Manx (cat)
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2008-07-08T04:50:44Z
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{{Infobox Catbreed
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| name = Manx
| image = Manx breed cat named Inkku.jpg
| imagecaption =
| altname =
| nickname =
| country = [[Isle of Man]] ([[Crown dependency]])
| notrecognized =
| extinct =
| cfastd = http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/standards/manx.html
| fifestd =
| ticastd = http://www.ticaeo.com/Content/Publications/Pages/MX.pdf
| gccfstd =
| aacestd = http://www.aaceinc.org/pages/breeds/man.htm
| acfastd = http://www.acfacat.com/manx_standard.htm
| acfstd =
| ccastd = http://www.cca-afc.com/en/files/manx.pdf
| otherstd =
| note =
|}}
The '''Manx''' (''kayt Manninagh'' or ''stubbin'' in [[Manx language|Manx]]) is a [[cat breeds|breed]] of [[cat]]s with a naturally occurring [[mutation]] of the [[spine (anatomy)|spine]]. This mutation shortens the tail, resulting in a range of tail lengths from normal to tailless. Many Manx have a small 'stub' of a [[tail]], but Manx cats are best known as being entirely tailless and is the distinguishing characteristic of the breed and a [[cat body type genetic mutations| cat body type genetic mutation]].
==Origin==
The [[Isle of Man|Manx]] breed originated on the [[Isle of Man]] (hence the name), where they are common. They are called {{lang|gv|''stubbin''}} in the [[Manx language]]. They are an old breed, and 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]]).
The Manx tail-less gene is dominant and highly [[penetrance|penetrant]]; kittens from Manx parents are generally born without any tail. Having two copies of the gene is lethal and kittens are usually spontaneously [[abortion|aborted]] before birth.<ref>[http://www.cat-world.com.au/Loci2.htm Table of various cat genes]</ref><ref name="Robinson">{{cite journal
| last = Robinson
| first = R
| title = Expressivity of the Manx gene in cats
| journal = Journal of heredity
| volume = 84
| issue = 3
| pages = 170–2
| date = 1993
| pmid = 8228170}}</ref> This means that tail-less cats can carry only one copy of the gene. Because of the danger of having two copies of the tail-less gene, breeders have to be careful about breeding two tail-less Manxes together.<ref> {{cite book
| last = Vella
| first = Carolyn
| coauthors = Lorraine Shelton; John McGonagle; Terry Stanglein
| title = Robinson's Genetics for Cat Breeders and Veterinarians
| publisher = [[Butterworth-Heinemann]]
| date = 1999
| id = ISBN 0-7506-4069-3}}</ref> Problems can be avoided by breeding tail-less cats with tailed ones and this breeding practice is responsible for the decreasing occurrence of spinal problems in recent years.
There are various legends that seek to explain why the Manx has no tail. In one of them, [[Noah]] closed the door of the [[Noah's Ark|ark]] when it began to rain and accidentally cut off the Manx's tail, who'd been playing and almost got left behind.<ref name="FAQ">[http://www.fanciers.com/breed-faqs/manx-faq.html Manx FAQ from Cat Fancier's Mailing List]</ref> Another legend claims that the Manx is the [[offspring]] of a cat and a [[rabbit]] which is why it has no tail and rather long hind legs. In addition, they move with more of a hop than a stride, like a rabbit. This legend was further reinforced by the [[Cabbit]] myth. Recent postcards on the [[Isle of Man]] depict a cartoon scene of a cat's tail being run over and removed by a [[Motorcycle|motorbike]], because [[Isle of Man TT|motorbike racing is popular on the Island]].
==Appearance==
The hind legs of a Manx are longer than the front legs, creating a continuous arch from shoulders to rump giving the cat a rounded appearance.
===Tail length===
[[Image:Manx Beatrice very young.jpg|thumb|180px|left|A week old female Manx [[kitten]]. Note the stumpy tail.]]
Manx kittens are classified according to [[tail]] length:
* '''Dimple rumpy''' or '''rumpy''' - no tail whatsoever
* '''Riser''' or '''rumpy riser''' - stub of [[cartilage]] or several [[vertebrae]] under the fur, most noticeable when kitten is happy and raising its 'tail'
* '''Stumpy''' - partial tail, more than a 'riser' but less than 'tailed' (in rare cases kittens are born with kinked tails because of incomplete growth of the tail during [[Developmental biology|development]])
* '''Tailed''' or '''longy''' - complete or near complete tail
-Tail length is random throughout litter.
