HISTORY OF THE MANX CAT
The Manx cat is an ancient breed that originated on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. The Manx tailless-ness is caused by a mutation that probably originated among the island’s native shorthair cat population and, because it is a dominate gene, spread to the other cats on the island. Although the original island cats were shorthairs, the longhair gene was undoubtedly introduced during the long rule of the Vikings, when the longhaired beauties that are the ancestors of today’s Norwegian Forest Cats left the Viking ships and comingled with the native cats. The Manx cat is the working cat on the Isle of Man and, as such, has a strong constitution, great intelligence, and a personality that is active yet not hyperactive.
The Manx are very playful and intelligent cats who are devoted to their families. They have extremely powerful hindquarters which allow them to jump to great heights and run with rapid acceleration and quick turns. The Manx is often said to be “dog-like” both in their loyalty to their families and their love of interactive play. They have a great sense of humor and are not above playing practical jokes on their families. They get along wonderfully with children and other family pets and have been known to protect their families from real or supposed danger. If given the chance, they are still great hunters, and a house with a Manx will certainly never have to worry about rodents. Manx mothers teach their kittens to hunt early in life using whatever “prey” they have available, such as bugs, feather toys, catnip mice, and other objects. A house with a Manx will never be boring!
The Manx cat is an ancient breed that originated on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. The Manx tailless-ness is caused by a mutation that probably originated among the island’s native shorthair cat population and, because it is a dominate gene, spread to the other cats on the island. Although the original island cats were shorthairs, the longhair gene was undoubtedly introduced during the long rule of the Vikings, when the longhaired beauties that are the ancestors of today’s Norwegian Forest Cats left the Viking ships and comingled with the native cats. The Manx cat is the working cat on the Isle of Man and, as such, has a strong constitution, great intelligence, and a personality that is active yet not hyperactive.
The Manx are very playful and intelligent cats who are devoted to their families. They have extremely powerful hindquarters which allow them to jump to great heights and run with rapid acceleration and quick turns. The Manx is often said to be “dog-like” both in their loyalty to their families and their love of interactive play. They have a great sense of humor and are not above playing practical jokes on their families. They get along wonderfully with children and other family pets and have been known to protect their families from real or supposed danger. If given the chance, they are still great hunters, and a house with a Manx will certainly never have to worry about rodents. Manx mothers teach their kittens to hunt early in life using whatever “prey” they have available, such as bugs, feather toys, catnip mice, and other objects. A house with a Manx will never be boring!
Breed Standard of the Manx Cat
GENERAL:
the overall impression of the Manx cat is that of
roundness; round head with firm, round muzzle and prominent
cheeks; broad chest; substantial short front legs; short back
which arches from shoulders to a round rump; great depth of
flank and rounded, muscular thighs. The Manx should be alert,
clear of eye, with a glistening, clean, well-groomed coat. They
should be surprisingly heavy when lifted. Manx may be slow to
mature and allowance should be made in young cats.
HEAD and EARS:
round head with prominent cheeks and a jowly
appearance (more evident in adult males) that enhances the
round appearance of the breed. In profile, head is medium in
length with a gentle dip from forehead to nose. Well developed
muzzle, very slightly longer than it is broad, with a strong chin.
Definite whisker break with large, round whisker pads. Short,
thick neck. Ears wide at the base, tapering gradually to a rounded
tip. Medium in size in proportion to the head, widely spaced and
set slightly outward. When viewed from behind, the ear set
resembles the rocker on a cradle. The furnishings of the ears are
sparse in Shorthair Manx and full furnishings for Longhair Manx.
EYES:
large, round and full. Set at a slight angle toward the nose
(outer corners slightly higher than inner corners). Color is gold to
copper, odd-eyed, blue-eyed, green, or hazel as appropriate to
the coat color.
BODY:
solidly muscled, compact and well-balanced, medium in
size with sturdy bone structure. The Manx is stout in appearance
with broad chest and well-sprung ribs. The constant repetition of
curves and circles give the Manx the appearance of great substance
and durability, a cat that is powerful without the slightest
hint of coarseness. Males may be slightly larger than females.
Flank
(fleshy area of the side between the ribs and hip) has
greater depth than in other breeds, causing considerable depth to
the body when viewed from the side.
The short back forms a smooth, continuous arch from shoulders
to rump, curving at the rump to form the desirable round look.
Length of back is in proportion to the entire cat, height of
hindquarters equal to length of body. Males may be somewhat
longer. Because the Longhair Manx has longer coat over the
rump area and breeches, the body may appear longer.
TAILLESSNESS:
appearing to be absolute in the perfect specimen.
A rise of bone at the end of the spine is allowed and should
not be penalized unless it is such that it stops the judge’s hand,
thereby spoiling the tailless appearance of the cat. The rump is
extremely broad and round.
LEGS and FEET:
heavily boned, forelegs short and set well apart
to emphasize the broad, deep chest. Hind legs much longer than
forelegs, with heavy, muscular thighs and substantial lower legs.
Longer hind legs cause the rump to be considerably higher than
the shoulders. Hind legs are straight when viewed from behind.
