The Khmer cat, a recently obtained breed.

Jean Rieger, 1935

(PLEASE NOTE We have no idea who the person editing the notes was Alwyn Hill)

Named as such because of its Indo-Chinese origin, the Khmer presents  itself as a variety or type very different from the Birman, despite  some points of resemblance. Representatives of this recently constituted breed are few. The only specimens known at this time are in  France.

 Origin:

 Five or six years ago an old soldier on returning from Indo-China abandoned a couple of young cats of unknown breed in the Parisian region. These cats grew and reproduced in all freedom. (Ed note: without human intervention? They made their own arrangements, in other words.) There were numerous births. Due to lack of care, the majority of the little ones perished. In 1934, I was able to acquire the most beautiful of the specimens, from the original male; the female was dead, leaving a daughter who could maintain and perpetuate the line. Today several young females give rise to the hope that the future of the breed is assured.

Kittens are born pure white, becoming marked later. From the third or fourth day a dark grey under fur appears which then disappears around  four or five months. This dark underfur of the young is a characteristic of the breed. By around six months the body is nearly  white, the markings very distinct, the mask is splendid, then with  age, this contrast becomes less clear as a result of the dark (Ed: body colour)  fur  colour. (It takes 18 months for the animal to reach adulthood).

 Unlike the Birman which must have four white gloved paws (this obtained by selection), the Khmer must present with paws which are entirely brown like the colour of the golden otter. (Ed note: in some contemporary references I’ve seen ‘otter brown’ used as a synonym for ‘seal’)  Today some specimens have white  digits very likely due to consanguinity and to gloved ancestors. But this feature, reserved for the Birman, should be avoided in the future which is possible if attentive selection is undertaken.

 Principal or upcoming Champions:

 Males: Roi-Pi-You, Prince-Pi-You, Marquis.  Females: Zezette.

Ed:  The Khmer standard, among other things, called for a ‘strong, round’ head and a short neck, but in this case, unlike the Birman, its legs are meant to be long, as is the tail, which is not to have kinks, etc.  Bone structure is heavy.  Eyes are set a little obliquely, but are nonetheless to be round and a limpid blue – but can appear to be red in the dark.

 In sunlight, it can give the impression of being golden in the body colour.  Reiger goes on to say that he used a Siamese female born in Saigon, who gave kittens of good type and with the characteristic grey undercoat.

 All of which makes you wonder not just about the origins of these two breeds, but the direction the Khmer subsequently took.  Was it absorbed into the Birman breed?  Did it evolve on the quiet into the beginnings of the colourpoint Persian?  There was certainly at least one non-white gloved “Longhair Siamese” born in Switzerland in the very early 40’s – evacuation of rare cats from wartime Paris to neutral Switzerland might seem far-fetched, but not impossible.  Was it modified into the Balinese, or did it just…….disappear?