How to Select a Longhaired Manx

The Manx breed is known for its lack of a tail, but the breed can actually be a "longie" (normal tail), "stumpy" (short tail), "riser" (a bit of cartilage at the base of the spine), or "rumpy" (no tail). The name Manx is said to have come from the Isle of Man, where cat experts believe the tail gene mutation originated.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cat Collars
• Cat Combs/brushes
• Litter Boxes
• Cat Toys
• Cat Shampoos
• Cat Litters
• Cat Dishes
• Cat Foods
• Cat Fancy Magazine
• Cat Carriers
• Cat Beds
• Cat Treats
• Cat Scratchers

1. Choose a breeder who will guarantee in writing that your Manx is healthy.

2. Watch out for kittens with Manx Syndrome (see warnings below). Because this fatal problem doesn't show up until later in the kitten's life, many breeders won't sell them until they're four months old.

3. Expect to pay up to $500 for a pet-quality Manx or $1,000 or more for a show-quality cat.

4. Pick up and hold the kitten to check for good muscle tone. Manx cats are stocky and muscular with a heavy bone structure, and their hind legs are normally longer than the front.

5. Examine the tail or lack thereof. If you plan to enter your cat in shows, most judges consider the best Manx cats to be those with a dimple where the tail would begin in other breeds.

6. Make sure the cat isn't sneezing or sniffling, and her ears are clean and pink inside.

7. Look at and feel the kitten's fur, which should be dense and either short or semi-long.

8. Look closely for fleas behind her ears and at the base of the tail. A sure sign of fleas is flea dirt, which looks like black sand.

9. Take your Manx to your own veterinarian right away to confirm that she's healthy (see Warnings below regarding vaccinations).

Tips & Warnings

• Only the "rumpy" and sometimes "riser" Manx cats qualify for showing.
• Manx cats come in a variety of colors and patterns, but the pointed (Himalayan-type) pattern is not usually accepted for showing.
• Some associations call the long-haired Manx the Cymric, while others no longer use the name and consider both long- and shorthairs part of the Manx breed.
• The Manx is mellow, friendly and affectionate, but if it senses an intruder it will growl and sometimes attack (especially dogs).
• Manx cats are jumpers and you'll often find them perched in the highest places in your home.
• Keep your Manx inside - like all domestic cats, it will stay healthier, happier, and live longer if kept indoors.
• Manx cats are prone to a disease called Manx Syndrome, a disorder that sometimes results when two tailless Manx cats produce kittens, although it can occur even in a carefully-bred litter. The syndrome is caused by two tailless genes, which is why breeders follow the genetic line of these cats carefully, and "longies" are necessary for breeding healthy cats. The disease produces severe spinal defects in newborns. Symptoms, which can include severe bowel and/or bladder dysfunction and extreme difficulty in walking, usually don't show up until at least a few weeks after birth.