The tailless Manx is a friendly,
affectionate, relaxed companion--an easy feline to share a home
with. According to some sources the Manx is somewhat doglike in
its habits; it will play "fetch," growl at an unidentified
disturbance, and may follow its owner around. These cats are also
known for their love of shiny objects--keep an eye on your
jewelry! Manxes like to snooze in laps and high places. Children,
dogs, and other cats are taken in stride.
Other Names
Isle
of Man Cat
Native Country
Isle
of Man
Breed Description
Build: solid and compact with a rounded
rump higher than the shoulders. Broad chest
Head: large, round with prominent
cheeks
Face: firm, strong muzzle and chin
Ears: set high on head,angled slightly
outwards
Eyes: large and round, angled towards
the nose
Tail: no tail. Should be no visible
stump, just a rounded rump
Legs: short and powerful, with the
hind legs longer than the forelegs
Coat: double coat with thick undercoat
and a slightly longer overcoat
History
A
tailless cat that hops like a rabbit This cat’s name is derived
from its native Isle of Man, off the coast of Ireland. These cats,
described in China, Japan, Malaysia, and Russia, were once thought
to be from the Far East. For example, they could have been brought
by Spanish sailors after the wreck of a Spanish galleon in Philip
II’s invincible armada in 1588. Actually, the breed is the result
of a spontaneous genetic mutation caused by a dominant autosomal
gene (M) expressed in various ways: from tailless Manx cats (rumpies)
to those with a normal tail (tailies). Because of the high degree
of inbreeding in the feline population on the small Isle of Man,
the M gene was easily passed down through many generations. The
Manx was very popular in England by the late 19th century. A Manx
Club was created in Great Britain in 1901. While very popular in
countries including the United States and Great Britain, the Manx
is quite uncommon in France. A semilonghaired Manx called the
Cymric has been selectively bred in North America.
Behavior
With
his excellent character, this cat adapts easily to changes in
lifestyle. Manxes are sociable and accepting of other animals.
Patient with children, they are affectionate toward their owner.
Hardy, lively, and active. Manx kittens grow slowly. Manxes are
less prolific than average for domestic cats, and they are
difficult to breed. Homozygotic kittens (MM, carriers of two
“doses” of the dominant mutant gene) die in the uterus (due to the
incomplete development of the spinal cord). Thus, all Manxes are
heterozygotic (Mm). Rumpies should not be bred together, due to
the risk of this fatal gene combination. Instead, it is advised to
breed Manxes with American Shorthairs or British Shorthairs,
knowing that not all the kittens in each litter will be Manxes.
Manxes are easy to groom. |
