10 Fascinating Insights About Manx Cats

At first glance, a Manx cat appears to be an ordinary feline—until it turns around, revealing its distinctive lack of a tail. Discover 10 intriguing facts about this unique breed, originating from an island in the Irish Sea, and its charmingly short rear end.

1. The absence of a tail in Manx cats results from a genetic mutation ...

While the Manx cat is now celebrated globally in cat shows, its origins lie in the modest Isle of Man. Located in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland, this island is where a genetic mutation centuries ago led to the birth of one or more tailless cats. Due to the island's limited feline population, inbreeding over generations made this trait widespread among the local cats.

Unsurprisingly, the Manx cat holds a special place in the hearts of its homeland's residents. It has graced currency, stamps, and corporate logos, while local shops offer a variety of merchandise celebrating this tailless feline.

2. … Yet, numerous imaginative tales offer alternative explanations.

Legend has it that the Manx cat was tardy boarding Noah’s Ark, resulting in Noah closing the door and cutting off its tail. Another popular myth suggested that Manx cats were “cabbits”—a cross between a cat and a rabbit—due to their elongated hind legs, short tails, and rounded hindquarters.

3. The Manx cat was among the earliest breeds to be showcased in cat exhibitions.

In the late 19th century, English animal enthusiasts began exhibiting Manx cats at some of the earliest cat shows in history. When the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA)—the largest pedigreed cat registry globally—was established in 1906, the Manx was among its original recognized breeds.

4. Manx cats can produce kittens with or without tails ...

Manx cats possess one gene for a full tail and another for taillessness. As a result, two Manx cats can breed and give birth to a kitten with a standard long tail. Unfortunately, kittens inheriting the tailless gene from both parents often do not survive until birth, leading some to refer to the Manx gene as “the lethal gene.”

5. … However, their tails can vary in length.

The Manx gene is incompletely dominant, meaning kittens inheriting it can exhibit full-length tails, short stubs, or no tails whatsoever—all of which can occur within the same litter.

Because of this diversity, Manx cats are categorized by tail length. Those without tails are termed “rumpy,” while those with short, often curved or kinked tail stumps are called “stumpy.” Cats with nearly full-length tails are referred to as “longy.” Only “rumpies” or “rumpy risers,” which have a small bony protrusion where the tail would begin, qualify for championship categories in CFA cat shows.

Breeders prefer incorporating all four tail types into their programs, as breeding only rumpies with other rumpies over generations increases the risk of undesirable genetic mutations [PDF].

6. Manx cats display a wide array of colors and patterns.

Manx cats can be found in colors such as red, white, black, cream, blue, and shaded silver. (The CFA excludes cats with lavender, chocolate, or pointed coloring, as these shades suggest hybridization [PDF].) Their eyes typically come in shades of gold, copper, green, hazel, blue, or may even be odd-eyed.

In terms of patterns, Manx cats can be bicolor, tabby, or tortoiseshell. Some long-haired cats resembling Manx are known as Cymrics, which most cat associations consider a distinct breed.

7. Koko the gorilla adored a Manx kitten.

Koko, the renowned research gorilla who mastered over 1000 words of modified American Sign Language, once had a Manx cat as a pet. For her 12th birthday in 1984, Koko was allowed to pick a kitten from a litter. She chose a tailless grey-and-white cat, naming it “All Ball.” (“The cat was a Manx and resembled a ball,” explained Ron Cohn, a biologist at the Gorilla Sanctuary, in a 1985 LA Times interview. “Koko enjoys rhyming words in sign language.”)

Koko adored All Ball, frequently cuddling and playing with her. Tragically, All Ball was hit by a car and passed away later that year. Heartbroken, Koko was given another pet, a red cat named Lips Lipstick. She later cared for a third cat, a gray one named Smoky, who remained her companion for nearly two decades until dying of natural causes.

8. Manx cats can experience certain health issues.

Similar to other pedigreed breeds, Manx cats are susceptible to specific health concerns. The genetic mutation causing their taillessness also impacts spinal and spinal cord development. This leads to a range of painful conditions collectively known as “Manx Syndrome,” such as spina bifida, where the vertebrae fail to encase the spinal cord. Other issues include incontinence, constipation, an unusual gait, a “hopping” walk, hind leg paralysis, and malformed pelvic or sacral bones, some of which can be life-threatening.

Handle your Manx cat with care, as the nerve endings near the tail area are exposed. Additionally, if you have an older “longie” cat (five years or more), its tail may harden and develop arthritis.

9. Researchers aim to unravel the genetic code of the Manx cat.

Although researchers at the University of Missouri published a preliminary version of the cat genome in 2007 and a more refined one in 2014, the Manx breed’s genome remains unsequenced. This has prompted a team of scientists on the Isle of Man to study the entire genomes of Manx cats and identify mutations unique to the breed.

“Sequencing the genomes of multiple Manx cats serves a scientific purpose,” the researchers stated on their project website. “Identifying breed-specific mutations could lead to DNA tests that help breeders make better selections, potentially reducing the incidence of Manx Syndrome in kittens. The more cats we sequence, the more insights we gain!”

10. Manx cats can maintain balance despite lacking a tail.

While a cat’s tail is crucial for balance, Manx cats compensate with an exceptionally sensitive vestibular system in their ears, allowing them to walk steadily.