Cats of Siam, Part 2

To continue on the topic of the last post, we also ventured to the outskirts of Bangkok to check out an unusual attraction, the Royal Cat Park. Located off the Pin Klao-Nakhon Chaisi Highway close to Salaya, the open-aired buildings house rare Khao Manee ("White Jewel") cats. The place is more cat sanctuary than park, but there is an open yard in the back for the cats to romp amongst the tall grass and banana trees.

The Khao Manee has long been associated with royalty, and cannot be bred commercially nor sold (at least not in Thailand). They were a favourite of King Rama V, and the all the cats are of royal lineage. The breed is not well-known outside of the country, and I am not sure if it is recognized by international cat breed governing bodies.

Anyway, the Khao Manee is distinguished by its pure white coat, eyes of two different colors (one green, one blue; one yellow, one green, etc.), and pink nose. In the US, white cats with odd-coloured or blue eyes possess a deafness trait, but these do not.

The Royal Cat Park also featured four of the remaining five Siamese breeds, including the Supalak or Thong Daeng (or Burmese, seal point with a coppery-coloured coat); Nilrat or Konja (pure black); Wichien Mas (seal point with a cream-coloured coat and blue eyes); and Si Sawat or Korat (dark grey; pictured on the right).

The only breed not present was the Gao Taem ("Nine Spots"), the one most closely related to the common house cat. All are associated with luck, wealth, and general good fortune. These cats are lithe and handsome, and they seem, compared to our two, quite intelligent. :P

Back to the godly cats. There was also a curious, white Persian-Khao Manee mix that was the sole offspring of this unusual combo. It had the long Persian coat and grumpy-looking expression, but with the odd-coloured eyes and pink nose. So cute!

Cat overload! We were on the verge of being obsessed (even Mai, who won't admit it), but resisted bringing another critter home. Apart from the Khao Manee, the others are for sale. I rather liked the Supalak kitten (below), but Miss Maudie would be extremely upset, and cuteness aside, I can't deal with more bossy meowing, litter to scoop, and hair in my food.