราแมว, , ), also referred to as the Cat-Book Poems, is a class of '' samut khoi'' manuscripts, believed to originate from the Ayutthaya period, though most extant specimens date to 19th-century Thailand. ...
'' (''Cat Book Poems''). Khao Manee cats are short-haired solid-white cats.


History

The Khao Manee is an ancient cat breed comparable to the Siamese,
Thai Thai or THAI may refer to: * Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia ** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand ** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand *** Thai script *** Thai (Unicode block ...
, Korat,
Suphalak The Suphalak ( th, แมวศุภลักษณ์, แมวทองแดง, ) is a solid reddish-brown copper colored short-haired breed of cat originating in Thailand. The Suphalak is a natural breed and should not be confused with the ...
, and other natural cat breeds from
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
. The Khao Manee is mentioned in the ''Tamra Maew'' (''Cat Book Poems'') that also mention the Siamese cat breed and other different coat coloured cats endemic to Thailand, or ''Siam,'' as it was previously known.


Ayutthaya Kingdom The Ayutthaya Kingdom (; th, อยุธยา, , IAST: or , ) was a Siamese kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. The Ayutthaya Kingdom is conside ...

In the
Ayutthaya Kingdom The Ayutthaya Kingdom (; th, อยุธยา, , IAST: or , ) was a Siamese kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. The Ayutthaya Kingdom is conside ...
(AD 1351–1767) there are many books about ancient Siam cats recording cats such as the Siamese/
Thai Thai or THAI may refer to: * Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia ** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand ** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand *** Thai script *** Thai (Unicode block ...
, Korat,
Suphalak The Suphalak ( th, แมวศุภลักษณ์, แมวทองแดง, ) is a solid reddish-brown copper colored short-haired breed of cat originating in Thailand. The Suphalak is a natural breed and should not be confused with the ...
, Konja, etc.. There are 23 species in Ayutthaya. 17 species were fed at the Ayutthaya royal palace, but there are no records about the Khao Manee. There are a few records about white cats, but no specific records about the Khao Manee. Only 23 species have been recorded.


Thonburi Kingdom The Thonburi Kingdom ( th, ธนบุรี) was a major Thai people, Siamese kingdom which existed in Southeast Asia from 1767 to 1782, centered around the city of Thonburi, in Siam or present-day Thailand. The kingdom was founded by Taksin ...

After the
Ayutthaya Kingdom The Ayutthaya Kingdom (; th, อยุธยา, , IAST: or , ) was a Siamese kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. The Ayutthaya Kingdom is conside ...
collapsed during the Burmese-Siamese War (AD 1765–67), the Siamese people emigrated to the Thonburi kingdom (AD 1768–1782). One of the most important temples in
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
is in the Wat Arun. A Buddhist temple had existed at the site of
Wat Arun Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan ( th, วัดอรุณราชวราราม ราชวรมหาวิหาร ) or Wat Arun (, "Temple of Dawn") is a Buddhist temple (''wat'') in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Tha ...
since the time of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. When King Taksin established his new capital of Thonburi near the temple after the fall of Ayutthaya, the Khao Manee's historical records were found there.


Rattanakosin Kingdom (

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
)

In the reign of King Nangklao (AD 1824–1851), the Khao Manee is more frequently mentioned. Khao Manee cats are famed and there have been paintings found of them at temples. The white cat was originally known as the ‘Khao Plort’, then became known as the Khao Manee in the reign of
King Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร� ...
(1868-1910 AD).


Introduction worldwide

The Khao Manee was said to be kept and bred initially by Siam royals, as was the case with other rare coloured cats such as the Siamese. Breeders in Thailand are promoting and breeding the Khao Manee in the effort of preserving its lineage and breed standard. The first Khao Manee cat imported to the United States arrived in 1999 when Colleen Freymuth imported 12 Khao Manees. In 2004, she was joined by Frédéric Lachaud-Goedert in France who began another breeding program. With the help of Janet Poulsen, an edifying contributor to the establishment of the breed, they worked to have the breed recognised in all the world's cat registries. Breeders in the West are still working to promote and establish foundation lines for the Khao Manee. The Thai breeders used to breed only white to white Khao Manees. This is the most distinctive trait of the breed. While most western breeders perpetuate this heritage by screening their genetic informations, other breeders prefer to cross their subjects with coloured Asian breeds of cats.


