Manx
Tailless from a mutation on the Isle of Man, where an island population fixed it. Long hind legs give it a hop, and the degrees of tail have their own names.
Photo by Helena Jacoba, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Manx comes from the Isle of Man, where a tailless mutation arose in an isolated island cat population and spread. Tails range from completely absent, the rumpy, through a rise, a stumpy, to nearly full length.
The genetics are the important part. Taillessness has been linked to variants in TBX1, and the same developmental change that shortens the tail can affect the lower spine, which is why this breed needs a careful breeder rather than a cheap one.
Temperament
Placid, sturdy and dog like. Manx are affectionate, follow people around, and many will fetch. The powerful hind legs give a distinctive hopping gait and a strong jump.
They are good with children and with dogs, quiet, and generally adaptable. They are also slow to mature and stay playful for years.
Care and grooming
A double coat, so a comb twice a week and daily through the moult.
Manx syndrome is the collective name for what can follow incomplete tail development: poor nerve supply to the hind legs, bladder and lower gut, showing as lameness, incontinence and constipation. Severely affected kittens do not survive, which is why responsible breeders hold kittens for months before placing them.
Living and exercise
An ordinary household suits them, and they are calm and adaptable.
The buying advice is specific here. Two tailless cats should not be bred together, kittens should be held long enough for spinal problems to declare themselves, and a breeder who is vague about any of that is the wrong breeder. Eight to fourteen years is the honest range.
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