Manx Cat: Characteristics, Personality, and Breed Information

Manx
Overview
Characteristics
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Origin
Isle of Man
Height
10"-14"
Adult weight
7-13 pounds
Life Span
12-16 years
Temperament
Playful, intelligent, family-oriented, dog-like
Other Names
Stubbin, Rumpy, Rumpy Riser, Stumpy, Longy, Manks, Kayt Manninagh
Group
Medium-sized short-haired
Price
$500-$1,500
Affection Level
? Breeds with a high affection level want to give and receive a lot of attention, while less-affectionate breeds are not as interested in petting and snuggles.
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90%
Activity Level
? Breeds with high activity levels will engage more in active play and demand more space and attention.
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100%
Pet-Friendly
? How well the breed tends to get along with cats, dogs, and other pets.
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80%
Kid-Friendly
? Breeds with a higher rating in this area tend to be gentle and patient, while lower-rated breeds may feel uncomfortable with children.
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90%
Sociability
? Breeds with a higher sociability rating will want to spend time with you all day, while less-sociable breeds seldom seek out human interaction.
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70%
Intelligence
? Breeds with higher intelligence ratings are more curious, investigative, and easy to train. Less-intelligent breeds are less trainable but often laid-back and easygoing.
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100%
Playfulness
? Breeds that score higher in this area have strong hunting instincts that make them great playtime companions.
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Independence
? Breeds that score higher in this area are able to spend hours alone, while less-independent breeds require plenty of attention.
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70%
Vocality
? A higher rating in this area indicates a breed prone to plenty of meowing and other vocalizations, while less-vocal breeds are happy to stay quiet.
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80%
Grooming
? Breeds with higher grooming scores require more maintenance like brushing and bathing, while lower-scored breeds are virtually maintenance-free.
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10%

Personality and Temperament

The Manx is one of a few tailless cat breeds, yet it’s probably the best-known as it is more widespread than Kurilian Bobtail and Japanese Bobtail cats, which share some similarities. Depending on location and registry, these cats might have long or short hair in a variety of different colors - and it’s worth noting that some purebred cat registries refer to long-haired Manx cats as Cymric cats.

While the Manx cat breed standard requires show quality animals to be either tailless or nearly tailless, pet quality Manx cats may have slightly longer tails. In fact, there are a few nicknames for Manx cats with different tail lengths. “Rumpy” manx cats are completely tailless, while “rumpy risers” have small stubs. “Stumpy” manx cats have partial tails, and a manx with a nearly full length tail is called a "Longy."

Social and intelligent, members of the Manx family are often compared to dogs thanks to their high play drive and their tendency to develop strong bonds with their human friends and animal companions alike.

These cats are incredibly athletic, with powerful hind legs. Their ability to jump to great heights means that their families often find them peering down from the highest cupboard in the kitchen, or perhaps from the top of the refrigerator.

Not only do Manx cats enjoy high jumps, they have an intense sense of curiosity. Their agile paws easily jiggle open latches and the drawer pulls, enabling access to small areas filled with your most fascinating belongings.

If you bring a Manx into your life, don't be surprised if you find them following you to the shower, where they'll hide behind the curtain or door and reach in to catch droplets with their paws. Perhaps because of their island origins, Manx cats have a tendency to like water – unless, that is, you're attempting to bathe them!

Fantastic personalities make Manx cats outstanding companions for nearly any family - and adorable, unusual looks make them even more fun to spend time with.

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Care

Nutrition

Nutrition

Grooming

Grooming

Exercise

Exercise

Health

Health

Manx cats have no special dietary needs; however, it is best to offer a high-quality diet that includes real meat or fish as the number one ingredient.

Shorthaired Manx cats require brushing just once or twice per week to remove excess hair. If you have a long-haired Manx, plan to brush them at least once per day to prevent mats from forming in their fine undercoat.

As the Manx is prone to jumping and climbing with great vigor, you may wish to keep their claws trimmed short as a method of providing some protection for your belongings.

