Manx cat and cymric catbreed profile and facts

TheManx cat is a tailless cat and this feature is caused by a dominantautosomal gene (a natural genetic mutation).

This gene is also described as anincomplete dominant gene with varying effect and results in the Manxhaving no tail, a short stump or a full length tail.

Picture of Manx courtesy of Gary Armitage of ManXilla cats

Inthis review we cover the Shorthaired Manx and Longhaired Cymric.

Essentially, the Cymric is the longhaired version of the Manx and assuch, the same cat with a different name and the breed characteristicsare the same apart from the coat length.

Atfirst glance the overall impression of the Manx and Cymric is one ofroundness.

This is a compact cat that is fairly short-limbed and isamazingly heavy to lift.

The cat is slow to mature - it takes between4.5 to 5 years for the cat to reach full maturity and the male cat isalways larger than its female counterpart.

The Manx and Cymric both have a medium sized bodythat is described as compact, well balanced and powerful and themuscles are solid and the bones very sturdy.

The chest is broad and the neck is short andthick. Their backs are relatively short and arched from the shouldersto the rump and the rump is broad and round.

All these featuresaccentuates the cat"s roundness. Whilst the Cymric may appear longer, this ispurely as a result of their longer coats.

The hind legsare longer than the front legs which results in the rump being muchhigher than the shoulders. The back legs are muscular, heavily bonedand straight when viewed from behind.

The front legs are set well apartand are well muscled and sturdy boned. The paws are medium sized andround and the Cymric cat has tufts of hair between the toes.

The Manx has a round head thatis slightly longer than it is broad. The cheekbones are prominent, themuzzle is longer than it is wide, the chin is strong and the whiskerpads are rounded.

Its eyesare large and round and set at a slight slant, the outer edge of theeye being slightly higher. The color of the eyes should correspond tothe coat color.

The earsare set wide apart and are medium-sized with rounded tips. Theshorthaired cat has minimal furnishing on the ears, whilst thelonghaired Cymric has full furnishing.

Manx photo courtesy of Claire Broughton of Shortontails Cattery in Vermont

The tailis the feature that differentiates this cat from other felines.

The ideal Manx cat is tailless, but a slight rise in the bone or cartilageat the end of the tail is allowed provided that it does not stop thehand when the cat is being stroked.

There are 4 variations of the tail:

Ch Kelsha Riviera | white copper eyed rumpy | owner Kelly Tanner of Kelsha Manx | cat photo © Kelly Tanner | photographer: unknown

• A Rumpy whichby definition is a tailless cat. In fact all you will see or feel is adepression or dimple at the base where the tail would normally be.
  
• Rumpy Riser has ashort stub tail with no caudal vertebrae (i.e. the bones that make up atail), there are 1 - 3 coccygeal vertebrae that are covered with clumpsof fur.
• In the Stumpy, the tail is short and does have a couple of vertebrae that are generally curved or kinked.
  
• The Longy/Taily,as the name implies, is a cat that has a long tail as seen in thegeneral cat population. There are breeders that dock these tails, butin some countries, tail docking is not permitted.

Ch Kelsha Loxahatchee | blue-white van Cymric rumpy riser | owner Kelly Tanner of Kelsha Manx | cat photo © Kelly Tanner | photographer: unknown

They have a dense, double coat. The texture of the coat mayvary with coat color (white cats may be softer) and may displayseasonal variations. (the coat is less dense in summer).

The outercoatand guard hairs may be slightly coarse and should be well padded, glossyand not close lying. The undercoat should be cottony, thick and closelying.

TheCymric has a medium to semi-long coat. The coat is plush, but fallssmoothly on the body.

The thick double coat has a silky texture. It has britches, full furnishing on the ears and tufts of hair between thetoes.

Interms of coat color, Chocolate, Ticked tabby, Lavender and Pointed arenot recognized colors and patterns.

TICA (The International CatAssociation) however, does make an allowance for pointed versions.

Apart from the above, all colors and patterns are accepted.

Thecoat colors are bold dramatic.

TheManx cat is suited to outdoor or indoor living.

If you plan to keepyour cat indoors (which is the safest place for it to be), you do needto create an environment which will alleviate boredom. So do invest incat scratching posts, toys, cat gyms and edible plants.

Some breedershave contracts that stipulate that the cat must be kept indoors only.

When we say outdoors, we are really referring to an enclosed gardenwhich is completely escape-proof. You may want to consider a kittyenclosure or cat run. This will give your cat the best of both worlds!

TheManx cat is ideal for families with children and other pets and makewonderful companions for the young and old.

Smaller children do need tobe taught to be gentle with kittens.

Cats should always have their hindlegs supported when held and this is especially so with the Manx.

Spayed/neutered cats get on well with all pets, cats and dogs.

The Manx has an excellent even temperament.

It is described as a calm,gentle, affectionate and non-aggressive cat that is not hugelydemanding.

An intelligent cat that is quick to learn and loves to playespecially a good game of "fetch".

Being people-orientated it does notlike to be left alone for extended periods.

The Manx is a talkative cat,but the good news is that it has a fairly quiet voice.

The Manx Cat with its short double coat requires minimal grooming.

The Longhaired Manx or Cymrichas a semi-long, double coat and requires a daily brush.

The taillessor rumpy Manx may sometimes require a little extra attention around theanus as feces may cling to the short, close-lying fur in this area.

Need help with cat care? We have loads of valuable tips and guides for ultimate cat grooming.

TheManx cat is generally considered a robust, healthy cat breed.

There aresome hereditary / genetic conditions found in highly pedigreed animalsand the Manx cat is no different.

During our research, we foundnumerous articles that refer to problems related to their taillessness,namely Manx Syndrome. If you need to know more about this condition then do visit the links provided to find out more about Manx Syndrome and Malformations.

You also need to be aware, that these cats have roamed the Isle of Manfor over 300 years and whilst there may be some hereditary problems,many well-bred cats are free of genetic defects.

Our recommendation is that you buy your kitten from an experienced,knowledgeable, responsible and reputable cat breeder, one with anexcellent track record of breeding healthy cats.

Also remember that all cats are susceptible to infectious feline diseases and require vaccination to prevent these killer diseases.

Do consider medical cat insurance for your cat.

This kitty needs no specific or special diet. Good cat nutrition means good cat health. Our extensive information on cat food will provide you with options on the types of cat food.

Cats also need to have a plentiful supply of clean, fresh water.

Cat Weight:

The average weight for the Manx is 3.6 kg - 5.4 kg (8.0 - 12.0 lbs)

Their average life span is 12 + years. To find out how you can ensure that your cat lives a long and healthy life, visit the chapter on how long do cats live.

Related Cat Pages:

Manx Breed History

Manx Breeders

Manx Pictures