The history and 'tails' of the Manx Breed

A brief history

It is hard to say when the Manx cat was introduced to the Isle of Man. The first references of the Manx being tailless are documented in the early 18th Century.  There is a theory that the Manx cat is related to the Norwegian Forest Cat which could suggest the breed came to the Island as early as 768 when the Norwegians raided the Isle of Man. Both breeds have longer hind legs and a double coat.

 

Image left source: Stylized depiction of a Manx cat; detail from a hand-coloured antique engraving, 1885.

A brief history

It is hard to say when the Manx cat was introduced to the Isle of Man. The first references of the Manx being tailless are documented in the early 18th Century.  There is a theory that the Manx cat is related to the Norwegian Forest Cat which could suggest the breed came to the Island as early as 768 when the Norwegians raided the Isle of Man. Both breeds have longer hind legs and a double coat.

 

Image left source: Stylized depiction of a Manx cat; detail from a hand-coloured antique engraving, 1885.

The earliest recorded appearance of Manx cats in England can be found in a book about painter J.M.W. Turner who resided in London. In the book Turner’s Golden Visions by Lewis Hinds, in the chapter concerning the events of 1810, it says that Turner was visited by two neighbours and were shown into a large room where there were several cats with no tails, when one of the neighbours asked Turner about them, he said he had seven cats and they came from the Isle of Man.

 

Image right Tate D40265: Cat paw prints on the back of an illustration Turner made. (Turner Bequest CXCV 3, Creative Commons Licence)

The earliest recorded appearance of Manx cats in England can be found in a book about painter J.M.W. Turner who resided in London. In the book Turner’s Golden Visions by Lewis Hinds, in the chapter concerning the events of 1810, it says that Turner was visited by two neighbours and were shown into a large room where there were several cats with no tails, when one of the neighbours asked Turner about them, he said he had seven cats and they came from the Isle of Man.

 

Image right Tate D40265: Cat paw prints on the back of an illustration Turner made. (Turner Bequest CXCV 3, Creative Commons Licence)

Manx cats are skilled hunters and were often, and still are, used by farmers for pest control.

The Manx have a unique naturally occurring genetic mutation which is responsible for the shortened or complete loss of tail, possibly due to inbreeding very early on as the gene pool on the Island would have been quite small due to a lack of cats travelling to the Island.

Manx cats were often used as ships cats and therefore resulted in the Manx cat gene pool spreading worldwide.

 

Image left source: Manx cat 1890 Popular Science Monthly Volume 37

Manx cats are skilled hunters and were often, and still are, used by farmers for pest control.

The Manx have a unique naturally occurring genetic mutation which is responsible for the shortened or complete loss of tail, possibly due to inbreeding very early on as the gene pool on the Island would have been quite small due to a lack of cats travelling to the Island.

Manx cats were often used as ships cats and therefore resulted in the Manx cat gene pool spreading worldwide.

 

Image left source: Manx cat 1890 Popular Science Monthly Volume 37

Other tailess cats

There are other breeds of cat without tails including the Japanese and American Bobtails, the difference in these other breeds is that the gene causing the lack of tail is recessive whereas the Manx tail gene is dominant.

Responsible breeding is essential to maintain healthy Manx cats. If you wish to know more visit the GCCF website.

Image right source: Shorthair Japanese bobtail

Other tailess cats

There are other breeds of cat without tails including the Japanese and American Bobtails, the difference in these other breeds is that the gene causing the lack of tail is recessive whereas the Manx tail gene is dominant.

Responsible breeding is essential to maintain healthy Manx cats. If you wish to know more visit the GCCF website.

Image right source: Shorthair Japanese bobtail

Longhaired Manx - The Cymric

Manxies are usually shorthaired but can have long coats, otherwise known as Cymric (pronounced Kim-Rik) which is derived from the word Cymru which is the Celtic name for Wales. They originated in the Isle of Man centuries ago but didn’t become popular until the 1960’s.

Image left: Cymric Manx cat

Longhaired Manx - The Cymric

Manxies are usually shorthaired but can have long coats, otherwise known as Cymric (pronounced Kim-Rik) which is derived from the word Cymru which is the Celtic name for Wales. They originated in the Isle of Man centuries ago but didn’t become popular until the 1960’s.

Image left: Cymric Manx cat

Genetics

The Manx taillessness gene is dominant and highly penetrant; kittens from two Manx parents are generally born without any tail. Being homozygous (having two copies of) the gene is usually lethal in utero, resulting in miscarriage. Thus, tailless cats can carry only one copy of the gene. Breeders have reported all tail lengths in the same litter, and there is no accurate means to predict the ratio of tailed to tailless kittens produced in each litter.

Image right source: Inheritance patterns of the dominant genetic defect

Genetics

The Manx taillessness gene is dominant and highly penetrant; kittens from two Manx parents are generally born without any tail. Being homozygous (having two copies of) the gene is usually lethal in utero, resulting in miscarriage. Thus, tailless cats can carry only one copy of the gene. Breeders have reported all tail lengths in the same litter, and there is no accurate means to predict the ratio of tailed to tailless kittens produced in each litter.

Image right source: Inheritance patterns of the dominant genetic defect

Because of the danger of having two copies of the taillessness gene, breeders generally avoid breeding two entirely tailless Manx cats together. However, in contrast, as neither parent carries the tailless allele, a tailed Manx bred to tailed Manx results in all tailed kittens, which is also undesirable. Therefore, controlled combinations of tailed to tailless and tailless to tailless matings are generally used to maintain overall litter balance, phenotype and genetic diversity.

