Kao mani: features, choices and subtleties of care

Kao mani cats, having barely appeared on the free market, managed to become a real hit among the rich and famous breeders. For many years, this breed was completely closed from free sale and remained available only to a select few representatives of the Thai aristocracy. In Thailand, these animals are still incredibly highly valued today, only about 100 purebred cats are in breeding. Outside the country, the number of livestock is also not very high - about 200 individuals - which makes the breed one of the most expensive on the planet.

Khao Manee is also often referred to as hao mani or diamond-eyed cats. Snow-white animals have regal grace and unique appearance. The main features of this cat breed are associated with different eye colors. In addition, they have high intelligence, are quite well socialized and are able to decorate the most respectable interior with their presence.

Before studying the description of the appearance of Thai kao mani cats, you need to dive into the history of their origin. For the first time, the mention of snow-white cats from Thailand is found in national literature back in the 1350s. The breed in its modern version was recognized by felinologists from TICA in 2009, and was admitted to exhibitions in 2012. Moreover, specialists from other popular organizations are still not ready to recognize kao mani due to its small number.

For a long time - more than seven centuries in a row - the only breeder of the "diamond eye" breed was the Thai royal court. This factor, according to experts, made it possible to preserve the purity of the blood.The animals were bred within the population, practically without any admixture of fresh blood.

Interestingly, the original or local name of the breed sounded like Khao Plort - all white. It is assumed that Siamese cats of color seal-point were involved in the breeding of animals with a snow-white color, which, when mixed with domestic outbred animals, can give such offspring. In addition, kittens obtained with such a cross have heterochromia, a genetic abnormality that provides animals with eyes of different colors.

Kao mani are not the largest representatives of the feline family. Adult cats grow up to 5 kg, cats - up to 3.6 kg with a height at the withers of 25-30 cm. The musculature of the animal is quite well developed, the outlines of the body are elongated, the back is straight, the chest is much wider than that of the Siamese counterparts. For the eastern breed, the Kao Mani have rather strong and short paws - they do not differ in excessive grace, they indicate the strength and strength of the constitution. On the extremities there are uniformly colored paw pads, without the appearance of spotting.

The tail of cats is of medium length, mobile. With active movement, he helps the animal to fly and make the most risky jumps and somersaults. The color of the animal's coat is exceptionally snow-white, the coat is dense, smooth, silky, with a small amount of undercoat.

The head of a cat of the Kao Mani breed is wedge-shaped, has a shape characteristic of all eastern representatives of the cat family. The line of the cheekbones is high, with a slight rounding, in young animals the cheeks can be a little dense, as they grow up this characteristic appears more clearly. The area under the whiskers is pronounced, the nose with a clear stop, convex on the bridge of the nose, the forehead is wide, giving the cat solidity. Large ears set wide apart, slightly pubescent, set vertically.

The eyes of Kao Mani cats deserve special attention of felinologists and simply fans of the breed. Large, with an almond-shaped cut, they have a characteristic sheen similar to that of diamonds. If an animal has a one-color iris, it has a blue tint.

The manifestation of heterochromia is also a sure sign of purebred breeding. With a different color of the iris, one eye is blue, the other usually has a green or yellow color.

Kittens and adult kao mani are allowed to participate in exhibitions only within the framework of events held by TICA. Here the exterior of purebred animals is assessed, their potential as producers is revealed. The breeding marriage of the breed includes:

• the appearance of a copper tint of the eyes;
• strabismus;
• underdevelopment of the chin;
• deformation of the tail (kinks, wrong direction of growth);
• blotches of a different color on the surface of a white fur coat;
• excessive grace of physique;
• overly small ears or eyes;
• manifestation of aggression in character.

The Kao Mani cat is an excellent companion for a person who needs a pleasant company. A friendly animal is not aggressive, easily learns the basic rules of behavior and can even learn various tricks. High intelligence combined with sociability allows cats of this breed to easily find a common language with children. Kao mani get along well with other pets.

It is important to remember that the breed is distinguished by social activity - it has high needs for communication, games, human care. The animal literally follows the owner on the heels, in addition, it is characterized by "talkativeness" - the range of sounds emitted can surprise people who are familiar with oriental cats only from the silent Siamese.

If a representative of the Kao Mani breed has to stay alone for a long time, breeders recommend taking a second cat or a cat to them. In this case, the animal will not be bored, show signs of destructive behavior or fall into aggression. It is important to consider that Thai royal cats have a loud shrill voice and do not hesitate to declare their needs. For people who are not inclined to dialogue with a pet, such a moment in communicating with a cat can be a problem.

Kao Mani kittens are representatives of a unique breed with a certain set of external signs. Not every animal with a white color and eyes of different colors belongs to this unique species. That is why you should not rush when buying and choosing a baby. Do not believe the promises of selling a kitten from a Russian cattery or from the territory of the CIS countries. The breed is so small that it barely numbers 200-300 adults.

Kennels and breeders of kao mani today are only in the USA, Great Britain, Spain, Thailand. The most famous of them are Odyssey, Nova, WhiteGemCattery.

How to identify healthy kittens when choosing and buying? First of all, you need to look at the condition of the fluffy coat. On a snow-white surface, there should be no yellow or contrasting dark, colored spots. The appearance of the animal does not differ in adulthood and infancy, only the wool has a fluffier, disheveled appearance. As they grow older, the coat becomes smooth and dense enough.

