My life with a Manx Cat
I am very much an animal person but as many who know me will likely tell you, I love cats, almost bordering on a crazy cat lady level. That being said, of my current feline family, one seems to win praise and love from everyone who meets her, my little bobtailed Manx girl, Waverly. This seems to be because she matches every stereotypical description that one might read when considering adopting a Manx. She’s basically a dog and a rabbit trapped in a cat’s body with some feline characteristics tossed in for good measure. It is because of this that I cannot imagine my home without a Manx and also why I feel that all cat lovers should work with this wonderfully quirky breed, at least once.
But before I get into specific characteristics that make the breed so fabulous, first a little history. Manx are one of the oldest cat breeds, dating back to the time of the Vikings. The cats were bred on the Isle of Man, a small island between Great Britain and Ireland. No one knows when the first Manx appeared there but what we do know is that a genetic mutation caused some of the kittens on the island to be born without tails, or in some cases, only part of their tails. Once these kittens began to breed with the small population of cats already on the island, the generations of inbreeding caused the trait to become quite common resulting in many generations of tailless, bobtailed and even tailed Manx.
As one can imagine, this probably seemed rather strange to the early residents of the Isle of Man and those that would later come in contact with the Manx as they made their way around the world, serving as the preferred form of vermin extermination on ships, a trait that is still deeply ingrained in the breed today with many stating that Manx can take down prey much larger than themselves, even as kittens. The cat’s strange appearance was once reported to be the work of Noah, yes, that Noah. It was said that as he was preparing to leave on his voyage in the Ark, two Manx cats attempted to board at the last minute with Noah slamming their tails in the door, leaving the appendages behind but taking the Manx along with him. Another grislier origin states that the Vikings who once resided on the Isle of Man had quite the taste for cat tails and would take cats and kittens from the island for this purpose. In an effort to stave off this behavior, mother cats began eating the tails of their young to save them from the Vikings dinner table. Some even theorized that perhaps Manx were actually a hybrid of a cat and rabbit, which some referred to as a Cabbit because of their rounded rear end, strong back legs and in some instances, bunny-like tail. I can tell you from experience that my Waverly moves very much like a rabbit when she races through the house, oftentimes with myself or one of my friends in her sights for a little cuddle time.
These cats mature quite slowly, not reaching full size until the age of five with most Manx weighing between eight and twelve pounds but seeming to weigh much more due to their compact size. Waverly, who will be three in April, weighs a little under nine pounds. Though most cat breeds use their tail to assist with balance, this is obviously not an option in a tailless or bobtailed cat. Because of this, Manx must rely on their inner ear and strong back legs to keep them balanced. The breed can be born in a variety of colors including tabby and white like Waverly, calico, yellow, black, and basically any other coat color that one can think of. They can have short or long hair, with the long-haired variety often referred to as a Cymric, which can be born into a litter of short-haired Manx, retaining all of the characteristics of a typical Manx but with a long fluffy double coat, as is the case with Waverly.
Manx are known to be extremely affectionate, often rolling on their backs for tummy rubs and unlike some cats, this is not a trap, they actually want you to pet their belly. Waverly is particularly fond of curling up on my lap, only to end up rolling on her back for a long nap. If I am in the middle of something, like, for instance, writing this article, she will perch herself on the back of my chair or sit quietly next to me until my lap is available. Needless to say, she is a very patient cat. Manx are also very dog-like in that they often follow their owners around the house and are known for their “watch-cat” capabilities, often alerting owners when something is amiss or when visitors have arrived to the house. They are not incredibly vocal cats, instead letting their body language do most of the talking, although, occasionally when Waverly wants attention, she will let out a quiet trill, sometimes standing on her hind legs to give me a little head bump.
Manx are also known for their adaptability to riding in the car. I used to put Waverly in a carrier for vet trips but often, these days, once we reach the car, I open her carrier and she prefers to sit on my lap, sometimes, even putting her paws on the door so she can look out the window. People seem a little shocked when you pull up to a drive thru with a cat in your lap, particularly a tailless cat with many actually asking to see her “bunny butt” of which Waverly happily allows. I have heard that Manx like to play in water. Though this does not seem to be a favorite activity of Waverly’s, she does not seem to abhor water like most cats and will occasionally try to drink from the bathroom sink.
As with any breed of cat, Manx do suffer from some health problems, the most concerning being Manx Syndrome, which is associated with the breed’s shortened spine. However, this often fatal disease has been limited in recent years due to the discovery that it typically occurs in kittens who have been born to parent’s who both lack a tail. Most health problems will arise in Manx kittens before the age of four months so it is advised to only adopt the breed once it has reached this age to avoid any life-threatening health issues that could result in a shortened life span. After all, as with any cat, a healthy Manx is a happy Manx.
