Content
- Origin of the khao manee cat
- Characteristics of the khao manee cat
- khao manee colors
- khao manee cat personality
- khao manee cat care
- khao manee cat health
- Where to adopt a khao manee cat?
Khao Manee cats are felines from Thailand which are characterized by having a short, white coat and generally having eyes of different colors (heterochromia), one of them often being blue and the other green or yellow. As for personality, they are affectionate, active, restless, playful, loyal and dependent on the care of their caregivers. They don't need special care, although they do require you to take the time to play with them and exercise them. They are strong cats and without hereditary diseases, except for the possibility of presenting deafness due to their characteristics of white coat and blue eyes.
Continue reading this PeritoAnimal animal sheet to know all the khao manee cat characteristics, its origin, personality, care, health and where to adopt them.
Source
- Asia
- Thailand
- thin tail
- Big ears
- Strong
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- 3-5
- 5-6
- 6-8
- 8-10
- 10-14
- 8-10
- 10-15
- 15-18
- 18-20
- Active
- outgoing
- Affectionate
- Intelligent
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Short
Origin of the khao manee cat
The first written references of the khao manee cat breed date from the year 1350, in the compilation included in Tamra Maew. The name means "white gem", and these cats are also known as "diamond eyes", "white jewel" or "Sian's royal cat".
From 1868 to 1910, the Thai king Rama V devoted himself to breeding these cats, as this was his favorite breed. Therefore, the origin of this breed took place in Thailand, a country in which they are considered attractions of happiness and good luck, being highly coveted by the Thais. However, it was not until 1999 that these cats left Thailand for the United States with Collen Freymounth.
In the West, the race is still quite unknown, however, it is highly valued in its country of origin.
Characteristics of the khao manee cat
Khao manee cats have a average size, 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 of age.
The heads of these cats are medium in size and wedge-shaped, with a small, straight nose and prominent cheekbones. The legs are long and robust and the paws are oval. The ears are medium with rounded tips, and the tail is long and wide at the base. However, if anything characterizes the khao manee cat above all else, it is the color of its eyes. The eyes are medium sized and oval and usually have heterochromia, ie, one eye of each color. Generally, they usually have a blue eye and a green, yellow or amber eye.
khao manee colors
The coat of the khao manee cat is characterized by fur. short and white, although something curious happens in this breed: many kittens are born with a dark spot on their head, which disappears as they grow and the coat becomes completely white. Therefore, no other color is accepted and therefore the khao manee is popular for being a white cat with bicolor eyes.
khao manee cat personality
khao manee cats are affectionate, active and sociable, although the most characteristic trait of her personality is her love for meowing for everything, any excuse will do for these kittens! They love being with their caregivers, with whom they form a strong bond and whom they follow everywhere. This can cause them to not tolerate loneliness and even develop separation anxiety. They get along well with children and love to play and run with them. However, they are a a little shy with strangers.
Continuing with khao manee's temperament and personality, they are cats. very playful and restless. In fact, when they leave the house, it is not surprising that they bring a hunted animal as an “offering” to their caretaker. In this sense, it should be noted that they tend to run away to explore the outside. Although they tend to return due to the strong bond they develop with their humans, it is advisable to keep an eye on them to avoid harm. Also, like a good oriental cat, it is curious and intelligent.
khao manee cat care
The khao manee is a breed of little care, nothing much more than the general care that any cat requires. Thus, the most important precautions for khao manee are:
- Proper hair hygiene with brushing once or twice a week, increasing the frequency in times of fall and giving baths when necessary. Find out how to brush cat fur in this other article.
- Care of ears and teeth through frequent examinations and cleaning to look for and prevent mites, infections, tartar or periodontal diseases.
- Complete and balanced diet that contains all the nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of your body. Wet food should be combined with dry food, divided into several daily doses. The water must be clean, fresh and always available.
- frequent exercise. They are very active and mischievous cats that need to release energy by running and playing. You need to set aside a few minutes a day for this activity. Another option is to take them for a walk with a guide, something they might like a lot.
- Deworming vaccination routines to prevent disease.
Also, being a breed of curious cats that tend to run away, if you don't want that to happen, it's important to enable the house, as well as educate the feline. Of course, in the case of khao manee, as well as many other cats, it is more than recommended. go out for a walk to cover this exploratory need. Lastly, we cannot forget the importance of environmental enrichment, which is why it is essential to introduce a variety of toys and scratchers in the home.
khao manee cat health
The life expectancy of khao manee ranges from 10 to 15 years. They do not have hereditary or congenital diseases, but because of their white color and blue eyes, they are at risk of deafness, and in fact some specimens do have this problem. Another condition they can suffer from is the curled tail. In both cases, veterinary examinations are required.
Furthermore, they are just as likely to develop infectious, parasitic and organic diseases as other cats. Therefore, check-ups, vaccinations and deworming are essential for prevention and early diagnosis of these conditions, so that the treatment used is faster and more effective. See the list of most common cat illnesses in this other article.
Where to adopt a khao manee cat?
Adopting a khao manee kitten it's extremely difficult if we're not in Thailand or in Eastern countries, since in the West this breed is not very widespread and there are not many copies. In any case, you can always ask about protective associations or search the internet for an association, although, as we've already said, it's very difficult. Therefore, you can choose another breed or a mixed breed cat (SRD) that has many of the characteristics of the khao manee cat. Everyone deserves a chance!