Khao Manee

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The Khao Manee cat (Thai: ??????, RTGS: Khao Mani, lit. "white gem"), or Khao Plot (Thai: ???????, lit. "complete white"), also known as the Diamond Eye cat, is a rare breed of cat originating in Thailand, which has an ancient ancestry tracing back hundreds of years. They are mentioned in the Tamra Maew, or Cat Book Poems. Khao Manee cats are pure white with a short, smooth, close-lying coat. They can have blue eyes, gold eyes or odd eyes with one of each colour. The odd eyed Khao Manee is the rarest variety. They are muscular, athletic cats of moderate foreign type and are reputed to be active, communicative and intelligent.

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 Khaomanee breed was advanced to Championship level in TICA, effective May 1, 2015. (http://www.tica.org/pdf/meetings/winter_2015.pdf, Motion 73)

On 8 September 2010, at the meeting of the GCCF 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.

Video Khao Manee

History

The Khao Manee is an ancient cat breed comparable to the Siamese, Korat and other Thailand cat breeds. The Khao Manee is mentioned in the Tamra Maew, or Cat Book Poems, that as well mention the Siamese cat breed and other coat colored cats endemic to the country Thailand or Siam as it was previously known. Khao Manee cats are pure white with a short, smooth, close-lying coat.

Ayutthaya Kingdom

In Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767 AD) there are many books about ancient Siam cats recording Siam cats such as Siamese cat, Korat cat, Suphalak cat, Black cat etc. there are 23 species in Ayutthaya. 17 species have been fed by 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 cat starred 23 species that have record.

Thonburi Kingdom

After the Ayutthaya Kingdom collapsed during the Siamese-Burmese war (1767 AD) Siamese people emigrated to the Thonburi kingdom. (1768-1782 AD.) At Wat Arun is the one of the important temple in Bangkok. A Buddhist temple had existed at the site of Wat Arun 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)

In the reign of King Nangklao (1824-1851 AD.) Khao Manee is more frequeny mentioned. Khao manee cats are famed and there has been paintings found of them at temple. The white cat was originally known as 'Khao Ploat', then became known as the Khao Manee in the reign of King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910 AD.)

The Khao Manee is not to be confused with the Siamese, or any Siamese relative including the Foreign White Siamese, which was bred from purebred Siamese with one white coated British short-hair cat breed ancestor. Though both white cats have a common background, the Siamese cat and 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.

Maps Khao Manee

Breeding

The Khao Manee was said to be kept and bred initially by Siam royals, as it was with other rare colored 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 Freymouth imported a Khao Manee by the name of Sripia. Breeders in the West are working to promote and establish foundation lines for the Khao Manee, as well as acquire registration acceptance through several cat associations.