Manx

The Manx, or 'rumpy as it is sometimes called, is unique in appearance. It has no tail and because the hind legs are longer than the forelegs and the back is short, it has a rabbity look and gait, and a rounded rump. The Manx is similar to the Domestic Shorthair, but has a decided hollow where the tail should be; this does not affect its balance, however, and the powerful hind legs are capable of strong, high springs. It can also run very fast. It makes a good mouser and is able to catch its own supper in the local streams . The Manx makes a loyal and affectionate pet, as it is curious, intelligent and amusing, and likes to be part of the family. It may resent being left out of things or being on its own. It would make an ideal office cat because it cannot get its tail caught in doors!

Grooming
With its short, thick undercoat and soft medium length top coat, the Manx will benefit from a daily grooming session with a medium soft brush and a medium toothed comb to remove the dead hairs and to keep the coat shining and healthy. The ears, eyes and teeth should have regular attention too.

Origin and history
Tailless cats have been known for centuries. Charles Darwin reported seeing them frequently in Malaysia. They also occur in Russia and
China. It is possible that they were brought to the Isle of Man by ships from the Far East. However they arrived, once there they were geographically isolated, and because there were few other domestic cats on the island, the taillessness was perpetuated, and the gene for tail-lessness spread among the island's cats. There is a book, written 200 years ago and now in the Manx Museum at Douglas, Isle of Man, which refers to the tailless cats of the island. They were considered lucky and appeared on jewellery, in paintings and on coins.
A state cattery on the island is now breeding Manx cats with some success, and holidaymakers can buy them to take home as souvenirs; they are also being exported. The cats were first exported from the United Kingdom to the United States in the 1930s, and they have a considerable following. It is said that King Edward VIII owned a Manx cat when he was Prince of Wales.

Breeding
Manx cats are difficult to breed because like to like tailless does not necessarily produce tailless kittens. In fact, tailed, tailless and stumpy tailed kittens may result, and continuous like to like Manx matings result in a lethal factor coming into play, with the majority of kittens dying either before or just after birth. The tailless gene seems to be connected with other skeletal defects, and results in other vertebrae being fused together, giving deformed kittens with spina bifida. Manx litters may contain the completely tailless Manx or `rumpy'; a 'riser', which has a very small number of vertebrae, usually immobile; a 'stubby', which has a short tail, often knobbly or kinked; and a 'Iongy', with a medium length tail.

Kittens
Many kittens of other breeds seem to regard mother's tail as a built in toy, but Manx kittens still seem to find plenty to play with.