The ideal [[Show cat|show]] Manx is the rumpy; the stumpy and tailed Manx do not qualify to be shown. In the past, kittens with stumpy or full tails have been [[Docking (animals)|docked]] at birth as a preventative measure due to some partial tails being very prone to a form of [[arthritis]] that causes the cat severe pain. <ref name="FAQ"/>
[[Image:Shadow Manx.jpg|thumb|Short-hair stubby Manx]]
===Coat===
Manx cats exhibit two [[Coat (animal)|coat lengths]]. The short-haired Manx has a double coat with a thick, short under-layer and a longer, coarse outer-layer with [[guard hairs]]. The long-haired Manx, known to some cat registries as the [[Cymric (cat)|Cymric]], has a silky-textured double coat of medium length, with britches, belly and neck ruff, tufts of fur between the toes and full ear furnishings. [[The Cat Fanciers' Association]] (CFA) considers the Cymric to be a variety of Manx and judges it in the short-hair division, while [[The International Cat Association]] (TICA) judges it in the long-hair division. Short- or long-haired, all Manx have a thick double-layered coat.
==Health==
[[Image:Manx Minus rumpy.jpg|thumb|160px|left|Another rumpy or possibly rumpy-riser Manx]]
Pedigreed Manx cats today are much healthier and have fewer [[health]] issues related to their genetics than the Manx of years ago.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} This is due in part to the careful selection of breeding stock, and knowledgeable, dedicated breeders. Manx have been known to live into their mid- to high-teens and are no less healthy than other cat breeds.{{Fact|date=February 2008}}
===Manx Syndrome===
'''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 [[nerve]]s causing [[spina bifida]] as well as problems with the [[bowel]]s, [[Urinary bladder|bladder]], and [[digestion]]. Some only live for 3 years; the oldest recorded was 5. In one study it was shown to affect about 20% of Manx cats, but almost all of those cases were rumpies, which exhibit the most extreme [[phenotype]].<ref name="Robinson"/> Actual occurrences of this are rare in modern examples of the breed due to informed breeding practices.<ref>[http://www.fanciers.com/breed-faqs/manx-faq.html#medical Manx medical facts]</ref> Most pedigreed cats are not placed until four months of age (to make sure that they are properly socialised) and this gives adequate time for any health problems to be identified.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} Renowned feline expert Roger Tabor has stated that "Only the fact that the Manx is a historic breed stops us being as critical of this dangerous gene as of other more recent selected abnormalities.".<ref>[http://www.messybeast.com/twisty.htm Twisty Cats And The Ethics Of Breeding For Deformity<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
[[Image:Manx Beatrice.jpg|thumb|160px|right|A stumpy white female Manx kitten. Note the long hind legs.]]
==Common facts==
{{Facts|date=January 2008}}
*The Manx breed, in spite of the absence of tail, has no problems with balance.
*The Isle of Man has adopted the Manx cat as a symbol of its native origins. On the Isle of Man, Manx cats appear on the 1988 "cat" crown [http://www.gov.im/treasury/coins/commemorative.xml] and stamps.
*Even though Manx cats cease to be kittens after one year, it takes up to five years for any Manx cat to be fully grown.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
*The Manx was developed before the 1700s.
*The breed is of medium size with an average weight of 5.5 kg (12 [[pound (mass)|lb]]).
*The Manx are said to be skilled hunters, known to take down larger prey even when they are young, it is not uncommon to find a Manx with a [[squirrel]] or an [[opossum]] which are much larger than itself. They are often sought by farmers with rodent problems.
*The famous [[American Sign Language|ASL]]-speaking [[gorilla]], [[Koko (gorilla)|Koko]], has chosen three separate Manx ([[All Ball]], Lipstick and Smokey) as pets.
*Some Manx cats resemble rabbits because of their long hind legs. This has resulted in many being called "cabbits", a [[portmanteau]] of 'rabbit' and 'cat'.
*The Manx Cats are said to have come from the Spanish Armada. A ship foundered on Spanish Rock on the coast of the Isle of Man. The cats on the ship swam ashore and became an established breed. The cats originally went onboard the Spanish ship in the Far East.
==See also==
*[[All Ball]]
*[[Cabbit]]
==References==
<references />
==External links==
*[http://www.manxcats.com/myths.htm Manx Syndrome Myth and Truth]
*[http://www.manx--cats.com Manx Cats Information]
*[http://www.manxbc.org/ The Manx Breed Council]
*[http://www.manncat.com/welcome_main.htm Mann Cat Sanctuary of the Isle of Man]
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[[Category:Fauna of the Isle of Man]]
[[Category:Cat breeds]]
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