Eyes and ears are important indicators of a kitten's health. The animal should not have traces of purulent discharge on the muzzle, the hair around the eyes remains snow-white. The inner part of the auricle is another important indicator. Traces of dirt, sores, black dots, combed wounds indicate problems. In addition, when choosing a kao mani kitten, you need to watch out for:

• for the peculiarities of the coat - it must be shiny, firm, healthy and clean;
• the state of the digestive system - an inflamed, tense tummy, the manifestation of anxiety when probing is an alarming symptom;
• no signs of a cold - sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge;
• manifestations of activity - the baby should be cheerful, playful, curious;
• lack of hearing anomalies - the kitten must respond to the call, respond to the nickname assigned to it;
• the presence of imparted hygiene skills - by the time of moving to a new home, the pet must be able to use the toilet, wash itself.

Do not rush to wean the pet from the mother. Kao mani babies quite successfully adapt to a new home upon reaching the age of three months. It is important to take into account that when buying from individuals (outside catteries), genetic confirmation of the kitten's belonging to this breed should be required - there are no other ways to prove the purity of the blood.

Choosing a name for a kao mani cat is a serious task. Of course, in a nursery or a breeder, the animal will most likely already receive a loud and pretentious nickname for presentation at exhibitions. But at home, calling your pet by its full name is not very convenient. Among the name options for the Royal Thai, the following available versions can be considered.

• By the names of famous Thai personalities - Vanessa May, Tiger Woods or one of the popular options in the country.For girls, you can offer options for the Court (meaning "lady"), Wanida ("girl"), Bunsi (a beauty worthy of respect), Tasani ("beautiful eyes"). For boys, the names will be more masculine - Kyet or "honor", Narong ("winner").
• By geographical place names. Samui, Surin, Moon, Ping - easy to remember nicknames that can emphasize the historical origin of the breed.
• Taking into account the peculiarities of appearance. You can name the animal Diamond - diamond, Snowy, Azur (for blue-eyed cats), Sky.
• Based on the characteristics of the character. Sweetie, Sunny, Missy are good for cats. Strong, Thunder, Hiro - for boys.

Accustomed to the royal level of amenities and distinguished by their high cost, Kao Mani cats still live in conditions of increased comfort. Pets perfectly adapt to life in a city apartment or a private house, they always demonstrate goodwill towards people. But an active and mobile animal needs entertainment. As a rule, various toys act in this capacity, as well as branches of trees imitating wildlife, on which you can jump, couches fixed at a height, scratching posts with different tiers of heights.

It is important to know that the Kao Mani cat breed belongs to the category of animals that do not require free range. Bred in the palace chambers, they prefer home coziness and comfort to any other pastime. It is worth protecting your pet from prolonged contact with the sun. For cats with white hair and delicate skin, ultraviolet light is harmful and can lead to burns.

You should regularly examine the unprotected areas of the pet's skin in order to timely identify possible signs of a negative effect.

When choosing a couch, you need to focus on the nature of the animal. Cats often prefer open baskets with high sides, from which it is convenient for them to view the whole house. The kitty may prefer an individual shelter in the form of a house or a bed, equipped at a height. For the administration of hygiene needs, it is advisable to purchase a tray for the animal with sides more than 6 cm high.

In matters of nutrition, cats of the Kao Mani breed are relatively unpretentious. For them, it is recommended to purchase a ready-made super-premium class diet, which allows the animal to be given all the necessary vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Kao mani are not prone to obesity, it is customary to feed adult animals up to two times a day.

When choosing a natural menu, preference should be given to a balanced set of products with lean white meat, offal, cereals, vegetables and dairy products.

Kao Mani cats are fairly clean animals with well-developed hygienic skills. Animals do not have a dense undercoat, so they do not require thorough and regular combing. Simply purchase rubberized brushes and remove dead hairs weekly. Cats are very supportive of this procedure, and, in general, love to be near the owner.

Kao mani cats do not need water treatments too often... For the most part, the animal copes with the cleaning of the fur coat on its own. But if the whiteness has faded, it is worth subjecting the capricious Thai to a bath.

Cleansing the auricles is a delicate matter.It is carried out regularly using a soft tampon or a special sanitary napkin. Instead of cutting the claws, it is better to teach the animal to use a special sharpener - then grinding off the stratum corneum will not become a traumatic procedure.

Distinguished by a pure snow-white shade of coat, Kao Mani cats show an average life expectancy of 10-12 years. But the genetic characteristics of the breed bring some characteristics to its content. For example, when it comes to the risks of detecting cancer, these cats are in the forefront. Owners of snow-white wool should avoid prolonged contact with the sun's rays. When visually monitoring the health of an animal, you need to pay attention to the areas least densely covered with hairs - ears, head.

Another important point - high risks of deafness... Albinos, as well as blue-eyed cats with white hair, are traditionally prone to this defect. Up to 35% of animals are culled precisely because of the lack of hearing.

Another hereditary factor is a predisposition to the development of gum inflammation. In order to prevent possible problems, regular veterinary control should be carried out, the health status of the animal should be checked by a doctor when tartar is detected, enamel discoloration, bloody discharge in the oral cavity.

For interesting facts about the Kao Mani cat breed, see the next video.