Ok, for those of you who have read a couple of our cat or dog breed reviews here at IndulgeYourPet, you will have probably already notice the fact that we don’t really get all that excited about “normal” looking dogs or cats.
For us…
We like those animals that look a little different or dare we even say a bit “odd”. For us, these are the “types” of animals that are the most interesting and the most “fun” to have around.
Which is why…
As you can probably already tell, the Cymric cat breed is one of our favorites. And not just because they don’t have a tail and somewhat behave like a dog, they are one of our favorites because they also have a great personality and origin mythology story behind their existence.
But this does not mean…
That you should just run out and try and find the nearest Cymric cat breeder so that you can adopt one today! It just means that if you are considering purchasing a new kitten soon, you should take a moment or two and learn a little bit more about this breed because who knows, a Cymric might be just the cat you’re looking for!
And…
This is why we here at IndulgeYourPet choose to write articles like these. Because we know that while it is true that every cat is going to have his or her own unique personalities, there are some generalizations that can be made about certain cat breeds that may help you narrow down “which” breed might be best for you.
So…
In this article, we’re going to try and shed some light on what it might be like to actually own a Cymric cat so that you can better judge for yourself if adopting one will be the right choice for you and your family.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Cymric Cat Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: Canada or the Isle of Man (Which is technically a part of Great Britain) depending on how you want to look at it.
Size: Medium
Weight: 9 to 12 pounds
Eyes: Round
Shape of Head: Round
Life Span: 8 to 14 pounds
The origins of the Cymric
Technically, the Cymric cat breed is simply a longhaired version of the Manx cat. So, while some may consider the breeds “separate” or “cousin breeds” the truth is, they’re practically brothers!
For this reason…
For us to be able to properly describe the origins of the Cymric breed, we’re first going to have to discuss how the Manx breed first came into existence.
The Manx cat breed…
Traces its roots back to the Isle of Mann, a small, independent island that lies about two hours by ferry west of the English coast. Due to the small population of island cats, what started as a “recessive gene” mutation, that would have probably only occurred in one or two generations of cats had they occurred in a larger gene pool population was able to “establish” itself on this isolated island and develop into its own unique cat breed.
Now we say that…
The Manx is the result of a “genetic mutation” because that is currently the “leading” theory on how this cat came into existence, but we should point out that there is a competing theory out there and one that we find very interesting.
You see…
As Celtic folklore actually attributes the Manx’s missing tail to the fact that this was the last animal to make it on board Noah’s ark! And just as the ship was going to set sail, the Manx jumped on board.
Only to have…
His tail be “chopped” off as Noah slammed the door to his ark. This is why the Manx doesn’t have a tail today!
Now if this sounds…
Totally unreasonable, there is another competing theory that it was Noah’s dog, who was responsible for the Manx losing his tail and in this version of the story it also explains why the Manx ended up on the Isle of Mann because in an effort to get away from Noah’s dog, legend has it that he jumped off the Ark and swam to the Isle of Mann.
And while…
We’re not sure which of these three competing theories are correct, what we can tell you is that all three are much better than the last which claims that the reason why the Manx doesn’t have a tail is because the Manx mothers used to “bite off” the tails of their kittens so as to prevent the Vikings (and later the Irish) from cutting them off and using them as good luck charms!
And with that said…
We figure, we’ll just leave it up to you to decide which origin story is correct.
What is know for sure is that…
Over the years, the tailless trait was “establish” on the island and in the early 1920’s, the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) did decide to “officially” recognize the breed. That said however, the Manx breed “must” be a shorthaired variety which left the longhaired “Cymric” version out in the “cold”.
You see…
Over the years, the longhaired version of the Manx did occur here and there on the Island of Mann however, these “versions” of the Manx breed were always discarded for the litters simply because these “versions” were not considered desirable by the Manx breeders.
That all changed however…
When a few years later after the Manx was officially recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association when the longhaired version of the Manx know as the Cymric was deliberately bred in Canada.
Unfortunately…
Some organizations (such as The International Cat Association, TICA) do not recognize the Cymric as a breed within its own right, and still classify it as a type of Manx. However, we here at IndulgeYourPet fell that one day they will be particularly because groups like the CFA have decided to recognize this breed as unique.
Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that the Cymric is a really “cool” looking cat with a great personality!
Cymric Characteristics
This fancy feline will be missing one tail (or will have a very short, half-a-tail) and will have a long double coat as opposed to the Manx’ short coat or the American Short Hair that they are sometimes bred with.
The Cymric tail…
Will be short similar to that of the American Bobtail or the Japanese Bobtail. But unlike these two other breeds, the Cymric cat will tend to have a bit “rounder” body instead of a long and slender build.
Also…
Cymric Breeders will typically only favor cats that are no bigger than 13 pounds that have big eyes and wide, flattened ears.
It should also be noted that…
Cymric cats do occasionally come in a long-tailed variant, but it is rare and unfortunately these cats won’t “conform” to the “officially” recognized standard which is why most breeders will prevent these cats from producing any future litters.
Personality traits and temperament of the Cymric cat breed
The Cymric cat breed is like a little watch dog…cat. It will growl at strangers, hiss at things that scare it, and general prowl around your house being suspicious.
That said however…
It is a VERY loving beast towards those it knows but is unfortunately unlikely to get on with certain dog breeds (think back to its prior encounters with Noah’s dog). Now if your pup is old and slow, or simply just docile, then your Cymric might have a chance of becoming its friend but if your pup is a little boisterous then don’t go for a Cymric.
The good news is…
That the Cymric is generally pretty good with kids, and since he doesn’t have a tail, we don’t have to worry about your children yanking on it!
These cats also have…
A very high “prey drive” mentality. Which means that they’re likely going to be very “accomplished” and “proficient” hunters which is great provided you don’t have any hamsters or guinea pigs running around. It’s also why it’s often a good idea to let these guys roam around outside so that they can put some of those hunting instincts to work on the neighborhoods rodent population and not on anything within the house that could be torn apart!
Cymric cat breed health issues
The Cymric is descended from the Manx and has almost a hundred years of interbreeding under its belt, so we can expect a few issues. And… because the cat population on the Isle of Mann was not huge, we can expect that they may be at an increase risk of suffering from some inheritable disease such as:
- Arthritis,
- Corneal dystrophy,
- And neurological issues which could impair your cats ability to have “natural” bowel movements.
This is why…
You’ll want to be sure to only work with a reputable Cymric cat breeder that is familiar with these “types” of medical conditions and is willing to guaranteed the health of any animal that they sell.
It’s also why…
If you are considering purchasing a Cymric kitten or better yet adopting a Cymric rescue cat, you should also take a moment and see what it might cost for you to purchase a pet insurance policy on your animal. This way if your pet does become sick or injured in the future, you won’t be on the “hook” for 100% of his or her medical bills!
For more information on who we “feel” currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies in the industry right now, feel free to check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies article.
