Khao Manee
The Khao Manee cat, or Khao Plort, also known as the Diamond Eye cat, is a rare, natural breed of domestic cat originating in Thailand, which has an ancient ancestry tracing back hundreds of years. They are mentioned in the Tamra Maew. Khao Manee cats are short-haired solid-white cats.
History
The Khao Manee is an ancient cat breed comparable to the Siamese, Thai, Korat, Suphalak, and other natural cat breeds from Thailand. The Khao Manee is mentioned in the Tamra Maew that also mention the Siamese cat breed and other different coat coloured cats endemic to Thailand, or Siam, as it was previously known.Ayutthaya Kingdom
In the Ayutthaya Kingdom there are many books about ancient Siam cats recording cats such as the Siamese/Thai, Korat, Suphalak, Konja, etc.. There are 23 species in Ayutthaya. 17 species were fed at 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 23 species have been recorded.Thonburi Kingdom
After the Ayutthaya Kingdom collapsed during the Burmese-Siamese War, the Siamese people emigrated to the Thonburi Kingdom. One of the most important temples in Bangkok is in the Wat Arun. 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, the Khao Manee is more frequently mentioned. Khao Manee cats are famed and there have been paintings found of them at temples. The white cat was originally known as the ‘Khao Plort’, then became known as the Khao Manee in the reign of King Chulalongkorn.Introduction worldwide
The Khao Manee was said to be kept and bred initially by Siam royals, as was the case with other rare coloured 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 Freymuth imported 12 Khao Manees. In 2004, she was joined by Frédéric Lachaud-Goedert in France who began another breeding program. With the help of Janet Poulsen, an edifying contributor to the establishment of the breed, they worked to have the breed recognised in all the world's cat registries.In Poland, Aneta Olszewska and her daughter Weronika founded DiamondEyes Cattery, the country’s only officially registered Khao Manee cattery. They are the only cattery in the world to have three World Champions in the breed, and they were the first in WCF to achieve such remarkable accomplishments with Khao Manee. Their cats have earned some of the highest distinctions in the breed worldwide, winning international titles and capturing the admiration of judges across Europe. Today, DiamondEyes is recognized as a leading promoter of the Khao Manee in Europe, nurturing the breed with passion, dedication, and exclusive Thai bloodlines.
Breeders in the West are still working to promote and establish foundation lines for the Khao Manee.
The Thai breeders used to breed only white to white Khao Manees. This is the most distinctive trait of the breed. While most western breeders perpetuate this heritage by screening their genetic informations, other breeders prefer to cross their subjects with coloured Asian breeds of cats.
Breed registration
Registries
There are a variety of breeders from where you may acquire your new kitten or cat, in Thailand or in the West now. Outside of Thailand, a registration of your kitten is mandatory with one major association to secure it is a real Khao Manee from imported ancestors.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 Khao Manee breed was advanced to Championship level in TICA, effective May 1, 2015.
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.
The breed received official recognition by the CFA on February 7, 2018, and has been welcome in their shows since May 1, 2018.
The breed is also accepted in other registries, such as WCF, however it is not recognised by FIFe.