" Home of the Traditional Cat"©

FAQs ABOUT THE KHAO MANEE

My Visit to Acquire Khao Manee Cats - By Antoinette Smith Clark

KHAO MANEE Breeders

Q: What is the History of the KHAO MANEE?

A: One of the most striking and beautiful cats is the Khao Manee (Diamond Eye or White Jewel). Against a pure white body color are brightly, glowing eyes of differing colors or of the same color A bright pattern around the eye gives the eye the look of a "diamond cut". This is the additional brilliance unique to the breed. Some have eyes of two different colors, one eye always blue. Some have eyes of different shades of the same color and some have both eyes of the very same color. The unpredictable surprise of eye colors in each litter is much like an Easter egg hunt. One never knows what color will be found until the kittens mature.

From the "Cat Book Poems"

"One a mercury colour, a glowing shine, as if applied
Feed it well and great benefits rush in, raise it, do not doubt."

ALSO:

"One called the jewel cat, of white body, with eyes like gems"

ALSO:

"The sixth feline completely white, eyes of clear mercury, this
cat if in any house, brings long life and title, material wealth
coming in with no decrease will be entertained with all things in
happiness."

ALSO:

"The one names Sri Parort, white base
paw colour, all over shines like crystal
White whiskers, as if applied
So fine-luck is not slow coming to the house."

ALSO:

"White fur pure as cotton
Two yellow eyes look well, as jewels."

ALSO:

"two eyes like diamonds,
business meets success with prosperity,
like a priceless jewel."

Popular with one of Thailand's greatest leaders, King Rama V, they have enjoyed great respect through out their history. It was King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, who loved the Khao Manee so much that he allowed his son, Prince Chumporn Khetudomsak, to raise and breed them. Later the daughter of Prince Chumporn, Princess Roengchitchrang Apakorn, inherited the breeding cats of the royal family. Generations of the Khao Manee were vigilantly protected within the royal palace.

During the crowning ceremony of the young King of Siam in 1926, Court Chamberlains carried a Khao Manee in the procession to the Throne Room.

In Nakhom Pathom on the Pinklao-Nakhon Chaisri road 2 kilometers east of Phutthamonthon Soi 4 there is a cattery called, "The Cat Museum", owned by a retired film director named, Namdee Witta. He has 50 Khao Manees, which he claims are the only surviving direct descendants of the Khao Manees belonging to King Rama V. Before he owned them they were available only to royalty.

The first Khao Manee to ever be exported from Thailand began their historic journey to the U.S. on Monday, August 16, 1999. They arrived at the Los Angeles airport on Tuesday, August 17^th, 1999 at 11 am. After a 17 plus hour flight, Colleen Freymuth and her husband, picked them up for their 400 mile vehicle ride to their new home, in Phoenix, Arizona. Since the first imported Khao Manee, 11 more were to follow.

People loving, with a wondrous purr, they are highly intelligent, lively, and willing to please, with attractive voices.