Information on the Manx Cat

Physical Description

• A stocky cat with a double coat that can be either short or long, the Manx breed has a compact body with hind legs that look longer than its front legs. The most distinct trait of the breed is that it has either a short, stubby tail or no tail at all. The Manx is a big-boned cat with a short back and wide chest. The typical male weights about 10 to 12 lbs., while females are usually 8 to 10 lbs. The breed is characterized by its wide head and round eyes. While broad at the base, their ears taper to narrow and rounded tips. Seen from the rear, the Manx ears and tip of head resemble a cradle or rocker.

Colors

• Manx cats come in various colors and patterns. Colors range from blue, red, brown and cream to tortoiseshell, calico, mackerel, tabby, solid and bicolored.

Personality and Temperament

• Mellow and even-tempered, the Manx is a lovable breed. They love to jump on household furniture and look at their owners at eye-level. A working cat breed, the Manx can live in either outdoors or indoors and is an excellent hunter. Because of their easy-going nature, they make ideal pets for children.

Life Span and Medical Problems

• Although most Manx live into their late teens, some Manx may live into their 20s. Being overweight is the greatest health threat for the Manx. It's hard to know if you're overfeeding a Manx because of the breed's deep flank. Manx can develop a defect that's known as Manx Syndrome, which causes a spinal defect that shortens the spine, resulting in a vertebral gap. It also causes fused vertebrae, resulting in newborns having spina bifida. Generally, difficulties from Manx Syndrome will last from a few weeks of a cat's life to four weeks, while some cases lasts as long as four months before a cat dies of it. Symptoms may include bladder dysfunction, severe bowel problems or walking difficulties.

Misconceptions

• Many people believe Manx cats lack balance because they either have stubby tails or no tail. However, despite the fact they lack long tails, they still have excellent balance.

Warning

• Check for any panting following normal physical exertion of your Manx. If it continues to pant longer than a short time period, there could be a health concern.
  Also, despite the fact that tailnessness is the distinguishing characteristic of the Manx, not every tailless cat is a pedigreed Manx. A true Manx is only certified by paperwork from a valid registry.

History

• The Manx breed received its name because it originated on the Isle of Man, off the English coastline. An ancient breed, this tailless cat lived on the Isle of Man as long ago as the 18th century. It's uncertain how the mutation process started, but according to one legend, it began when cats escaped from a shipwreck occurring centuries ago. There are various other legends trying to explain why the breed is tailless, including one story contending that it was because Noah slammed the ark's door on the cat as it entered the ark. Most likely, the lack of a tail can be explained because when the mutant dominate tailless gene entered the Isle of Man, it became more concentrated in an isolated population. This resulted in the island's normal cat having a short tail or even no tail.