One more thing: Just like other breeds, Manx cats benefit from at home dental care. Consider teaching your kitten to accept toothbrushing from a young age.

The Manx typically displays incredible athletic prowess, running at high speeds, leaping to the highest possible heights, and climbing anything that happens to be available. Tall cat towers, scratching posts, and a wide variety of toys can help satisfy your cat's play drive. Since Manx cats appreciate interactive play, look for toys that let you be part of the action, too!

Many Manx cats enjoy excellent health, however the breed is prone to certain issues including a birth defect called Manx syndrome. Manx syndrome is a spinal abnormality that affects the central nervous system, causing issues such as constipation, incontinence, and hind leg paralysis.

The Manx has a higher than average risk of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases including bladder stones.

Skeletal malformations can occur as well, sometimes leading to major problems and sometimes simply affecting the cat's gait. If your cat has a malformation, it’s possible that they will ultimately need some help managing arthritis symptoms as they get older.

History

The Manx cat originated on the Isle of Man, located in the Irish Sea. There, members of the breed were originally referred to as "stubbin" cats, a term that some locals continue to use today.

Like all domestic cats, the Manx is a descendent of the African wildcat (Felis lybica). The first domestic cats to arrive on the Isle of Man probably had long tails, but one or more had to be carrying the dominant gene that causes natural, tailless mutation. The spontaneous mutation that causes Manx cats to be born without tails became more common on the Isle of Man due to a lack of genetic diversity over time.

These unique cats were a bit of a curiosity when they were first exhibited in cat shows during the late 1800s. The first Manx cat breed standard was developed in 1903, and the breed has the distinction of being among the first breeds to be officially recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association. Its Manx registry records go back to the 1920s.

Today, all major cat registries accept Manx cats, and responsible breeders frequently outcross with tailed domestic cats to enhance genetic diversity and continue improving the breed.

Four other breeds have been developed using Manx cats as foundation stock. These include the Isle of Man shorthair, the Isle of Man longhair, the Tasman Manx, and the Cymric cat.

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Eyes

The eyes are large, with a rounded shape, and are set at a slight angle that tilts toward the ears.

Legs & Paws

The legs should be heavily boned. The hind legs should display heavy, muscular thighs, but should be straight when viewed from behind. The front legs should be shorter than the hind legs. The paws should be round.

Tail

While absolute taillessness is highly desirable, Manx cats may display a rise of bone at the end of the spine.

The Breed Standard

Body

The body is rounded and robust, with ample musculature. The room should be higher than the shoulders, as the rear legs are longer than the forelegs. The back should be short, forming a continuous arch that extends from rump to shoulders.

Head

The head should be round, with prominent cheeks. When viewed in profile, the head should display medium length, with a gentle dip that extends from the forehead to the nose. The muzzle should be well-developed, with a strong chin. Manx cats should have well-developed whisker pads and jowls, with males displaying more jowl than females.

Ears

The Manx cat has medium-sized ears that are widely spaced, and positioned slightly outward, with wide bases that taper toward rounded tips.

Coat

The Manx cat has a double coat with a dense, plush feel. Shorthair Manx should have a glossy, hard outer coat, while those with long hair should have silky, medium length coats with longer neck ruffs, breaches, and abdominal hair.

Color

The Manx may be of nearly any color, and may display nearly any pattern. The only colors that are disallowed for show are those that hint at hybridization: Lavender, chocolate, pointed, or any of these colors mixed with white. Nose leather and paw pad color should complement the cat's coat color.

FAQ

How much does a Manx cat cost?

Manx cats cost between $500-$1,500.

How big do Manx cats get?

Manx cats tend to be medium in size. A fully grown Manx cat might weigh between 7-13 pounds or more and range in height anywhere from about 10"-14" inches tall.

How long do Manx cats live?

The Average lifespan for Manx is 12-16 years.

Do Manx cats shed?

