Are you looking for a playful, affectionate cat that will follow you from room to room, and curl up in your lap? And you don’t have a preference for short or long hair type? Well, look no further! Manx cat has it all.
History of Manx Cats
There are many legends regarding the origin of the Manx cats. And even though some of those legends are probably not accurate, one thing is certain: the Manx is one of the oldest cat breeds.
The least genetically accurate, but interesting story is that when Noah was calling all the animals to the ark the Manx was napping, but still managed to get into the ark on time. So, when Noah was closing the doors he accidentally closed it on its tail which ended up cutting it off entirely.
A more reliable story about the origin of the Manx is the one related to trading ships from Phoenicia to Japan. The sailors probably brought them on the ship as mousers rather than meaning to import a new breed of cat.
Isle of Man, located in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland is where the Manx has existed for centuries. It is almost certain that the Manx was created when a cat with a spontaneous short-tailed mutation was introduced to the island, most likely by either Nordic or Spanish sailors. The Manx gene became the dominant trait among the island’s cat population, due to the isolation from the mainland and the small size of the island.
Appearance and Physical Traits of Manx Cats
A “round” is the shape of the Manx. Round head, round shaped ears, round eyes.
The Manx often moves with both hind legs in unison, kinda like a bunny-hopping gait, and from there comes the description “rabbit-like” cat.
- They are medium to large in size.
- Male Manx can reach up to 13 pounds, while female Manx weigh around 7 and 11 pounds
- The Manx have short hair but a double coat, although some cat registries recognize a longhaired Manx.
- All virtually known colors and patterns are seen on Manx cats, except pointed pattern, chocolate, or lavender.
- The Manx is also known as a tailless cat, which is the result of a naturally occurring genetic mutation. Regarding this taillessness the Manx can be categorized in 5 categories:
- Rumpi, Riser or Rumpy riser, Stumpy, Stubby or short-tailed, and Longy or taily.
Manx Cats Character / Temperament
These playful, sweet-tempered, easy-going, intelligent, fun-loving cats are great companions. The Manx is loyal to its family, often following her human around the house. They also get along pretty well with other cats and dogs in the family and are smart enough to learn tricks such as fetching or walking on a leash. The Manx loves to play with water and can be your great road trip companion cause they love car rides. And make sure you pay a lot of attention to your Manx and do not leave it alone for long hours.
Health and Care
Although the Manx is generally healthy, these specific diseases and conditions may affect them: Corneal dystrophy, Arthritis in the tailbone of “stumpies” and extremely sensitive nerve-ending area – an area in rumpies, risers, and stumpies.
Also, there is a condition called “Manx Syndrome” that appears when the tailless gene shortens the spine too much. This condition can cause damage to the nerves on the spinal cord which can result in problems such as incontinence or constipation.
Megacolon is a recurring condition that some tailless cats can develop, it can result in life-threatening constipation if the Manx is not monitored properly.
More facts about the Manx cat
- The Manx cat was used by Norton Max motorcycle to promote their brand in metal pins and sew-on patches.
- The appearance of the Meyers Manx was an inspiration to name the original Volkswagen Beetle-based dune buggy – due to its short-bodied and stumpy design.
- A wood, flying model aircraft, with a very short tail, was named Manx Cat V due to the inspiration of the cat’s short tail.