Khae manee cats are felines from Thailand that are characterized by having short white fur and generally possessing, eyes of disparate colors (heterochromia), frequently one being blue and the other green or yellow. Regarding their personality, they are affectionate, active, restless, playful, loyal and dependent on the affection of their caregivers. They do not need special care, although they do require time to play and exercise. They are strong cats and without hereditary diseases beyond being deaf due to their characteristics of white hair and blue eyes.
Keep reading this article on our site to find out all the characteristics of the khao manee, its origin, characteristics, character, care, he alth and where to adopt them.
Origin of the khao manee cat
The first written references to the Khao Manee cat breed date back to the year 1350, in the collection included in the Tamra Maew. The meaning of the name is “white gem” and these cats are also known as “diamond eyes”, “white jewel” or “royal Sián cat”.
From 1868 to 1910, the Thai King Rama V dedicated himself to breeding these cats, since it was his favorite breed. Therefore, the origin of this breed is in Thailand, a country where they are considered to attract happiness and good luck, being quite coveted by the habitants. However, it was not until 1999 that these cats left Thailand for the United States with Collen Freymounth.
Today, in the West it is a fairly unknown breed and is still highly valued in its country of origin.
Characteristics of the khao manee cat
Khao manee cats are medium-sized, with a strong and agile body. Males measure between 30 and 35 cm and weigh between 3 and 5 kg, while females are smaller, measuring between 25 and 30 cm and weighing between 2 and 5 kg. They reach adult size at 12 months.
The head of these cats is medium-sized and wedge-shaped, with a small, straight nose and prominent cheekbones. The legs are long and robust and the feet are oval. The ears are medium with rounded tips. The tail is long and wide at the base. However, if anything characterizes the Khao Manee cat above all, it is the color of its eyes. The eyes are medium-sized and oval and usually have heterochromia, that is, one eye of each color Generally, they usually have one blue eye and one green, yellow or amber.
Colors of the khao manee
The coat of the Khao Manee cat is characterized by being short and white, although something curious that happens in this breed is that many kittens are born with a dark spot on the head that disappears as they grow to become the entire coat pure white. Thus, no other color is accepted and, therefore, the khao manee is popular for being a cat with bicolor eyes.
Khao manee cat character
Khao Manee cats are affectionate, active and sociable, although the most characteristic feature of their personality is that they love to meow to All in all, any excuse goes for these kitties! They love to be with their caregivers, they form a strong bond and follow them everywhere. This can make them unable to tolerate loneliness and even develop separation anxiety. They get along well with children and love to play and run around with them. However, they are somewhat shy around strangers
Continuing with the temperament and personality of the Khao Manee, they are cats very playful and restless In fact, if they go outside they don't It is surprising that they bring some hunted animal as an "offering" for their caretaker. In this sense, it should be noted that they have a tendency to escape to explore the outside. Although they often return due to the strong bond they develop with their humans, it is advisable to keep an eye on them to prevent them from suffering damage. Also, like a good oriental cat, it is curious and intelligent.
Khao manee cat care
The Khao Manee is a low care breed, nothing much more than the general care of a cat. Thus, the most important khao manee care is:
- Proper hygiene of the hair through brushing once or twice a week, increasing the frequency during the moulting seasons (spring and autumn) and bathroom when necessary. Discover How to brush a cat in this other article.
- Care for your ears and teeth through regular check-ups and cleanings to look for and prevent mites, infections, tartar or periodontal disease.
- Complete and balanced diet that contains all the nutrients necessary for the proper function of your body. Wet food should be combined with dry food divided into several daily intakes. The water must be clean, fresh and always at your disposal.
- Frequent exercise. They are very active and mischievous cats, they need to release energy by running around and playing, you have to reserve a few minutes for them daily for this activity. Another option is to take them for a walk on a leash, they can really enjoy it.
- Routine vaccination and deworming to prevent diseases.
In addition, since it is a curious breed of cat that tends to escape, if we do not want this to happen it is important to set up the home, as well as educate the feline. Of course, in the Khao Manee, as in many other cats, it is more than recommended to go for a walk on a leash to cover this exploratory need. Finally, we cannot forget the importance of environmental enrichment, so it is essential to introduce a variety of toys and scratchers at home.
Khao cat he alth manee
The life expectancy of the Khao Manee is between 10 and 15 years. The Khao Manee do not present hereditary or congenital diseases, but, due to their white color and blue eyes, they have risk of deafness, in fact some specimens have this problem. Another condition they can suffer from is curled tail In both cases they will need veterinary checkups.
Otherwise, they have the same chance of developing infectious, parasitic and organic diseases as other cats, so check-ups, vaccinations and deworming are key to their prevention and diagnosis early so that the treatment to be applied is faster and more effective. Consult the List of the most common diseases in cats in this other article.
Where to adopt a ghao manee cat?
Adopting a Khao Manee kitten is extremely difficult if we are not in Thailand or Eastern countries, since in the West this breed It is not very widespread and there are not many specimens. In any case, you can always ask in protectors or search the Internet for an association, although, as we have mentioned, it is very difficult. Because of this, you can opt for another breed or a mestizo cat that meets several of the characteristics of the khao manee cat, everyone deserves the opportunity!