Manx are short-haired cats. Therefore, they do not shed as much as long-haired cat breeds.

17 thoughts on “Manx”

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  1. Jane

    My husband’s family had a manx. We were never sure if the tail was docked or this was a real breed. We always laughed when she held of two racoons who were trying to get 2 hot dogs left on the grill after it had cooled off…Itsy Bitsy who was NOT Itsy at all , and could not jump up on the grill herself , but she wasn’t allowing either or both of them to get her hot dogs…They finally left and she got the hot dogs in the morning when we came down for breakfast….

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  2. Willie G.

    My manx is a silver tabby stumpy. He is intelligent, social, and very loving. He loves to catnap on my lap. We also have a beagle hound that “Bob” is affectionate of. Bob rubs against her and head butts her to get her attention. Bob will initiate a game of chase, run around a tree stump a couple of times then jump up onto the tree stump and watch the beagle go round and round the tree stump with her nose to the ground “trailing” Bob’s scent. He seems to have a “Garfield” like smurk on his face while he watches the crazy dog going round in circles looking for him.

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    1. JoeAnna Dawson

      I went to get one of my Granddaughters kittens, i was so surprised to find out they were manx. I just love them, I had three births Tuesday. One of the is white but they have long tails. I love their personality!

  3. Sharon Flemming

    I’m pretty sure my son has a Manx . Mikey is a 2 year old tuxedo cat from a tuxedo bob tail stray Mom adopted my son’s friends. The stray Mom had 7 kittens and Mikey was a tuxedo bobtail as well.
    He has really round eyes, bobtail, back legs longer from the front so that when he runs he hops like a rabbit and he prefers wet food to dry food though he does like some dry treats. He’s very affectionate though he doesn’t stay long when he’s picked up. He’s two now and weighs about 11 pounds.

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  4. Sherry from Minnesota

    I rescued a stray yellow Manx kitten a couple of months ago. She was living under a trailer with her mama. I was told her littermates all disappeared. I found a home for mama and kept the kitten because I so quickly fell in love with her. She follows me everywhere, loves the dog and other cat, is curious about everything and seems to very much enjoy interactive play. After losing two cats (one cancer, the other congestive heart failure), Allie is helping me heal. She is going to be a wonderful.

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  5. Kima

    I have a Manx cat. I’ve had many cats in my life, but my Manx is the smartest and most affectionate cat I’ve ever had! If you’re looking to get a cat get a Manx. You won’t regret it.

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  6. Richard from Roanoke

    I had a manx that lived to be 22. She was the runt of her litter and was abandoned by her mother, which I already owned, under my front porch. We fed her by bottle until she could eat solid food, and even full grown she was maybe five pounds, with no-tail and a dark-brown/light-brown tortoise shell pattern. She was mainly an outside cat, but sometimes came in to take naps and hang out. The garden beds and bushes in front of our home were perfect for blending in with the dirt and catching any prey. She frequently killed voles, birds, and even a squirrel one time, always an excellent hunter even in her advanced age. As for diet, we just fed her normal plain-Jane dry cat food, occasionally cans of soft food, and often fresh raw fish while filleting (local trout, bass, crappie) or cooked chicken when we had it for dinner. Always had a minimal appetite though, her whole life. The only health problems I can think of that she had was a strange boil on her side on time, maybe an infected bug bite or some kind of spider bite. Vet didn’t know what to do with it. It popped and went away on its own, and she ended up coming out fine, that was at age 15 maybe. She occasionally got UTIs, which were treated with antibiotics. She had some problems where her colon would prolapse a bit when she was constipated, but thankfully she let my wife gently push it back in with some baby oil every time. All in all, excellent cat. Good around kids (mine at least), most dogs, used to fight with chickens though. She certainly had an attitude to her. Drew blood from my father-in-law when he tried to pet her, ha. I’ve had many cats of many breeds over the years, at one point we owned almost twenty cats, and I’ve not had a bond or owned one as intelligent as that one in my life.

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