Manx

The Manx originated on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, where visiting sailors recorded tailless cats in the sixteenth century ^[1]. CFA thinks taillessness most likely began as a mutation in the island's native shorthairs and then spread across the island ^[1]. TICA adds that the island's isolation and resulting inbreeding made the trait common ^[2]. The longhair gene was probably introduced during Viking rule ^[1]. Manx appeared at the first cat shows in Britain and were registered by CFA from 1906 ^[1]; TICA recognised both the Manx and the Cymric for championship in June 1979 ^[2].

• Tail: the ideal show cat is tailless, with just a dimple where the tail would be, but tailed and partially tailed Manx do occur ^[1][2].
• Body: short and rounded with great depth of flank and surprising weight. The hind legs are longer than the forelegs, so the rump sits higher than the shoulders in a continuous arch ^[1].
• Head: very round, with rounded cheeks, large round eyes and medium ears ^[1].
• Coat: thick and well padded in both shorthair and longhair ^[1]. The longhair is known as the Cymric ^[2].
• Weight: males average 10–12 lb, females slightly less ^[1]. TICA says Manx take up to five years to mature fully ^[2].

Manx are affectionate and intelligent and tend to bond strongly with one or two family members, so they may take a while to accept newcomers ^[1]. They love fetch and will politely bring you something to throw ^[1]. They usually get along with dogs and other cats and are patient and tolerant with children of all ages ^[1]. They chat with chirps, trills and purrs without being loud ^[1]. Most of the time they're couch companions, but those powerful back legs can launch them to the top of the fridge in a single bound ^[1].

• Coat: not prone to matting. Groom shorthairs with a comb or brush two or three times a month; comb longhairs weekly with a wide-toothed comb, especially under the legs and on the sides of the face ^[1].
• Handling: always support the hindquarters when lifting, and teach children not to poke where the tail would be ^[2].
• Watch: keep an eye on gait and toileting, especially in kittens ^[1][6].

• Manx syndrome: hind-leg, bladder and colon problems in tailless cats, usually evident before four months of age ^[1]. Completely tailless cats are affected most often ^[5]. There is no cure, only supportive care ^[6].
• Tail arthritis: cats with short, kinked tails are prone to arthritis in the abnormal tail joints ^[5].
• Keeping the gene pool healthy: CFA says testing and monitoring kittens, plus regular use of tailed Manx in breeding, help maintain a healthy, diverse gene pool ^[1].
• Lifespan: GCCF estimates 12–14 years ^[3] and TICA 16+ years ^[2]. These are registry estimates; we found no breed-specific study.

Have a vet examine any kitten before you buy ^[5], and talk to your vet about any specific concern.

Don't confuse with…

• Japanese Bobtail: a short tail from a different gene, with no known associated abnormalities ^[8].
• Cymric: the longhaired Manx ^[2]; FIFe lists it as a separate breed ^[4].
• Kurilian Bobtail: another short-tailed breed ^[4].

• The tale of Noah's Ark door cutting off the Manx's tail is just a legend ^[1].
• The Manx is one of FIFe's eight founding breeds of 1949 ^[4].
• Koko the gorilla had a Manx named All Ball ^[2].