Cat
Breed Description:
The Manx breed of cat (Manx: Kayt Manninagh or Stubbin) is a breed of cat with a naturally occurring mutation of the spine. What this mutation does is shorten the tail of the cat, this results in a range of tail lengths. Many Manx have a small "stub" of a tail, but Manx cats are best known as being entirely tail-less; this is the distinguishing characteristic of the breed and a cat body type genetic mutation. The Manx breed of cat are said to be skilled hunters, known to take down larger prey even when they are young. They are often sought by farmers with rodent problems.
Temperament:
The Manx breed is a highly intelligent cat breed. These cats are often playful. The Manx breed of cat will fetch small objects. These cats love humans and are therefore a great choice for families with young children and people who are looking for a great companion. The Manx breed of cat tends to like water; you may even find them playing with it. The love of water allows the owners of Manx cats to give the occasional showers for hygiene purposes, unlike most other cats. The Manx breed of cat can learn simple commands. Other cat breeds that share similar personality traits are Bengal and Ocicat. When there are multiple Manx cats in a household they chase each other frequently. These cats will chase other things as well. However, Manx cats are usually very quiet.
Health Problems:
"Manx Syndrome" is a colloquial name given to the condition which results when the mutant tailless gene shortens the spine too much. It can seriously damage the spinal cord and the nerves causing spina bifida as well as problems with the bowels, bladder, and digestion. The Manx breed of cat is also predisposed to rump fold intertrigo and corneal dystrophy. The Manx breed, in spite of the absence of tail, has no problems with balance, mostly because of its long legs and round features.
Living Conditions:
These cats are excellent at keeping a rodent population down so they are comfortable indoors as well as out.
Exercise:
Because the Manx breed of cat loves chasing they are found to be very fit.
Origin:
The Manx breed originated before the 1700s on the Isle of Man (hence the name), where they are common. They are called stubbin in the Manx language. Tail-less cats were common on the island as long as three hundred years ago. The tail-lessness arises from a genetic mutation that became common on the island (an example of the founder effect).
Folk beliefs claim the Manx cats came from the Spanish Armada; a ship foundered on Spanish Rock on the coast of the Isle of Man. According to legend, the cats on the ship swam ashore and became an established breed. Legend has it that the cats originally went onboard the Spanish ship in the Far East. 