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At
a glance...
Body Size... Medium
Coat Length... Short & Long
Life span... Up to 20yrs |
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Manx |
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A~ Z index |
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Description... |
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 The Manx is a powerfully
built cat whose most noticeable feature is presence of a very
shortened tail or absence of a tail altogether. Variants of tail
length are referred to as "rumpies" (no tail, hollow where tail
should begin), "risers" (very small remnant of tail present),
"stumpies" (slightly longer tail remnant), and "longies" (obvious
tail present). Manx cats have a rounded head and long rear limbs,
such that the rump is higher than the head when the cat is standing
erect. The coat is double, with a short, dense undercoat underlying
a coarser, slightly longer topcoat that may be shed in summer. Solid
and patterned coats are acceptable. Some refer to shorthaired cats
as Manx and longhaired cats as Cymric.
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History...
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Manx cats originated on the Isle
of Man off England's west coast. It is not known whether the breed
arose from a spontaneous mutation or from naturally tailless
shipboard cats from other countries that swam ashore after
shipwrecks. The Manx breed has been in the United States for at
least 100 years, and is one of America's earliest recognized cat
breeds.
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Traits...
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These are intelligent cats
that are very long-lived, and are reported to age gracefully.
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Health...
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The tailless trait can be
associated with abnormalities of the anatomy of the hindquarters,
leading to problems secondary to abnormal anal openings in kittens,
spina bifida in kittens, and constipation in adults. Kittens may
have an unusual hopping walk but adults should have a normal gait.
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Summary...
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The Manx is a difficult
cat to breed. Manx are not prolific. The trait for tail length in
cats is carried on a single chromosome, of which any given
individual has two copies. The tailless trait is associated with
early embryonic death, so most kittens carrying both "tailless"
copies of their tail length gene die before birth. To maintain the
breed, therefore, one must strive to create animals that have one
"tailless" copy and one "tail" copy of the tail length gene. This is
achieved by breeding "rumpies" (the tailless variant) to "risers",
"stumpies" or "longies" (the tailed variants).
The overall impression of the Manx cat is that of roundness; round
head with firm, round muzzle and prominent cheeks; broad chest;
substantial short front legs; short back which arches from shoulders
to a round rump; great depth of flank and rounded, muscular thighs.
The Manx should be alert, clear of eye, with a glistening, clean,
well-groomed coat. They should be surprisingly heavy when lifted.
Manx may be slow to mature and allowance should be made in young
cats.
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