Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The Manx cat is tailless. Yes, you read that right, it’s a cat without a tail! And here at IndulgeYourPet, one of our most favorite things about most cat breeds is their tail.
So…
If the Manx is a tailless cat, and… is still one of our favorite cat breeds in the whole wide world, you can pretty much bet the they are a ton of fun to own!
But just because…
We love them, doesn’t mean that they will necessarily be the right cat for you. This is why in this article, we wanted to take a moment and discuss what it might be like to own one of these little guys so that if you’re very given the opportunity to adopt one, you’ll know for sure if it’s a good idea.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Manx Cat Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: 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
Lifespan: 8 to 14 pounds
Let’s talk about it a little more. What do you say?
Origin of the Manx cat breed
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 coastline.
And it was here…
That due to the small population of island cats, what first began 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 the “gene mutation” theory is only one of several different “competing theories” out there.
Because there is also…
The Celtic folklore theory that 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 known 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”.
Manx cat breed physical characteristics
As we’ve already said, the most distinctive feature of a Manx cat is their non-existent tail, but not all Manx cats are tailless. There are 3 different types that this breed can have:
- “longies” aka normal-length tail,
- “stumpies” aka a short tail,
- And “rumpy” the lack of a tail completely.
There’s also a last one called a “riser,” in which you can just see the bump of a bone at the end of their spine.
But, enough about tails. Let’s talk about the other features a Manx cat has.
In general…
Manx cats are small to medium-sized. Their heads are round, as are their big eyes. Their eyes usually will usually have a hue variant of gold.
And while they may be…
Missing a tail, their bodies are broad and muscular, as are their thighs. And one additional “quirk” about them is that their hind legs are longer than their front legs, giving them the appearance of a rabbit. (Fun fact: another folktale is that a Manx mated with a rabbit, giving it this look, and of course, the lack of a tail.)
Now despite them…
Being broad and muscular, they aren’t fatty, but they can be pretty heavy. They can weigh anywhere between 8 to 10 pounds, or even a little less if they’re female.
And they can be…
A pain to groom at times because regardless of what “kind” of Manx you end up adopting, because these guys grew up in the Isle of Mann they do have a very thick double coat which will require periodic weekly grooming to be sure that they don’t shed all over your house.
A situation…
Which can even be made worse if you choose to adopt the long-haired version of the Manx which is called a Cymric.
Their coats can either be a short double coat or a longhaired double coat, though this one may be known as a Cymric.
The good news is…
That if you don’t plan on combing your Manx all that much, they do come in a variety of colors including:
- Calico,
- Tabbies,
- Tortoiseshell,
- Or a simple a solid color.
So, perhaps you might be able to find one that matches the color scheme of your home so all that hair won’t be as noticeable!
Manx cat breed temperament
The Manx cat is a playful cat. They love to play fetch (and they’re willing to learn) or with play toys. Most of the time you’ll see them carrying them around with them as they head toward their next destination.
As a general rule…
This breed is quite gentle toward his favorite people, but they can be aggressive toward anything they don’t know. They won’t attack your friends though, so don’t worry about that. What I mean is that if they hear or see something strange, they won’t hesitate to growl and make sure that you’re aware of that thing’s presence.
But because…
They’re also smart and observant, once they notice that you’re not reacting the way they are, they’ll calm down. They’re very protective of the people they love! Like we said, despite this, they’re warm and mellow cats.
They also love to…
Cuddle on your lap or sit nearby, and they’re fans of peaceful environments in which they can just relax with their favorite people (or person, as some like to choose on family member to stick to the most.) Depending on how they’re feeling, they can be peaceful or playful.
They’re also one of the…
Few cat breeds out there that actually seem to listen to their owners! So, if you say “No,” or “Don’t do that,” they’ll stop what they’re doing and move on, it’s Amazing!
Manx cats…
Are also great cats to have around children. Because the love to receive attention and don’t get easily upset, they are pretty tolerant of toddlers while they’re learning how to behave around animals, and absolutely love “cozying up” with a child at night.
Common health issues
There are a few health issues that could arise in a Manx cat, and it’s wise to be informed and prepared for any of these.
The first is…
Arthritis. However, the arthritis can be in the tailbone in a Manx with a tail. They can also have corneal dystrophy, which causes their eyes to become cloudy,
Finally, they can…
Develop a condition known as “Manx syndrome”. Which is a collection of symptoms related to the fact that the Manx cat does not have a tail.
Symptoms may include:
- A spine that is too short,
- Urinary tract defects,
- And problems with their bowls and digestion.
Now these are…
Pretty common medical conditions known to be a problem with the Manx breed so, you can be sure that any responsible and knowledgeable Manx breeder will know about them and will likely be doing as much as possible to ensure that his or her litters don’t have these issues.
But there is…
Only so much one can do. This is why we here at IndulgeYourPet, always like to remind all of our readers that while they are “researching” what kind of cat they should adopt, they should also take a moment and research what it might cost to purchase a pet insurance policy on their new loved one as well.
This way…
If their new pet ever gets sick or injured, you won’t be on the “hook” for 100% of his or her medical bills. For more information about who we “feel” currently offers some of the “best” pet insurance policies in the industry right now, be sure to check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies article.
a most informative piece of journalism describing the Manx cat.
It also had me in fits of laughter imagining the manx cat getting his tail caught in Noah’s Ark. Well really………
But the pros out weigh the cons in welcoming a Manx cat into a family setting.
I believe I have adopted a Cymric with Manx Syndrome. He’s a really loving kitten who does come when I call him. He does love to keep his toys in his mouth, and spend time on my lap. He has the bony rear end that sticks out and his rear legs are longer than the front. He loves to play, I just had him to the vet due to some pretty bad constipation, hopefully it passes. Was hoping for advice on special dietary needs, to help keep him from having really wet stool or becoming impacted. I know he is going to be a lot of work, just hope he is healthy. He has long dark black hair with a white mustache and chest. He sounds like a human baby when he meows. He does seem more aware of my facial expressions and tone than any other cat I’ve had. Left on my door step at 6 weeks old nearly frozen and starving to death. We made it through that now hopefully he can get through this. He has no name yet but I call him kitty witty.
I have 2 manx cats that were littermates. One is tailless and one has a full tail. The tailless one had diarrhea so bad when we got him that we just couldn’t keep up! The other littermates were fine, just him. So we played with his food quite a bit and discovered if we give him anything other than chicken he seems to have loose stools. Other then that, we feed them both high quality dry food for digestive tracts issues. There are a couple sites you can use to research the food too. I was SHOCKED that some of the foods that cost a fortune are actually horrible!