Manx
Also called Isle of Man cat, rumpy.
The taillessness comes from a dominant mutation affecting spinal development, which is why it carries real consequences. Tail length varies from none at all to nearly full within the same litter.
- Coat
- Short
- Build
- Compact and heavy
- Head
- Round
- Weight
- 3.5–6 kg
- Origin
- Isle of Man
What it looks like
Round and compact with no tail or a short one, hind legs noticeably longer than the front, and a rounded rump giving a distinctly rabbit-like outline.
The characters that confirm it
- Absent or short tail, in every gradation from a dimple to a stump to nearly full.
- Hind legs longer than the forelegs, producing a rabbit-like gait.
- A rounded rump and a broad chest on a compact body.
- A double coat, dense and padded.
Temperament
Placid, sociable and notably dog-like, often following people between rooms.
Health
Manx syndrome — spina bifida, spinal cord and pelvic defects causing incontinence and hind-limb problems — occurs in a proportion of tailless kittens and usually appears within the first months. Two tailless cats are never bred together, since the gene is lethal when homozygous. A longer-tailed Manx is a healthier one.
Confused with
A short pom-pom tail from a different, recessive mutation with no associated spinal disease. Slender build rather than cobby.
A longhaired Manx, and the same mutation.
Questions about this breed
How do you recognise a Manx?
Absent or short tail, in every gradation from a dimple to a stump to nearly full. Hind legs longer than the forelegs, producing a rabbit-like gait.
What is a Manx like to live with?
Placid, sociable and notably dog-like, often following people between rooms.
What health problems do Manxs have?
Manx syndrome — spina bifida, spinal cord and pelvic defects causing incontinence and hind-limb problems — occurs in a proportion of tailless kittens and usually appears within the first months. Two tailless cats are never bred together, since the gene is lethal when homozygous. A longer-tailed Manx is a healthier one.