Breed registration


Registries

There are a variety of breeders from where you may acquire your new kitten or cat, in
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
or in the West now. Outside of
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
, a registration of your kitten is mandatory with one major association to secure it is a real Khao Manee from imported ancestors. Although the breed is well known in its native land, it has only recently been adopted by Western cat breeders, gaining " registration only" status from TICA in May 2009. On 3 September 2011, the breed was promoted to " Preliminary New Breed", effective from 1 May 2012 and on 30 August 2013 the breed was promoted to "Advanced New Breed", effective immediately. On January 24, 2015, the Khao Manee breed was advanced to Championship level in TICA, effective May 1, 2015. On 8 September 2010, at the meeting of the
GCCF The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) is a cat registry, established in 1910 and the largest organisation that registers pedigree cats in the United Kingdom. It was formed from a small number of cat clubs which were registering cats at ...
Executive Committee, the Khao Manee was granted breed name in GCCF, and was approved for exhibition only. The Khao Manee Cat Club was granted GCCF pre-affiliation at the Council meeting on 26 October 2011. The breed has gained acceptance also in CFA on February 7, 2018, and has been welcome in their shows from May 1, 2018. The CFA is the World Largest Registry of Pedigreed Cats and this new achievement is placing now the breed as globally recognized. The breed is also accepted in other registries, such as WCF, however it is not recognised by
FIFe Fife (, ; gd, Fìobha, ; sco, Fife) is a council area, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries with Perth and Kinross (i ...
.


Popularity

The Khao Manees are currently probably the rarest feline breed in the world, therefore the prices are relative high.in some cases reaching up to 11,000 usd . In its country of origin, the Khao Manee is very popular because it is associated with the monarchy but also because several legends of extreme felicity and healing were reported by the press. Known as the “White Gem”, the Khao Manee was rumoured to be highly coveted by Thai royalty is thought to bring good luck to those fortunate enough to have one. It's always in relation with religious discovery and about sudden fortune. Some stories mention sums going up to 150 billion Baht (over US$4 billion) in 1993 for a subject with eyes like precious stones which funded the construction of a monastery."The Legend of Siamese Cats" by Martin R. Clutterbuck


Distinction

The Khao Manee is not to be confused with the Siamese or
Thai Thai or THAI may refer to: * Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia ** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand ** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand *** Thai script *** Thai (Unicode block ...
, or any Siamese relative including the
Foreign White The Foreign White is cat breed recognised by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) and the Australian Cat Federation (ACF); in some other registries it is considered simply a color variety of the Siamese or Oriental Shorthair breeds, and ...
, which was bred from purebred Siamese with one white-coated
British Shorthair The British Shorthair is the pedigreed version of the traditional British domestic cat, with a distinctively stocky body, dense coat, and broad face. The most familiar colour variant is the "British Blue", with a solid grey-blue coat, orange eyes, ...
ancestor. Though both white cats have a common background, the Siamese cat and the Khao Manee have different genetic structures, bloodlines and breeding policies, thus Khao Manee are considered a completely different breed in the West, as well as in its native home of
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
.


Characteristics


Appearance


Body

Khao Manee cats are pure solid-white with a short, smooth, close-lying coat without undercoat. The paw pads and the nose leather are pink. They are muscular, athletic cats of moderate foreign type and are reputed to be active, communicative and intelligent.


Eyes

The eye colour is brilliant, clear and vivid, and should resemble that of precious gemstones. They can have blue (including aqua), golden (including shades of brown, copper, amber, yellow, and hazel), or green eyes. Furthermore, odd-eyes are allowed; with one of each colour or multiple colours within one eye. The odd-eyed Khao Manee is the rarest variety.


See also

*
Thai cat The Thai or Wichien Maat ( th, วิเชียรมาศ, , , meaning 'diamond gold') is a newly renamed but old cat breed, related to but different from the Western, modern-style Siamese cat. This natural breed is descended from the cats ...
* Siamese cat * Suphalak cat *
Korat cat The Korat cat ( th, โคราช, มาเลศ, สีสวาด, ) is a silver-tipped blue-grey, short-haired breed of domestic cat with a small to medium build and a low percentage of body fat. Its body is semi-cobby, and unusually he ...
*
Burmese cat The Burmese cat ( my, ဗမာကြောင်, ''Băma kyaung'', th, ทองแดง or ศุภลักษณ์, or , meaning copper colour) is a breed of domestic cat, originating in Burma, believed to have its roots near the Th ...
*
Tonkinese cat Tonkinese is a domestic cat breed produced by crossbreeding between the Siamese and Burmese. Members of the breed share many of their parents' distinctively lively, playful personality traits and are similarly distinguished by a pointed coat ...


References


Further reading

* Martin R. Clutterbuck: ''Siamese Cats, Legends and Reality''. White Lotus Press, Bangkok 2004,


External links


The Khao Manee Cat Club

the Khao Manee breed Profile

The Khao Manee Cat

Khaodara European breeder website

Odyssey Khao Manee

Snowtrees breeder website

Khao Manee pedigree database on Pawpeds

Les Heures Bleues french breeder website

/ WhiteGemCattery Khao Manee
{{Cat nav Cat breeds Cat breeds originating in Thailand