Manx

The Manx is a breed of cat originating from the Isle of Man (British Isles). This cat is characterized by its absence of a tail. According to legend, the Manx cat was the last animal to board Noah's Ark but as it boarded the ship's door closed and the cat's tail was severed. Genetics The breeding of the Manx is delicate, on the one hand because a cat gives birth to few kittens and on the other hand by the genetic aspect. Indeed, a homozygous Manx (carrying the two genes responsible for the absence of a tail) is not viable since the spinal cord does not develop completely. All these kittens die in the womb and those born are therefore necessarily heterozygous. You also cannot mate two rumpy Manxes because it is possible to bring out a lethal gene. It is therefore advisable to mate them with British Shorthair or Longhair to avoid the problem, but in this case, not all the kittens in the litter will be born Manx.

The Manx cat (kayt Manninagh or stubbin in Manx), also called the Isle of Man cat, originates, as its name suggests, from the British Isle of Man. The gene mutation, causing the absence of a tail and therefore the rarity of this breed, developed on the island because of the isolation of the cats and the excessive inbreeding. English folklore attributes this character to the stinginess of the inhabitants of the island, who, during a distant very harsh winter, cut off the tails of all the cats to save firewood. Indeed, the door of the house would thus close more quickly on the cats, which would prevent the heat from escaping outside.

The Manx is described as an easy-going cat, which adapts well to changes, is affectionate with its owner. It would be a robust cat and a good hunter. These character traits remain however perfectly individual and are functions of the history of each cat.