Felis catus
Khao Manee Longhair
The Khao Manee Longhair is the longhaired division of the Khao Manee, an ancient Thai breed documented in the Tamra Maew as a white cat with jewel-like eyes. TICA granted championship status in 2015; the WCF also recognizes the breed. The standard describes a medium-sized, pure-white cat with distinctive eyes — which may be gold, blue, or odd-eyed.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- Thailand
- Origin period
- Documented in the Tamra Maew (c. 14th–18th century); TICA championship 2015
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- Pure white (the only accepted colour); any eye colour — gold, blue, or odd-eyed
- Size category
- Medium
- Average lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Recognition
- TICA 2015
Origin
The Khao Manee is documented in the Tamra Maew as one of ancient Siam's most auspicious breeds. The manuscripts describe a pure white cat with eyes like jewels — gold, blue, or odd-eyed varieties are all mentioned. Thai royal households maintained Khao Manee cats for generations. The breed was first imported to the West in 1999 and entered TICA's recognition process, achieving championship in 2015. A longhair division reflecting semi-long coat expressions in the Thai population is in development.
Standard
The TICA standard describes a medium-sized, muscular, athletic cat with a rounded apple-dome head, a short muzzle, and distinctive jewel-like eyes. The coat must be pure white with no coloured patches. Eyes may be gold, blue, or odd-eyed (one of each). The longhair division has a semi-long, fine, silky white coat with a plumed tail and light ear furnishings.
Royal and Auspicious History
The Khao Manee has the most extensively documented royal and courtly history of any Thai Tamra Maew breed. Thai royal households maintained the breed for centuries, and Khao Manee cats appear in accounts of royal ceremonies and in the gifts of Siamese kings to Western dignitaries. King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, r. 1868–1910) is recorded as a Khao Manee keeper. The odd-eyed variety was especially prized: the combination of one blue and one gold eye was believed to carry double fortune.
Sources & further reading (2)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-27
- registry-breed-profile — accessed 2026-05-27
Frequently asked questions
Are odd-eyed Khao Manee cats deaf?
White cats with one or two blue eyes may be predisposed to deafness linked to the W (dominant white) gene and the cochlear degeneration associated with blue iris pigmentation. Odd-eyed white cats (one blue, one gold eye) may be deaf on the blue-eyed side. TICA breeders test for deafness and note that not all blue-eyed or odd-eyed Khao Manee are deaf; the Khao Manee gene pool has lower deafness incidence than some other white breeds.
Is the Khao Manee the same as the Thai White?
The Khao Manee is a specific ancient Thai breed with a documented history in the Tamra Maew. It is standardized by TICA and WCF. A 'Thai White' may refer informally to any white Thai domestic cat; the Khao Manee is a formally recognized breed with specific conformation requirements distinct from the general Thai domestic cat.
How was the Khao Manee introduced to the West?
Colleen Freymuth is credited with the first formal importation of Khao Manee cats from Thailand to the United States in 1999 for the purpose of breed standardization and TICA registration. Prior to Freymuth's importation, Khao Manee cats were occasionally gifted to Western dignitaries but no formal breeding programme outside Thailand existed. TICA's Preliminary New Breed status followed in subsequent years, leading to championship in 2015.
