Manx is a domestic cat breed. It has an individual appearance owing to its small or absent tail.
Made unique by its small or lacking tail, Manx is a cat breed that
belongs to the Isle of Man, next to Britain, where it has resided for
many centuries. A number of legends afloat as regards the origin of
this cat, with many stories being part of the local culture. Some
believe these cats were brought to the island by one of the many ships
that passed through that region, whereas others consider the animals to
be native to that part of the world. The most widely accepted theory is
that Manx cats originated from a genetic mutation in the local felid
population. Owing to the island's isolation and the dominant nature of
the altered gene, the trait spread among cats and perpetuates to this
day. They continue to be formally bred in many parts of the world and
are recognized widely by cat fanciers.
Manx cats have a round
stocky physique. They are medium in size and weigh around ten pounds on
average. Hind legs are longer than fore legs and flanks are deep. Head,
eyes and cheeks are all circular and alongside the furnishings on the
tapering ears, give the cats a very sweet expression. Coat is double
layered and short. Longhaired version of the Manx is called Cymric -
essentially the same cat but with a longer fur. Not all registration
bodies accept Cymrics though and they are often grouped alongside the
shorthair felines in the Manx breed.
The tail, or the lack of it,
is the hallmark feature of the Manx. It is either completely absent, in
which case there is a small rump or indentation at the termination of
spine, or occurs in differing lengths. Not all Manx have a short tail,
except for the ones allowed in competitions. In fact breeders cross
tailless cats with the ones having normal tails to produce a mixed
litter. This is owing to the fact that if two 'rumpy' cats are allowed
to continuously breed, they eventually produce litters with severely
deformed kittens. Vertebrae are often missing or fused and lead to
severe pain, neurological problems or death. This was seen quite often
some decades ago, however breeders today have been able to eliminate
this tragic anomaly to some extent. Even still it is always best to
wait till four months of age before adopting a Manx kitten, to allow
time for the development of the 'Manx Syndrome'. Many breeders continue
to dock kitten tails in infancy owing to cosmetic reasons and the
belief that they may lead to arthritis and severe pain for the slowly
maturing cat as it reaches full development by five years of age.
Generally
though Manx are healthy cats who lead a normal life of a fifteen to
twenty years span. They are balanced and agile despite the absence of
tail and are actually fairly adept hunters.
