Khao Manee

Also called Khao Plort, Diamond Eye, White Gem, Thailand White

Recognised breedShort profile

From Thailand, an old native breed described in the Thai Tamra Maew (cat-book poems).1 2

At a glance the quick version

Lifespan10 to 12 years3

Sizesmall

curious and clever

friendly and talkative

striking jewel-like eyes

2 1 3

Coat and looks how to spot one

short, smooth white coat with little undercoat

A moderate, muscular and athletic cat dressed only in pure white. The short, fine coat lies smooth enough to show the muscles beneath. Kittens can carry a small smudge of colour on the head that fades by about 18 months. Nose and paw pads are pink, and the eyes are the showpiece, shining like gemstones.2 1 3

Colourswhite only; eyes blue, green, gold/yellow or odd-eyed2 1

Personality what they are like

Inquisitive, bright and outgoing, happy to chat with its people and not shy with visitors. Many enjoy a game of fetch and mix busy play with affectionate downtime.2 3

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. It likes room to run, climbing trees and interactive toys.3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Brush weekly, for example with a rubber brush; an occasional bath keeps the white coat bright. Trim nails and check ears regularly.2 3

Company who they like around

Sociable and people-focused; enjoys interaction with its family.2 3

The story where it all began

The Khao Manee appears in the old Thai cat-book poems and was long treasured by Thai royalty as a lucky cat. It stayed within Thailand until 1999, when Colleen Freymuth brought the first cats to the United States, and Western registries began accepting it from 2009.1 2

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
Khao Manee means 'White Gem' in Thai.2
2
Odd-eyed cats, with two different eye colours, are the rarest and most prized.2
3
It was originally called Khao Plort; the name Khao Manee came into use during King Chulalongkorn's reign (1868-1910).1
4
Traditional Thai breeders mated only white to white.1

Recognised by the official bits

TICA: Registration 2009, Preliminary New Breed 2012, Advanced New Breed 2013, Championship from 1 May 20151
GCCF: Breed name granted 2010; preliminary (pre-affiliation) stage 20111
CFA: Accepted for registration in 2018; shown in the Provisional class2
WCF: Accepted1
FIFe: Not recognised1

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Khao Manee. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

Brushingevery week
Nail trimevery 3 weeks
Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
Litter scoopevery day
Litter changeevery week
PlayDaily playevery day
Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 11every year

Start a free diary

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

Khao Manee (Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.orgused for history, recognition timeline, names, fun facts
CFA: Khao Manee breed profile cfa.orgused for CFA status, coat, colour, eyes, temperament, grooming
Daily Paws: Khao Manee (Khao Plort) dailypaws.comused for weight, lifespan, activity, grooming

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.