Manx

The tailless Manx Cat has become somewhat rare. The cats are of two kinds, the entirely tailless ones being known as rumpies, the others as stumpies. In each case the hind legs are longer than those of tailed cats, and the action in running and walking is also different, the run suggesting a hop. Tailless cats are fairly common in China and Japan but in Europe are found mainly in the Isle of Man. Spain and Portugal can however boast a few. They were probably introduced to the Island from a foriegn vessel ship wrecked along the Manx coastline.

Though the tail-less cat is what most people will think of whenever a Manx is mentioned there are, in fact, at least four different types of tail - or lack of it!

• Rumpy is a cat with a total absence of tail
• Rumpy Riser is a Rumpy which has a 'rise' of a coccyx - the hinge where the tail is attached to the spine
• Stumpy has a coccyx and just a few tail vertebrae giving a stump
• Tailed, which describes those which have a normal (long) tail

According to different Manx breeders there can even be more tail types! There's a 'Long Riser' or a 'Short Stumpy' which falls somewhere between the Rumpy Riser and the Stumpy (having maybe only 1 or 2 tail vertebrae), a 'Long Stumpy' (a bit longer than a regular Stumpy!) and there is even a 'Longie' which is much longer than a Stumpy but shorter than a full tail.

The Manx is fairly square in appearance, short bodied with the rounded rump higher than the head, medium sized and looking muscular and workmanlike.the coat is short and double coated, the undercoat being very thick with longer guard haris. The quality of the coat is of greater importance than colour. All colours are allowed by the GCCF excepting Himalayan (Siamese) coat pattern.

Although Manx have no particular health problems, it makes good sense to insure your cats.  Many breeders sell their kittens with six weeks free insurance cover.  More and more owners are now insuring their pets as advances in veterinary medicine, plus the soaring costs of drugs can mean astronomical bills.

Manx Breed Clubs and Rescue

The British Short Hair Cat Club
Secretary: Mrs M Coleman
Ty Gwyn, Llawr-Y-Glyn, Caersws, Powys, SY17 5RH Tel 01686 430334

Manx Breeders

Contact the Breed Clubs who will have lists of Breeders and may have Kitten Lists.