The Manx The Mouser Without a Tail

The Manx is tied culturally, genetically, and as a breed to the Isle of Man, which is located in the Irish Sea in the British Isles. In fact, this cat is so important to the Isle of Man that its featured on its coat of arms. As a breed, these cats go back some time, to as far back as the 1700s. One of their first cultural mentions occurred in 1810, when noted painter Joseph Turner wrote that he owned seven cats that had no tail from the Isle of Man.

The Manx breed is most commonly noted for its distinguishing physical feature having little or no tail. This is the result of a genetic mutation of the spine. Consequently, having no tail or stubbies can lead to problems in the cat's lower back. The gene that causes this mutation is dominant a Manx cat bred to another cat will produce kittens with no tail.

There are many legends which have developed to explain this cat's lack of a tail. One of the most popular is that when Noah called the animals to the Ark, the Manx was busy playing and the last to arrive. When Noah shut the door of the Ark before the great flood, the door was closed on the cat's tail, and all its descendants were then born without tails. Another legend says that these cats are descended from a cat and a rabbit, which explains not only the missing tail, but the cat's considerable jumping ability.

Manx cats are excellent hunters, and are noted for routinely taking down prey thats larger than themselves. For this reason, theyre sought after by farmers and other who want to control rodent populations naturally. As you might expect, these cats thrive outdoors. They can spring and run quickly, then turn on a dime, which has led one observer to call them the sports car of the cat world.

Even though the Manx cat lacks a tail, they are still cute cats, bred for their attractive faces, as well as their tail-less hind end. As young kittens, their health may be fragile however, once the kittens pass about six months of age, theyre generally very healthy and long-lived. In fact, its not uncommon for these cats to live to be 15 years of age. These cats arent particularly susceptible to upper respiratory infections or other common feline ailments once theyve passed six months of age.

In terms of temperament, these cats are playful to a fault. The Manx can jump higher than youd expect and they may surprise you by climbing high into trees or finding the highest possible spot in a room. Like dogs, these cats are known to retrieve objects and will even bury their toys for safe-keeping.

In addition, its important to note that these cats bond strongly, and are usually known to be a one person or one family cat. Their bonds are so strong that they dont adapt well to a change in ownership. If you do decide to adopt a Manx cat, make sure youre able to commit to owning one for the next 15 years otherwise, consider another breed.

However, if youre looking for a playful, active cat that will reward you with the bonds of a strong relationship, the Manx cat may be the right choice for you.