Source: GCCF

Because of the danger of having two copies of the taillessness gene, breeders generally avoid breeding two entirely tailless Manx cats together. However, in contrast, as neither parent carries the tailless allele, a tailed Manx bred to tailed Manx results in all tailed kittens, which is also undesirable. Therefore, controlled combinations of tailed to tailless and tailless to tailless matings are generally used to maintain overall litter balance, phenotype and genetic diversity.

Source: GCCF

Behaviour

The Manx has a unique personality and is often referred to as being dog-like, they are very loyal and protective of their families. They respond to their names and often come when called. Some also play fetch with their toys and some even bury them.

It is easy to train a Manx to walk on a harness & lead, with some owners reporting that their cats will walk with them to school or work of their own accord, and be waiting for them in the drive or garden on their return.

Manxies are very sociable and often love interaction with other pets in the household.

In the show world Manxies usually thrive, they love the attention.

Image right source: Tabby, rumpy Manx male champion show cat named Silverwing (UK, 1902)

Behaviour

The Manx has a unique personality and is often referred to as being dog-like, they are very loyal and protective of their families. They respond to their names and often come when called. Some also play fetch with their toys and some even bury them.

It is easy to train a Manx to walk on a harness & lead, with some owners reporting that their cats will walk with them to school or work of their own accord, and be waiting for them in the drive or garden on their return.

Manxies are very sociable and often love interaction with other pets in the household.

In the show world Manxies usually thrive, they love the attention.

Image right source: Tabby, rumpy Manx male champion show cat named Silverwing (UK, 1902)

Some owners report that their Manxies like water, ours like drinking from a running tap and a few have been known to jump in the bath, a friend’s cat accompanies him into the shower…this may not be specific to the Manx breed but there has been reports of Manx Cats being fond of water and excellent swimmers.

The GCCF page on Manx Cats says: “The Manx is considered a social and gregarious feline, and very attached to humans, but also shy of strangers. The breed is said to be highly intelligent, playful, and in its behaviour reminiscent of dogs. They are highly gregarious and ‘clannish’ and exhibit ‘pride-like’ behaviour with other cats. They are not as territorial as other cats and will actively avoid conflict”

Source: GCCF

Some owners report that their Manxies like water, ours like drinking from a running tap and a few have been known to jump in the bath, a friend’s cat accompanies him into the shower…this may not be specific to the Manx breed but there has been reports of Manx Cats being fond of water and excellent swimmers.

The GCCF page on Manx Cats says: “The Manx is considered a social and gregarious feline, and very attached to humans, but also shy of strangers. The breed is said to be highly intelligent, playful, and in its behaviour reminiscent of dogs. They are highly gregarious and ‘clannish’ and exhibit ‘pride-like’ behaviour with other cats. They are not as territorial as other cats and will actively avoid conflict”

Source: GCCF

Manx Cat Syndrome

Personally, we do not like this colloquial term as the condition can affect any breed including domestic shorthairs. It is believed that the condition is a form of Spina Bifida, although no official records are available (that we are aware of at the time of publishing this information) to prove or dispel this theory. The condition is a result of an overly shortened spine, usually caused by inappropriate breeding i.e. continual rumpy to rumpy mating’s, breeding cats too closely related and/or due to a lack of Folic Acid and nutrients in the queens’ diet during pregnancy. It can affect tailless breeds more often because breeders desire a shorter or non-existent tail as this is more sought after with buyers.

Manx Cat Syndrome

Personally, we do not like this colloquial term as the condition can affect any breed including domestic shorthairs. It is believed that the condition is a form of Spina Bifida, although no official records are available (that we are aware of at the time of publishing this information) to prove or dispel this theory. The condition is a result of an overly shortened spine, usually caused by inappropriate breeding i.e. continual rumpy to rumpy mating’s, breeding cats too closely related and/or due to a lack of Folic Acid and nutrients in the queens’ diet during pregnancy. It can affect tailless breeds more often because breeders desire a shorter or non-existent tail as this is more sought after with buyers.

However, it is important to note that these problems are now rare and can be avoided by good breeding practices i.e. preventing continual rumpy to rumpy matings and using tailed cats every 3rd or 4th mating. Renowned feline expert Roger Tabor has stated;

“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”

However, these cats survived over many centuries, independent of outside interference from man, building a viable, self-sustaining population of free-breeding animals. This confirmed the inherent vigour, soundness and independence of this tailless phenotype in feral animals. The Manx cat has not been artificially derived by man from a naturally occurring mutation which has then been selected to build a novel breed. The tailless phenotype (and all its permutations) is still the predominant feature of naturally born domestic cats on the Isle of Man’.

Image left source: Lesley Anne Ivory Manx Cats stamps, Isle of Man Post Office

However, it is important to note that these problems are now rare and can be avoided by good breeding practices i.e. preventing continual rumpy to rumpy matings and using tailed cats every 3rd or 4th mating. Renowned feline expert Roger Tabor has stated;

“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”

However, these cats survived over many centuries, independent of outside interference from man, building a viable, self-sustaining population of free-breeding animals. This confirmed the inherent vigour, soundness and independence of this tailless phenotype in feral animals. The Manx cat has not been artificially derived by man from a naturally occurring mutation which has then been selected to build a novel breed. The tailless phenotype (and all its permutations) is still the predominant feature of naturally born domestic cats on the Isle of Man’.

Image left source: Lesley Anne Ivory Manx Cats stamps, Isle of Man Post Office

There are many resources available supplying information regarding the history and ‘tails’ of the Manx Breed.

 

I would like to thank the following people and organisations for the information we accessed for this website.