“All hands on deck!” meowed the Manx cat as she ran into Noah’s Ark last of all. The doors of the Ark slammed shut and pinched her long tail. The Manx chose to lose her tail rather than miss the voyage to safety with everyone else. That, the legend goes, is how the breed was born. The cat lost her tail, and the world gained a new breed.
Breed History
Legends aside, the origins of the Manx are shrouded in fog. A typical British Isles fog, because it seems it was fog and bad weather that helped sink a ship of the Spanish Armada near the headland called Spanish Head. A tailless cat that had lived on the ship catching rats swam to the Isle of Man and found a home there. That supposedly happened around the 1500s.
Thanks to the island’s geographic isolation, the rescued cats thrived there, no outside blood mixed in, and taillessness became common among the cats, developing into a new breed.
The breed became known in the late 19th century. Charles Henry Lane, the owner of a fine Manx cat, published the first breed standard in 1903! And in the 1920s and 1930s, the breed became popular!
Its popularity has mostly been in the Scandinavian countries and America. And the Manx’s homeland, the British Isles, is still devoted to the breed. Many Isle of Man cats were imported to the US over the years, and the Manx has long been recognized by the CFA.
Manx Personality and Traits at a Glance
| Affection for family | ★★★★☆ |
| Shedding | ★★★☆☆ |
| Health | ★★★☆☆ |
| Playfulness | ★★★☆☆ |
| Vocality | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Good with kids | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Friendliness toward strangers | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ease of grooming | ★★★☆☆ |
| Gets along with other pets | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Intelligence | ★★★★☆ |
Manx Breed Overview
Is every tailless cat a Manx, and is every Manx tailless? Is having no tail a strength or a flaw? And what traits did the cat gain by losing its tail? There are many questions, and the breed standard has the answers.
By the way, you may also be interested in the American Bobtail.
- These kittens have bold, rounded foreheads. The head is almost round, broad, and large:
- the cheekbones are broad and prominent;
- the nose is medium, with no stop and a smooth transition from forehead to muzzle;
- the eyes are large and slanted. Lack of slant is a disqualifying trait. The eyes can be any color that goes with the coat. A white Manx can have blue or copper eyes, or odd eyes are allowed;
- the ears are broad, with rounded tips. A telltale breed trait: seen from behind, the ears and the top of the head look like a saddle;
- the neck is short and muscular.
- Body
What does a Manx kitten look like? Like a big, fluffy balloon! Everything about the Manx is round: the head, the eyes, the body, and the paws. But these pleasant curves shouldn’t be excessive. That said, a long body isn’t allowed for this breed either.
The body is medium-sized, the overall silhouette is square, and the back end is visibly heavier than the front, with a rump shaped like an orange. The hind legs are longer than the front legs, and the legs are powerful, with well-developed muscles. The paws are round, and so are the paw pads.
For a Manx, a tail is a relative concept. Either there isn’t one, or more often, what’s there doesn’t look much like a tail at all. The “tail” types are:
- Dimple rumpy or rumpy: no tail vertebrae at all;
- Riser or rumpy riser: the few tail vertebrae there are stay hidden and are almost invisible under the fur;
- Stumpy: a slightly visible tail made up of just 1–3 vertebrae, which are often kinked;
- Tailed or longy: a tail of ordinary length, which can also be kinked.
Manx cats weigh about 8 to 12 lb.
- Coat
Manx cats feel plush to the touch. This plushness comes from a double coat: the guard hairs are longer than the undercoat and don’t lie flat against the body. Some people compare the Manx’s coat to a rabbit’s. The comparison gets even stronger when you watch a Manx move. They don’t walk or run; they hop. So how can you tell it’s not a rabbit? Rabbits don’t meow!
- Color.
There are no limits on Manx kitten colors; they can be anything. Solid black is just as good as tortoiseshell, gray, or a whole rainbow. But in the US (CFA), Manx cats in chocolate, lavender (lilac), or Himalayan (colorpoint) patterns, or those colors with white, aren’t accepted.
