Manx cat breed

The Manx was first discovered in Britain on the Isle of Man hundreds of years ago. Nobody is really sure how they got there or when exactly but many theories have been invented over the years. One theory suggests the cats were brought over by the Vikings while others like to think they were brought over during the Spanish Armada in the late 1500's. The actual truth is unknown and will probably forever remain a mystery.
Manx cats and kittens have been popular pets for many years but few people knew they existed until the 1900's. In 1901 a group of British Manx enthusiasts formed a club to promote recognition of the breed and since then their popularity has soared. Unfortunately, the breed is extremely rare, especially show quality cats therefore the demand is very high but they are still very hard to get hold of. Many Brits and Americans are big Manx fanciers but few manage to acquire their preferred fury feline friend.
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Some Manx cats are born with small tails and they can be of different lengths, they are categorised as Rumpy, Rumpy-Riser, Longy or Stumpy. You might not guess the order but Rumpies are completely tailless Manxes, Rumpy-Risers have a small stump, Stumpies have slightly longer stumps than Rumpy-Risers and Longies have tails almost as long as other breeds. Only Rumpies and Rumpy-Risers are allowed to compete in the Championship Ring. Stumpies can compete in the 'Any other Variety' section.
Manx cats are built solidly, appear powerful and are quite a heavy breed of cat. Their heads are round with medium sized ears and large round eyes. The colour of their eyes conform to the colour of their fur. They have short thick coats that can come in a range of colours. The overall appearance should be rounded and strong.
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Besides taillessness, the Manx is known for its robust and rounded appearance. It has a very round head and rounded cheeks which give it a jowly appearance; even more so in the male cat than in the female.
Another striking feature of Manx cats is their extremely long back legs, giving them a raised rump.
Manx cats have short stocky bodies, wide chests and strong bones. Their eyes are round, and the ears are broad at the base tapering to a rounded tip.
The Manx breed is seen with just about every coat colour, and every coat pattern.
Solid colour Manx cats, blue, cream, black, white, and red Manx cats. Beautiful bicolour Manx cats, wonderful tabby Manx and charming calico Manx cats. You can even find Manx cats with pointed (Siamese type) patterns, but these are not generally accepted for show purposes.

The gene that causes taillessness can also cause spinal problems, which are evident within the first few months after the kitten is born, and usually within the first month. The defect, known as Manx Syndrome, manifests as bladder or bowel dysfunction and difficulty walking. Because of the potential for this syndrome, Manx breeders usually don’t adopt kittens out until they are around four months old to ensure that they do not suffer from the disorder. Breeders also tend to dock the tail stump when the kittens are quite young. This is not done for cosmetic reasons as with dogs. Rather, it reduces the likelihood of Manx Syndrome manifesting. The syndrome is rare in dock-tailed cats. Due to selective breeding, Manx Syndrome is far less common than it once was, and the majority of cats without the syndrome enjoy robust health.
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