Khao Manee Cats

Khao manee cat lying against a white background

A pretty khao manee cat with one yellow eye and one blue eye

A khao manee cat with its odd coloured eyes

History

The Khao Manee originated in Thailand, and is still something of a well-kept secret, and quite rare. This is ironic, as the breed is ancient - the Khao Manee is referenced in a collection of Thai cat poems called the Tamra Maew, from 1350. In the text the breed is called Khao Plort.

Cat breeder Colleen Freymuth imported the first Khao Manee from Thailand to the USA in 1999. It was a female called Sripia, and she created a spark of interest among Western breeders. Freymuth also imported a male, resulting in the first American-born Khao Manee litter.

TICA accepted the Khao Manee for Registration Only status in May 2009; and in May 2012 it was accepted as a Preliminary New Breed.

Behaviour

Khao Maneets love human interaction and are loyal to their owners. They behave like the house doorman, welcoming any guests to the house. When things quieten down they like nothing better than to curl up on your lap and enjoy some one to one downtime. They are intelligent too, always curious to explore their surroundings or play a game.