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History of the Breed
The Manx cat breed is believed to have originated in the early 1700s from
Isle of Man (that is where they got their name) where the cats are commonly
found. The cats are known as Stubbin as they are called in Manx language.
Folk beliefs suggest that the Manx came from a foundered ship called the
Ship Armada on a Spanish rock in the Isle of Man coast. According to the
legend, the Manx cat became a well-known breed after it swam ashore from the
ship. The legend further suggests that the Manx boarded the ship from the
Far East. The tail-less gene in Manx is highly penetrate and dominant. The
Manx kittens are usually born without tails. It is semi-fatal to have two
dominant gene copies and that is the reason why the kitten is spontaneously
aborted. Therefore, Manx can only carry a single copy of the dominant gene.
There are so many legends that try to come up with theories why the Manx cat
does not have a tail including one that Noah in the Bible must have closed
the ark’s door accidentally cutting off the tail. Another legend suggest
that Manx is an offspring of a rabbit and a cat and that is the reason for
the missing tail
General Description
The Manx cat has longer hind legs than the front legs; this creates a
flowing arch from the rump to the shoulders. The cat has a rounded
appearance and has smaller ears than that of other cat breeds. These cat
breed come in varying colors including calico, tabby, tortie and all strong
coat colors. Manx has a round shaped head and the cat is very expressive
with a small nose and cute eyes. The cat is classified according to the
length of the tail; therefore there are classifications such as rumpy,
riser, stumpy tailed and stubby. Manx cats have a double length coat. A
short haired cat has double coat with coarse guarded hairs while long haired
cats have a silky double coat.
Temperament
Manx cats are very playful and can jump very high that is why it is normal
to find these cat perching on a high point in the room. Due to the strong
hind quarters some owners have stated that Manx is a graceful sport car with
quick turns and accelerations. The Manx cat shows some dog-like traits such
as burying and retrieving their toys. These cats can either be a one person
pet or a family cat. Though Manx cats bonds with people, it is difficult for
them to be contented in another different home. In addition, there are some
Manx which accept interest from anybody.
Health and Care
Manx syndrome a condition which affects the Manx cats when the spine is
shortened too much by the malformed tailless gene. This condition can
severely cause damages in the nerves and spinal cord which may in turn
result in spinal bifida and other problems such as digestion, bladder and
bowels complications. Cats affected by Manx syndrome can only live for as
long as 3 or 5 years. In most cases, this condition is caused by breeding
practices and that is the reason why most cats are taken in until they are 4
months old when the disease can be identified. Manx breed are also affected
by corneal dystrophy and intertrigo. Despite the absence of the tail, the
Manx cat has no balance problems due to the round features and long legs.
Pets4You offers listings of
Manx Cat breeders with puppies for sale. |
