Khao Manee

The first records of the Khao Manee date back to the 13th century. A short-haired cat with multi-colored eyes was described in the oldest Thai cat treatise, Tamra Maew. The cat was named Khao Plort, carefully protected, and considered a national treasure. In ancient Siam, Khao Manee cats were kept only by wealthy people. It is known that King Rama V Chulalongkorn of Siam was an admirer of the Khao Manee. According to Thai popular beliefs, a white cat with multi-colored eyes will bring fortune and wealth to its owner. The power of belief in the cat's supernatural abilities was the reason for the Khao Manee's participation in the coronation of the last absolute monarch of Thailand, Rama VII Prachadipok. However, the monarch was not favored by luck, and a revolution broke out in the country. For nearly 650 years, not a single Khao Manee cat has left Thailand. Only after World War II did the breed become known in the West. In 1999, a pair of Khao Manee cats was imported to the United States by breeder Collin Freimuth. He managed to get the first litter. Experienced breeders began to popularize and strengthen the breed. It is almost impossible to trace the genetic roots of the breed, which has been around for centuries. Breeders had to rely on experience and intuition. The experiments lasted until 2001. Khao Manee cats were allowed to register at exhibitions and were shown out of competition until 2012. The breed has not achieved absolute recognition because, to obtain champion status, the breed must be stable. Volunteers from the Khao Manee Fanciers' Club, experts from the International Cat Association (TICA), and the British Cat Cats' Federation (GCCF) are still working to strengthen the Khao Manee as a breed.