Personality
There’s a reason people say tailless cats served as ratters on pirate ships. This pirate cat has kept some of its seafaring skills, though it’s lost others. Yes, this cat can still catch a mouse or a bird and lay its catch by the bed of Captain Flint, that is, its owner, of course. But the Manx is completely hopeless at climbing trees. Still, it loves to gaze at water, spellbound, for a long time (just don’t think it loves swimming in it). Its seafaring past shows!
Having no tail doesn’t stop a Manx from showing emotion in every other way available. After all, a cat also has four paws, a purring motor in its chest, and expressive whiskers!
Manx cats get especially close to children. No wonder: unlike other breeds, they don’t risk getting dragged around by the tail!
Reviews of the Manx are overwhelmingly positive. These cats are very friendly and patient. They’re not the fastest cats in the world, of course, but they’re quite lively, and hopping around the house, they love to play and get into mischief. This breed is a great fit for families with several kids, because then the Manx won’t be bored and won’t let anyone else be bored either.
Health
The breed’s historical isolation means Manx cats have developed health problems found only in this breed. Most often experts point to Manx syndrome. In severe cases of this condition, the kitten’s spine doesn’t develop properly, and the kitten may not survive past about 4 months. If you’re buying a kitten of this breed, be sure to check its pelvis and hind legs for any weakness.
Another condition typical of these cats is pyoderma of the hindquarters, an inflammation of the skin caused by pus-forming bacteria. Of course, only a vet can diagnose pyoderma and prescribe antibiotics.
Young Manx cats can develop corneal dystrophy, a swelling of the cornea that can turn into a corneal ulcer.
There may also be cases of congenital spina bifida, weak legs, and poor coordination.
Lifespan: 12–15 years.
Care and Living Conditions
While you need to keep a close eye on a Manx’s health, caring for one is no trouble at all.
What should you avoid? Falls. Without a tail, a Manx simply can’t land properly, and a fall can have serious consequences. Make sure your cat doesn’t climb too high. On the other hand, they can jump high, and watching those jumps is pure joy.
The thick coat of these cats tends to mat, so your grooming kit should include both combs and a deshedding tool. Brush a Manx weekly, and twice a week during shedding season. Also clean the eyes and ears regularly.
Feeding
Manx cats aren’t spoiled. They eat whatever they’re given. But the price of good health is usually good nutrition. If you feed commercial food, choose only super-premium brands.
If you feed a natural diet, leave out raw eggs, beans, freshwater fish, and whole saltwater fish with bones. Since these cats grow fast, they also need extra vitamins and calcium (ask your vet which ones). Lean meat that’s been blanched or frozen first, organ meats, fermented dairy, and grains are what a Manx should usually eat.
Photos
The Manx Museum in Douglas on the Isle of Man has a book with descriptions and pictures of this cat. A couple of centuries ago, the British believed tailless cats brought good luck. Maybe that’s why the Manx became a symbol of the island! You’ll often see them in photos and on souvenir postcards.
Where to Buy a Manx Kitten in the US
Fans of the breed say King Edward VII himself, while he was Prince of Wales, kept a Manx cat at the palace. In the US, you don’t need royal connections: the Manx has long been bred here, though breeders aren’t everywhere.
In the US, a pet-quality Manx kitten from a reputable breeder usually costs about $600–$1,500, and well-bred, health-screened show kittens cost $1,500–$2,000 or more. Tail type and color affect the price. A responsible breeder won’t let a Manx kitten go before about 4 months of age, and a cheap 8-week-old kitten is a warning sign, not a deal.
So where can you buy one of these beauties?
- CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
- TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/;
- Karello Cattery (Manx breeder for over 24 years; longhaired and shorthaired Manx).
Choose a Manx cattery based on its reputation and real buyer reviews. And of course, reserve your kitten in advance.
The Manx cat. No tail, but an ocean of charm!
