Khao Manee

Like every breed, the Khao Manee is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:

• Children

  Usually better with older, calmer children.

• Indoors and outdoors

  Usually happier with access outdoors.

• Being left alone

  Prefers company and is best not left alone for long.

• First-time owners

  Some cat experience helps.

Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own cat’s health.

• Congenital deafness

  Inherited deafness that is present from birth is seen almost exclusively in white cats. It is caused by a dominant gene, W, which produces the white coat and is strongly linked to blue eyes and deafness. Not every white or blue-eyed cat is deaf, but a white cat with two blue eyes is three to five times more likely to be deaf than one with two non-blue eyes. Deafness can affect one ear or both, and odd-eyed cats may be deaf in one ear.

  A simple, non-invasive hearing test called BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) can show whether a cat is deaf. GCCF rules require white cats to have a BAER or OAE certificate before their kittens can be registered, and sellers must tell buyers in writing that white cats may be deaf in one or both ears. The Khao Manee Cat Club also recommends testing cats registered for breeding.

• Sunburn

  The pure white coat puts the nose and ears at higher risk of sunburn.

Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Khao Manee home, it is reasonable to ask about:

• Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
• Veterinary and vaccination records. Kittens should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
• Microchip information. In England, cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
• Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a kitten was raised.

There are two costs: bringing a Khao Manee home, and looking after one well. Kitten prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.

Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, litter, scratching posts and toys, and a cattery or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the cat’s life, typically 10–12 years, not just the first year.

If you have decided the Khao Manee suits your life, take the same care choosing where your cat comes from. Meet the kitten in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.

• Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
• Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
• Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
• Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.

Khao Manees do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the cat. An adult cat arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.

Rescues will usually talk you through the cat’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a cat once, well.