Cat Breeds 101: Manx!

Cat Breeds 101: Manx Photo – Wikipedia – lic. under CC 2.0

The Manx is a breed of feline that is best identified for being tailless. However, there are some cats of this breed (like the one in the image) which have a short stub of a tail.

Through naturally occurring mutation, kittens of this breed were born without the vertebrae of a tail. In the past, the Manx cats were highly priced due to their impressive hunting ability. In fact, they were widely bred by farmers because they take good care of rodents very well. The ancestors of this breed can be traced back to the cats found in Isle of Man.

The Manx breed has been featured in cat shows since the 1800’s. However, it was only in 1903 when the first breed was actually published. It was actually one of the earliest breeds that was registered by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA). In 1979, The International Cat Association (TICA) granted the breed’s championship status.

The Manx is a medium-sized cat with sturdy boning and well-muscled body. They usually appear lean and muscular, but not fatty or bulky. Due to extensive breeding, the Manx breed now appears in a variety of color, pattern, and length. Meanwhile, the breed comes in a variety of traditional colors with distinctive markings. They also have large and rounded eyes with colors that conform with the color of the coat. The most common eye colors include green, blue, copper, and gold.

In addition to its round head and cheeks, the Manx cats are also known for their high hindquarters. Also, their forelegs are noted to be shorter than the hind legs. When viewed from behind, the hind legs usually appear straight.

When it comes to coats, Manx may either be shorthaired or longhaired. However, there are long-haired variants which are considered as a different breed. They are sometimes referred to as the Cymric. Regardless of hair length, both varieties still have double coats which are usually dense and plush. ^[1]

It usually takes five years for the Manx breed to reach its full maturity. When this happens, males usually weigh between 10 to 12 months while females weigh 8 to 10 pounds on an average. Meanwhile, the breed can live for 8 to 14 years.

The Manx breed is known to be of active personality, but not hyperactive. They are the type that go well with children, and even other pets at home. They also possess an impressive level of intelligence. According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) standard, Manx are normally playful. These cats are also considered as social and gregarious. In fact, they can be very attached to their human companions, but somewhat shy to strangers.

Manx is also known to possess dog-like characteristics. They are intelligent in nature and are known for their admirable devotion and loyalty to their family members. In fact, they can be very protective of their family especially when they sense potential danger. At certain times, their hunting instinct may transpire, and when this happens, homeowners would no longer have to worry about the rodents because Manx will take care of them. ^[2]

SOURCES:
[1] http://www.tica.org/members/publications/standards/mx.pdf
[2] http://www.cfa.org/Breeds/BreedsKthruR/Manx.aspx

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