Khao Manee Cat Breed Guide

Playful | Naughty | Lucky. The stunning white gem of Thailand, the Khao Manee cat is an ancient breed of floof, believed to bestow good luck on all that get their sealing wink of approval. They’re extremely rare in the Western world, meaning the fortunate few who get to own one have truly won the game of luck. Let’s take a closer look at what makes these sparkling cats so intriguing.

Khao Manee Cat

KHAO MANEE CAT BASICS

Average Lifespan: 10 - 15 years

Average Weight: 3.5 - 4.5kg  

Coat Length: Short 

Colouring: White

Shedding: Low

WHAT IS THE ANCESTRY OF THE KHAO MANEE CAT?

Like other cat breeds from Thailand, modern-day knowledge of the Khao Manee’s origins comes from their depiction in the Tamra Maew. This was a book of cat illustrations that likely served as a breed standard for ancient kitties, and was written somewhere between the 13th and 18th centuries. 

Over 20 different floofs were depicted in the Tamra Maew, or “Cat Book Poems”, but to this day only five of the breeds have survived. One of those is the Khao Manee who has remained popular in Thailand due to its brilliant white coat with commonly odd-coloured eyes which are seen as a symbol of luck. 

The first Khao Manee was imported to the US in 1999 and they finally gained recognition by TICA as a preliminary new breed in 2012. However, these floofs still remain extremely rare in the Western world and are yet to gain recognition by the GCCF.

Khao Manee cat lying down

WHAT DO KHAO MANEE CATS LOOK LIKE?

With their brilliant white coat, and gemstone blue or golden eyes, it’s no wonder their name translates to “white gem”. Khao Manee cats that have odd-coloured eyes are considered the luckiest of the bunch and thank this unique appearance to a genetic anomaly known as heterochromia. All Khao Manees have a slender build which nods to their athletic nature as well as a short coat to provide them with the aerodynamics they need for their love of zoomies across the living room floor. 

WHAT IS THE PURRSONALITY OF THE KHAO MANEE CAT?

Khao Manee cats are active floofs with a curiosity to match. They can be mischievous and naughty at times, knocking objects off tables or pawing at their pawrents when they’re not amused or entertained. To curb destructive behaviour, you will need to keep your Khao Manee’s intelligent brain occupied with plenty of toys and games, as well as things to explore such as cat tunnels, climbing frames or outdoor time in a secure cat garden. These floofs are super confident, often greeting strangers at the door, scoping them out to see whether they deserve to be praised with luck or bad fortune. 

HOW RARE IS A KHAO MANEE?

Khao Manee cats are extremely rare outside their home country of Thailand. They aren’t yet recognised by the GCCF so there are no approved breeders in the UK. Therefore if you do find someone in the UK offering Khao Manee kittens, you will need to do your own thorough checks before buying a kitten to ensure they’re healthy and bred ethically.

White Khao Manee cat yawning

KHAO MANEE CAT FEEDING REQUIREMENTS

Like all cats, Khao Manee cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need to eat a diet high in animal protein to sustain their energy needs as well as keep them in optimal health. They also need a purrfect balance of fats, minerals, vitamins and a small amount of digestible carbs in their pet food. 

Some Khao Manees have more sensitive stomachs than others so will benefit from a cat food that has been specifically formulated with gut health in mind. Some even go the extra mile by adding prebiotics or probiotics which help to fuel the good bacteria within the tums of Khao Manee cats, allowing for improved digestibility, pretty poops and fewer tummy upsets. 

SCRUMBLES, THE PAWFECT FOOD FOR KHAO MANEE CATS

Scrumbles Cat Food

If your Khao Manee is on the prowl for a delicious cat food that’s high in nutrition and taste with added prebiotics or probiotics, look no further than our affordable gut friendly cat food!

With up to 77% human-grade meat or fish and no added nasties like artificial additives and preservatives, added salt or sugar and common allergens, our nutritious natural cat food provides Khao Manee cats with all they need to thrive without the added fluff. 

We’re also on a mission to improve the gut health of British cats. That’s why we go the extra mile by using either powerful prebiotics or probiotics in our recipes to soothe sensitive stomachs, fuel the gut microbiome and promote pretty poops. 

Our recipes are FEDIAF approved and are pawsitively delicious, scoring 100% on palatability testing meaning even the fussiest of Khao Manee cats will drool over our lip-smacking meals.  

We also believe that good nutrition shouldn’t break the bank or burden our planet. That’s why we use eco-friendly packaging and only offer polo-pescatarian options which are less emission-intensive than red meat cat food. We also source our chicken from British farms to reduce food miles, lessening our carbon pawprint on this Earth. 

Finally, we’re proudly B-Corp certified, meaning choosing Scrumbles doesn’t have to go against your climate-conscious values!

Whilst you're here, why not read:

1. Burmilla Cat Breed Guide
2. Bombay Cat Breed Guide
3. Ginger Cats: Breed Guide


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