The long lived Manx is famous for having no tail, although many do have vestiges, and for being the symbol of the Isle of Man. It comes in almost every color and pattern imaginable and makes a charming family pet. Did you know that two completely tailless Manx cats must never be bred because the kittens are likely to have spinal deformities and die. One parent must have at least some vestiges of a tail.
History
The Manx cat originated on the Isle of Man, off the coast of England in the Irish Sea. The isolation of the island probably perpetuated the tailless trait in these cats, although legend supplies several far more fanciful explanations. Manx cats still abound on the island. Although the Manx was a popular and well established breed in Britain before the birth of the cat fancy in the 1870s, it is no longer accepted for competition in shows sponsored there. The objection is that breeding this cat will perpetuate a lethal spine defect. It is accepted for showing in the USA, however, and has been very popular there since about 1930.
Description
The Manx has the shortest body of any of the breeds. The chest is broad and the short back arches from the shoulders to the round rump. The head is round but slightly longer than it is wide, with prominent cheeks and a jowly appearance. In profile, there is a gentle dip in the nose. The nose leather should harmonize with the coat. The muzzle is slightly longer than it is wide with a definite whisker pads. The neck is short and thick. The large eyes are round and full and set at a slight angle toward the nose. Eye color does not necessarily conform to coat color. The medium sized ears are wide at the base, tapering gradually to a rounded tip and set far apart.
The hind legs are muscular and well boned and longer than the forelegs, which are short and set well apart, emphasizing the broad, deep chest. The rump sits considerably higher than the shoulders. The paws are round and the pad color should harmonize with the coat.
Show specimens have no tail, but there are hard to come by. Anyone interested in breeding Manx should be aware of the risks and high mortality rate of kittens. In fact, the last vertebrae of the spine are missing, which results in a dip or hollow at the base of the spine where that bone would normally be. Take care when handling such a cat, never pat the rump roughly as most Manx are sore and sensitive in that area. In spite of the spinal abnormality, the Manx is a speedy and powerful runner.
The double coat is short and thick in the Manx. In the longhaired version, also called the Cymric, the double coat is soft and silky, full and plush, falling smoothly over the body. It is best to groom both types often by gently brushing or combing with a medium toothed comb. This will remove dead hair and prevent matting.
Varieties
The Manx comes in any color or pattern, including colorpointed, bicolor, solid an tabby.
Temperament
The Manx is a playful cat and loves to perch on the highest possible point, even indoors. It will retrieve and bury toys as a dog does. It is generally good natured and friendly.
A colony of cats became stranded on an island off the west coast of mainland Britain and eventually formed a distinct type. One myth suggests that the tailless Manx Cat originated from a mating between a rabbit anda cat, another that the cat was the last to leave Noah’s Ark and had its tail chopped in the door. The reality is that the isle of Man cat community was forced by its confinement into concentrated interbreeding.
A residual tail is just visible on the Black Manx, which means that he cannot qualify as a true Manx on the show circuit. He will, however, be valuable for breeding purposes.
A mutant gene that led to a spinal malformation spread throughout the community and became the norm. The spine was literally curtailed, ending (in what is described as a true or rumpy Manx) in a hollow where a tail should have been. Cats with brief stumps of tails were also born, and these are called stumpies, stubbies or risers.
The strong features typical of the Manx are evident on this Red Spotted Tabby. His cheeks are full, ears are prominent and his nose is broad, straight and of medium length.
The gene that causes this condition is related to the one that causes spina bifida in humans. If male and female rumpies are mated, some of the foetuses may not develop to full term. Breeders therefore introduce part of fully tailed varieties into their breeding programs. For show purposes, however, it is the taillessness of the rumpy that is accepted as the standard for the breed. It is accepted in all the standard colors and patterns except colorpointed, although lilac and chocolate are not recognized by some associations.
A true, or rumpy, Manx has a hollow here its tail should be. This tortoiseshell tabby and white shows the stocky buily typical of the breed. The chest is broad, and the back short. The rump is higher than the shoulder.
Manx Cat breed information
coat – double, well padded
eyes – large, round, color in keeping with coat color
other features – lack of tail
grooming – easy, regular brushing
temperament – calm, intelligent, active, loyal, likes to be with its owner
Manx cats have now been bred in all standard colors and patterns except colorpointed (Himalayan). This is a blue cream rumpy, showing the required absolute lack of tail, it should be completely rounded with no definite rise of bone or cartilage.
Manx Cat varieties
Rumpy shows a hollow where the tail should emerge. This is the Manx Cat exhibited at cat shows.
Rumpy riser has few fused vertebrae at the end of the spine. These can be seen and definitely felt, which disqualifies the cat from being shows as a Manx. It is, however, used for breeding.
Stumpy has a very short tail that can be moved. The vertebrae are not necessarily fused. This is the form which gives rise to some of the bobtailed cats.
Longy has an almost normal length tail. Often these cats are indistinguishable from the normal domestic feline.
Cymric is a rare semi longhair variety, which is described in the semi longhair section of this website.
Note the front legs of this Manx bi-color. They are slightly shorter than the long, muscular hind legs which results in a characteristic rabbit like, loping gait.
The occasional tailed Manx is born of Manx parents. He or she will win no prices for Manx type perfection, but with the typical bulkiness of the type and a freedom from the spinal defects, is an extremely valuable asset to any Manx breeding program.
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