Paws are neat and round with five toes in front and four behind.
the overall impression of the Manx cat is that of
roundness; round head with firm, round muzzle and prominent
cheeks; broad chest; substantial short front legs; short back
which arches from shoulders to a round rump; great depth of
flank and rounded, muscular thighs. The Manx should be alert,
clear of eye, with a glistening, clean, well-groomed coat. They
should be surprisingly heavy when lifted. Manx may be slow to
mature and allowance should be made in young cats.
HEAD and EARS:
round head with prominent cheeks and a jowly
appearance (more evident in adult males) that enhances the
round appearance of the breed. In profile, head is medium in
length with a gentle dip from forehead to nose. Well developed
muzzle, very slightly longer than it is broad, with a strong chin.
Definite whisker break with large, round whisker pads. Short,
thick neck. Ears wide at the base, tapering gradually to a rounded
tip. Medium in size in proportion to the head, widely spaced and
set slightly outward. When viewed from behind, the ear set
resembles the rocker on a cradle. The furnishings of the ears are
sparse in Shorthair Manx and full furnishings for Longhair Manx.
EYES:
large, round and full. Set at a slight angle toward the nose
(outer corners slightly higher than inner corners). Color is gold to
copper, odd-eyed, blue-eyed, green, or hazel as appropriate to
the coat color.
BODY:
solidly muscled, compact and well-balanced, medium in
size with sturdy bone structure. The Manx is stout in appearance
with broad chest and well-sprung ribs. The constant repetition of
curves and circles give the Manx the appearance of great substance
and durability, a cat that is powerful without the slightest
hint of coarseness. Males may be slightly larger than females.
Flank
(fleshy area of the side between the ribs and hip) has
greater depth than in other breeds, causing considerable depth to
the body when viewed from the side.
The short back forms a smooth, continuous arch from shoulders
to rump, curving at the rump to form the desirable round look.
Length of back is in proportion to the entire cat, height of
hindquarters equal to length of body. Males may be somewhat
longer. Because the Longhair Manx has longer coat over the
rump area and breeches, the body may appear longer.
TAILLESSNESS:
appearing to be absolute in the perfect specimen.
A rise of bone at the end of the spine is allowed and should
not be penalized unless it is such that it stops the judge’s hand,
thereby spoiling the tailless appearance of the cat. The rump is
extremely broad and round.
LEGS and FEET:
heavily boned, forelegs short and set well apart
to emphasize the broad, deep chest. Hind legs much longer than
forelegs, with heavy, muscular thighs and substantial lower legs.
Longer hind legs cause the rump to be considerably higher than
the shoulders. Hind legs are straight when viewed from behind.
Paws are neat and round with five toes in front and four behind.
COAT LENGTH - SHORTHAIR:
double coat is short and dense
with a well-padded quality due to the longer, open outer coat and the close cottony undercoat.
Coat may be thinner during the
summer months.
COAT TEXTURE - SHORTHAIR:
texture of outer guard hairs is
somewhat hard, appearance is glossy. A softer coat may occur in
whites and dilutes due to color/texture gene link but should not be
confused with the silky texture found in the Longhair Manx.
COAT LENGTH - LONGHAIR:
the double coat is of medium
length, dense and well padded over the main body, gradually
lengthening from the shoulders to the rump. Breeches, abdomen
and neck-ruff is usually longer than the coat on the main body.
Cheek coat is thick and full. The collar like neck-ruff extends from
the shoulders, being bib-like around the chest. Breeches should
be full and thick to the hocks in the mature cat. Lower leg and
head coat (except for cheeks) should be shorter than on the main
body and neck-ruff, but dense and full in appearance. Toe tufts
and ear tufts are desirable. All things being equal in type, preference
should be given to the cat showing full coating.
COAT TEXTURE - LONGHAIR:
coat is soft and silky, falling
smoothly on the body yet being full and plush due to the double
coat. Coat should have a healthy glossy appearance. Allowance
to be made for seasonal and age variations.
double coat is short and dense
with a well-padded quality due to the longer, open outer coat and the close cottony undercoat.
Coat may be thinner during the
summer months.
COAT TEXTURE - SHORTHAIR:
texture of outer guard hairs is
somewhat hard, appearance is glossy. A softer coat may occur in
whites and dilutes due to color/texture gene link but should not be
confused with the silky texture found in the Longhair Manx.
COAT LENGTH - LONGHAIR:
the double coat is of medium
length, dense and well padded over the main body, gradually
lengthening from the shoulders to the rump. Breeches, abdomen
and neck-ruff is usually longer than the coat on the main body.
Cheek coat is thick and full. The collar like neck-ruff extends from
the shoulders, being bib-like around the chest. Breeches should
be full and thick to the hocks in the mature cat. Lower leg and
head coat (except for cheeks) should be shorter than on the main
body and neck-ruff, but dense and full in appearance. Toe tufts
and ear tufts are desirable. All things being equal in type, preference
should be given to the cat showing full coating.
COAT TEXTURE - LONGHAIR:
coat is soft and silky, falling
smoothly on the body yet being full and plush due to the double
coat. Coat should have a healthy glossy appearance. Allowance
to be made for seasonal and age variations.