Picture showing difference in breeding Manx and Siamese cats

If you compare Manx and Siamese cats from 1903 to the same cat breeds in the present (2012) you can see what has been going on in respect of selective breeding over the intervening 108 years.

Montage is protected by copyright

This is a simple montage but I think that it is instructive. You can see that the Manx has been around a long time in the cat fancy and its shape has hardly altered. It is a bit more cobby (stocky) today than in 1903. That is because breeders like to push the boundaries a bit (or a lot).

In contrast you can see that the Siamese has gone through a transformation. In 1903 it was similar in shape to the Manx. Today it is super slender. This is due to selective breeding. The Manx today is considered a stocky cat while the Siamese is considered "oriental" in appearance (slender). The reason why the Siamese has become so skinny is because breeders at the CFA decided around 1950 that it should be more elegant. That is it. See Siamese cat history. See also old style Siamese.

Manx Cat Picture

Manx Cat. I think his name is "Sur". Photo is copyright Helmi Flick - Please respect it.

Another beautiful cat photo by Helmi Flick. This time it is a classic tabby and white "rumpy" Manx cat. Rumpies are tailless. This cat is not always completely tailless. There is a range and all conditions have a unique name. This is an interesting cat breed for its history - there are some myths! People probably know that before this cat breed was created these cats were feral or semi-feral (non-purebred in the formal sense) and perhaps household cats on the Isle of Man. Where is the Isle of Man? Answer: just off the east coast of England in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the coast of Lancashire. This is a map I made using Google Maps:



There are a lot of stories about how this tailless cat became to be on this island, which by the way is not a part of the UK. The answer is probably that a genetic mutation occurred amongst the cats on the island centuries ago (or perhaps they were imported from the Far East?). On a relatively small island there is a greater chance of it happening and expanding as the colony of cats is confined and isolated. The gene that mutated is dominant. There are potential health issues associated with the shortened tail. Like all cat breeds that came about due to a mutation causing an unusual appearance there are cat breed standards relating to the tail and its length.

Manx Cat Personality

The Manx is "mellow and even tempered"². Manx cat personality also covers the Cymric, the long haired Manx. This a playful cat. The Manx likes high vantage points and can get to them with its powerful hindquarters. This is a cat that tends to be loyal to one person and possible a little aloof to others. The Manx, therefore makes an excellent companion to a single person³.

Manx cat - photo copyright Helmi Flick

The Manx is intelligent and trainable, they say. They are not particularly vocal and tend to prefer a relationship with one person, confirming the above. Manx cats will have varying tail lengths and the the tail lengths that are described as "stumpies" and "longies" are claimed to make the best companions.¹
 

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Sources:

(1) Medical, Genetic & Behavioral Aspects of Purebred Cats ISBN 0-9634124-0-X

(2) The Encyclopedia of the Cat ISBN 978-1-4053-2149-5

(3) Legacy of the Cat 2nd Ed. ISBN 0-8118-2910-3

The photo on this page is protected by copyright ©. Violations of copyright are reported to Google.com (DMCA). Sorry.

Is the Manx cat long haired?

Manx  - photo copyright Helmi Flick

No. The long haired version of the Manx is the Cymric a different cat breed. The Manx has a shorthaired coat that is double layered and extremely thick and plush. The adds to the compact appearance of this cat breed.

The Cymric has a semi-longhaired coat that is silky textured and soft, with a "well padded quality" (1). The undercoat is thick and close.

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Note (1): Legacy of the Cat by Gloria Stephens - ISBN 0-8118-2910-3

The photo on this page is protected by copyright ©. Violations of copyright are reported to Google.com (DMCA).