KHAO MANEE (Cat)

The Khao Manee cat, also known as the Diamond Eye cat, is a rare breed of cat originating in Thailand, which has an ancient ancestry tracing back hundreds of years.  They are mentioned in the Tasmra Maew, or Cat Book Poems.  Khao Manee cats are pure white with short, smooth, close-lying coats.  They can have blue eyes, gold eyes or odd eyes with one of each colour and it is the odd-eyed Khao Manee cats that are the preferred variety.  They are muscular, athletic cats of moderate foreign type and are reputed to be active, communicative and intelligent.

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 of 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 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 n 26 October, 2011.

This is all the information that Wikipedia has about this particular cat but I am pleased to see it has been granted breed name.  Hopefully more will be known of these pretty animals in the years to come.  I just love that inquisitive, intelligent look.