http://www.catencylopedia.com/MANXCAT.htm |
The Manx is a stocky and rounded cat that weighes about 8 to 12 pounds. These cats have a life expectancy of 8 to 10 years. The Manx has a rounded head as well as rounded cheeks, paws, and eyes that can be the colors of blue, green, or copper. These cats can have either long or shorthair and come in various colors including red, blue(a grayish tone), cream, brown, black, and white. They can be either solid in color or can portray a variety of patterns including a calico pattern. Probably the most noticeable feature of this cat would be its lack of a tail. This trait is caused by a dominant gene. There are some Manx's though that have a stump for a tail, or even a full tail.
The Manx originated in the Isle of Man, which is located off of the coast of Great Britain. They descended from the British Shorthair . The lack of a tail was due to a mutation that caused the cat not to develop the bottom vertebrae that creates the tail. Due to no outside breeding for many years and it being a dominate trait this characteristic became common among these cats. Because of this "funny" trait there are many myths out there about the origin of this cat including one that says that the cat's tail was cut off when Noah closed the door to the Arc.
These cats are very mellow and friendly and will love to cuddle. They are often compared to dogs because of their love to follow their owners around and because of other dog-like characteristics like fetching and burying toys. They even can be trained to go outside on leashes sometimes. If you are thinking of adopting a Manx be sure this is the cat you want because they develop a bond with their owners and do not always do well if they are given up and put in another home. These cats can be very playful and love to jump around. The Manx is a curious cat and will like to investigate and see what you are doing. These cats do great with children because of their good temperament, but some older Manxes may prefer to have a quieter house. These cats are very smart and purr a lot. They don't need an excessive amount of grooming, but may occasionally need a brushing to remove loose fur and to cut down on shedding. If you want a friendly, playful, and curious cat this may just be the breed for you!
Info from:
http://www.catsplay.com/thedailycat/2003-06-09/facts_briefs/brief_manx/brief_manx.html
http://www.catfacts.org/manx-cat-facts.htm
http://www.petmd.com/cat/pet_lover/MM_5_funfacts_manx_cat
http://fanciers.com/breed-faqs/manx-faq.html#temperament
http://catfactsparadise.blogspot.com/2008/08/manx-cat-breed.html