The Manx cat originates from the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea. There are records of these unique cats dating back hundreds of years. They are one of the few natural breeds of domestic cats, meaning that they were not created by human interference from selective breeding.
The breed is a medium sized, muscular, round and compact structure. Manx’s hind legs are very muscular and longer than their front legs, which make them excellent jumpers. They have round heads and the males develop characteristic jowls. The ears are medium sized, are wide at the base, rounded at the tip and are set at an angle low on the head. The eyes are large and round with the outer corners set slightly higher than the inner corners. The soft and thick double coat can come in almost any colour with the exception of lilac and chocolate and in some registries the seal point is not recognized. They are thickly boned, with very short, cobby bodies and they have an arch in their back that starts at the shoulders and continues down the body, giving them a rounded appearance. The trait that can occur in the Manx, which most people recognize, is the lack of a full tail.
It is thought that a spontaneous mutation occurred in the Island cats, causing a dominant mutation in a single gene, resulting in varying degrees of taillessness. This mutation is thought to be unique to Manx since it is a dominant gene and is incompletely expressed. This mutation results in the reduction in number of caudal (tail) vertebrae. Some Manx have no caudal vertebrae (rumpy), some have a few (rumpy riser), some have several (stumpy) and some can have a full tail or almost a full tail (longy). This mutation does not affect the spinal vertebrae.
The myth of “Manx Syndrome” has been perpetuated by lack of understanding of the causes of spina bifida, and is just that - a myth. Spina Bifida can and does occur in any species that has a vertebral column. The mythical Manx syndrome was so named due to the general public assuming that every cat born without a tail is a Manx. These non-Manx tailless cats actually can have a birth defect that causes problems with the spinal nerves affecting the bladder, bowel and lower limb function. These tailless cats with a birth defect causing taillessness are not Manx cats. Hence the misnaming of this birth defect as “Manx Syndrome” has given the Manx breed an undeserved stigma.
The personality of the Manx is that of a friendly, intelligent, sensitive and curiously playful cat. They love to be around their people, and are very affectionate and loyal. They do not like to be alone, and if their people are away for most of the day, the Manx will enjoy the companionship of another Manx or animal. Manx tend to be good with cat-savvy children, and with other pets. They are also used as therapy cats due to the friendly and calm personality.
The Manx breed is one of the original breeds to be registered in the UK and in USA. They continue to be treasured by Manx lovers around the world. The Manx have small litters and are a relatively rare breed with very few registered pedigreed Manx breeders in the world. The Manx cat can still be found in good numbers on the Isle of Man as the natural breed of the Island.
The breed is a medium sized, muscular, round and compact structure. Manx’s hind legs are very muscular and longer than their front legs, which make them excellent jumpers. They have round heads and the males develop characteristic jowls. The ears are medium sized, are wide at the base, rounded at the tip and are set at an angle low on the head. The eyes are large and round with the outer corners set slightly higher than the inner corners. The soft and thick double coat can come in almost any colour with the exception of lilac and chocolate and in some registries the seal point is not recognized. They are thickly boned, with very short, cobby bodies and they have an arch in their back that starts at the shoulders and continues down the body, giving them a rounded appearance. The trait that can occur in the Manx, which most people recognize, is the lack of a full tail.
It is thought that a spontaneous mutation occurred in the Island cats, causing a dominant mutation in a single gene, resulting in varying degrees of taillessness. This mutation is thought to be unique to Manx since it is a dominant gene and is incompletely expressed. This mutation results in the reduction in number of caudal (tail) vertebrae. Some Manx have no caudal vertebrae (rumpy), some have a few (rumpy riser), some have several (stumpy) and some can have a full tail or almost a full tail (longy). This mutation does not affect the spinal vertebrae.
The myth of “Manx Syndrome” has been perpetuated by lack of understanding of the causes of spina bifida, and is just that - a myth. Spina Bifida can and does occur in any species that has a vertebral column. The mythical Manx syndrome was so named due to the general public assuming that every cat born without a tail is a Manx. These non-Manx tailless cats actually can have a birth defect that causes problems with the spinal nerves affecting the bladder, bowel and lower limb function. These tailless cats with a birth defect causing taillessness are not Manx cats. Hence the misnaming of this birth defect as “Manx Syndrome” has given the Manx breed an undeserved stigma.
The personality of the Manx is that of a friendly, intelligent, sensitive and curiously playful cat. They love to be around their people, and are very affectionate and loyal. They do not like to be alone, and if their people are away for most of the day, the Manx will enjoy the companionship of another Manx or animal. Manx tend to be good with cat-savvy children, and with other pets. They are also used as therapy cats due to the friendly and calm personality.
The Manx breed is one of the original breeds to be registered in the UK and in USA. They continue to be treasured by Manx lovers around the world. The Manx have small litters and are a relatively rare breed with very few registered pedigreed Manx breeders in the world. The Manx cat can still be found in good numbers on the Isle of Man as the natural breed of the Island.
Isle Of Man Coat of Arms