Manx Cat: Cat Breed Profile

Characteristics, History, Care Tips, and Helpful Information for Pet Owners

Due to their skill at hunting and absence of a tail, Manx cats have long been sought after. They are also known to be sociable, friendly, and active cats. They are a working cat breed that originated on the Isle of Man, an island in the Irish Sea that lies between England and Ireland. Being exceptionally animated and intelligent, the breed makes for very social cats that are devoted to their families. In fact, because of how devoted they are to their family and how enthusiastic they are about playing, the Manx are usually compared to dogs.

Breed Overview

WEIGHT: 8 to 12 pounds
LENGTH: About 14 to 16 inches
COAT: Short-and long-haired varieties
COAT COLOR: White, blue, black, red, cream, silver, tortoiseshell, bluecream, and brown
EYE COLOR: Gold, copper, green, hazel, blue, or odd-eyed
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 14 to 16 years

Characteristics of the Manx Cat

Affection Level	High
Friendliness	High
Kid-Friendly	High
Pet Friendly	High
Exercise Needs	Medium
Playfulness	High
Energy Level	High
Intelligence	High
Tendency to Vocalize	High
Amount of Shedding	Medium

History of the Manx Cat

The majority of Manx cats are entirely tailless; in fact, in the regional Manx dialect, the cats were occasionally called “stubbin.” Some Manx cats today have short, stubby tails. In Manx, the breed is now referred to as “kayt Manninagh,” which translates to “cat of Mann” in English. The word “Manx” was frequently mispronounced in English as “Manks” even into the late 1800s. On the Isle of Man, they currently represent a large, albeit declining, component of the local feline population.

The Manx was one of the original exhibition cats when the first cat shows were held in Britain. The first documented breed standard appeared in 1903, and Manx cats have been shown as a named breed since the late 1800s (and with the current spelling “Manx”). The Manx was one of the initial members of the Cat Fancier’s Association when it was founded in 1908. According to the most well-known pedigree cat registry in the United States, records on the breed in North America date back to the 1920s.

The bone where the tail would typically commence is barely elevated in either the “rumpy” or the “rumpy riser.” Only these Manx breeds are allowed to compete in the championship classes at the Cat Fancier’s Association cat show. Competitors with any other tail length are welcome to enter the category “All Other Varieties.”

Manx cats, like all house cats, are thought to be descended from an unidentified mainland stock, but because European wildcats were long extinct on the island, they are nonetheless connected to African wildcats. Despite the fact that the original island cats were shorthaired, the longhair gene was likely introduced during the Viking age when longhaired cats—the ancestors of current Norwegian Forest Cats—left the Viking ships and interbred with the native cats.

There are many folktales about the Manx cat, all of which focus on its lack of a tail. According to certain biblical allusions, Noah accidentally amputated the tail of the Manx cat as he shut the Ark’s door. One story, for instance, stated that a tailless cat had brought the trait to the island after swimming ashore after a shipwreck. Due to how dominant the tailless gene is, it was even hypothesized that simply being around a Manx cat would cause other breeds to produce kittens without tails. Actually, a full-tailed kitten can be born to two Manx cats carrying the tailless gene, and kittens who do acquire the trait can have tail lengths ranging from a full tail to none at all.

Tassess cat populations can also be found in a few other places in Europe, notably Cornwall, which is situated roughly 250 miles from the Isle of Man. Similar cats live on the Crimean peninsula in the Black Sea. The dominant tail suppression gene of the recently identified American bobtail breed may be related to the Manx gene.

Care of a Manx Cat

A robust breed of cat with rounded eyes, rump, and head is the Manx. It can leap to great heights and even open doors with to its large, stocky physique and strong, extended hind legs.

Manx have several characteristics in common with dogs, including the capacity to bury their toys and retrieve objects. On shelves or tables, Manx cats are frequently spotted sitting. This breed of dog will be happiest with a household that has the time to interact with them and play with them.

Everyone in your family will probably get along with the sweet, laid-back Manx cat, who will provide them a lot of love and affection over the years. Due to their skill in hunting, they have historically been a preferred breed for ship cats and a breed that farmers advise when dealing with rodent issues. However, when given the chance, Manx cats make superb hunters, so a family with one will never have to worry about mice. There are many different shades and patterns of Manx cats; long-haired variations are occasionally considered to be a separate breed known as the Cymric, which means “Welsh.”

Both the longhaired and shorthaired varieties of the Manx have double coats that should be dense and velvety. Shorthairs have an outer coat that is more rigid and shiny than longhairs, which have a medium-length coat that is silky. Even though these cats have double coats that feel silky and luxurious to the touch, owners still need to brush them once or twice a week to remove dead hair.

Common Health Concerns

The typical Manx cat has a high level of resistance and is not particularly susceptible to significant health issues that other breeds experience.

The shorter, rounder Manx breed of cat may be more susceptible to a spine that is particularly tiny and may not adequately transmit nerve and muscle endings. This genetic trait may occasionally result in:

The spinal cord is visible at birth due to the birth defect “spina bifida” or “the open spine.”
A lack of bowel or bladder control
Weak rear portions or weak rear legs

Diet and Nutrition

Like most cats, the Manx cat need a diet that is well-balanced and includes fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Their cat food should contain fish oils and omega 3 fatty acids to keep their thick coat healthy, fiber for digestion and weight control, taurine for their vision and heart health, etc.

For a Manx cat, commercial cat food—whether wet or dry—should be the best option. Locate foods with meat as the primary component. Manx cats don’t want their food to be too cold, thus it can be necessary to reheat wet food before serving. You can also use both wet and dry foods in your meals to enhance flavor.

Where to Find a Manx Cat for Sale or Adoption

You might be possible to find a purebred Manx cat from a local breeder, but if you’d prefer to adopt through a rescue organization, go to:

Rescue of Cats Lacking Tails
Adopt a Pet on Catfoodsite

Research and further cat breeds

Before determining whether a Manx cat is the ideal cat for you, make sure to do extensive research on the breed and speak with other Manx cat owners, breeders, and rescue organizations to find out more. Giving a pet formula milk substitute or human food treats like tuna as an occasional reward is acceptable.

Cow’s milk shouldn’t be given to Manx cats since the lactose may accumulate in the intestines and create digestive issues. You might also be interested in the following cats: