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Khao Manee vs Korat
Two rare Thai good-luck cats. The Khao Manee is white with odd eyes and a deafness risk; the Korat is silver-blue, smaller, more devoted and more vocal.
Verdict
Both cats come from Thailand and are bright, active and rare, and coat and temperament decide it. The Khao Manee is all white, often with one blue and one gold eye, and its profile names deafness. It is Very rare and has only provisional CFA status. The Korat is a small, muscular, silver-tipped blue cat with green eyes, a CFA breed since 1966. It scores higher for affection, intelligence and talkativeness, and its watch-list is two inherited storage diseases. Choose the Khao Manee for the white coat, and the Korat for a devoted, vocal companion.
Choose the Khao Manee if
- You want a bright white cat, perhaps with odd eyes.
- You want a communicative cat with a moderate voice.
- You are ready to wait for a kitten from a Very rare breed.
- You will talk to your vet about deafness.
Choose the Korat if
- You want a clever, devoted cat in silver-blue.
- You live in a quiet, settled home with one or two attentive people.
- You want a CFA championship breed.
- You will ask your vet about GM1 and GM2 gangliosidosis.
Where they are alike
Both have short, close-lying coats that need almost no grooming. Both score high for energy and play, and both rate only fair with children and other pets.
Side by side
| Khao Manee | Korat | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Shorthair |
| Origin | Thailand | Thailand |
| Size | Medium | Small |
| Typical weight | 6-10 lb (2.7-4.5 kg), as reported by breeders | 6-11 lb (2.7-5 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | Commonly 12-15 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Short, smooth, close-lying coat with no undercoat | Short, fine, glossy single coat that lies close to the body |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Provisional / preliminary | Championship breed since 1966 |
| How common | Very rare | Rare |
| Affection | 4 | 5 |
| Energy | 4 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 4 | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 3 | 4 |
| Grooming needed | 1 | 1 |
| Shedding | 3 | 2 |
| Good with children | 3 | 3 |
| Good with other pets | 3 | 3 |
| Happy alone | 2 | 2 |
| Trainability | 4 | 5 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 4 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The short coat sheds moderately, and people who react to cats are likely to react to this one. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The single coat sheds lightly, but people who react to cats may still react to this one. |
| Suits | A home that wants a rare, bright, communicative cat and is ready to wait for a kitten. | A quiet, settled home with one or two attentive people who like a clever, devoted cat. |
| Less suited to | Anyone who needs a cheap or readily available breed, or a calm cat that ignores visitors and noise. | A noisy household with rough play, or a home empty for most of the day. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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| Health conditions to watch |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026