Very
recognizable by its pure and silky white fur, as well as by its bewitching
look, the Khao Manee is a very rare and ancient oriental type cat breed
originating from Thailand. It has been considered there for many centuries as a
good luck charm. It is also one of the most expensive cats in the world. The
Khao Manee is intelligent, faithful and very attached to its master.
Size: 20 cm
to 24 cm
Weight: 2.5
kg to 5.5 kg
Coat :
short
Color :
white
Life
expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Gestation
period: 60 days
Description
and characteristics of Khao Manee
The first
characteristic of the Khao Manee is its shiny coat composed of fine pure white
hairs, very silky and soft to the touch. Then it is these clear, deep and
diamond shining eyes which can be of light blue, yellow or minnow color, that
is to say of different colors. Only the pads and nose of the Khao Manee are
reddish pink.
The general
appearance of this cat is rather athletic, supple and graceful. Note that the
female is finer and smaller than the male which has a more muscular body. The
head of the Khao Manee is triangular in shape. His cheekbones are protruding
and he wears two straight ears of medium size, rounded at the tip, well erect
on his head. The front legs of the Khao Manee are slightly shorter than the
back legs.
Origin
of Khao Manee
The Khao
Manee is native to Thailand where it is considered a lucky charm and a precious
breed. It is a very old cat breed of which traces can be found as early as the
14th century. Until the end of the 20th century, the Khao Manee was only found
in its country of origin. It was then introduced in the United States. The Khao
Manee remains one of the rarest breeds in the world today with very few
breeders. It is even threatened with extinction. This cat is not listed in the
Official Book of Feline Origins (LOOF) in France.
Character
and behavior of the Khao Manee - Who is it for ?
The Khao
Manee is an intelligent, sensitive, gentle and affectionate cat. But these
character traits do not prevent him from being lively, curious, agile and very
playful. Even if the Khao Manee is independent, he is very attached to his
master and his education is easy. He accepts very well the presence of other
animals in his family circle and gets along well with all family members, young
or old. His character is very similar to that of the Siamese.
How to
take care of your Khao Manee: its needs
The Khao
Manee, who is a house cat, is happy as long as he is in the presence of his
masters. He does not require any particular care except a brushing at least
once a week to keep the beauty of his coat. Because of his light eyes, which
can be fragile, it is advisable to clean them regularly.
The food
of Khao Manee
The Khao
Manee does not require any special feeding. As for all cats, it must however be
of good quality and especially adapted to its age, its state of health and its
level of physical exercise.
The
health of Khao Manee
A very old
breed that has not undergone major genetic modifications, the Khao Manee is a
cat with solid health that does not present any particular problems.
Price of
a Khao Maneei kitten
The price
of a Khao Manee kitten will depend on the sex, the pedigree of the parents, the
conformity to the breed standards, etc.
Price of an
even-eyed Khao Manee: 1500 to 2000€.
Price of a
Khao Manee with minnow eyes: 2000 to 4500€.