No, that tailless cat you see didn’t lose its tail in some vicious fight or horrible accident. That’s a Manx—a feline breed that has a shortened tail thanks to a genetic mutation that happens naturally.
This cat breed can be traced back to the Isle of Man, where they were first bred around 200 years ago. The Isle of Man is where the Manx cat gets its name. A lot of these cats have a stubby, short tail, but they are really known for having no tail at all. This is the physical trait that truly sets them apart from all other feline breeds.
Other than the short or no tail, Manx cats have short hair that comes in all varieties of color, they have heads that are quite round when compared to other feline breeds, and there back legs are longer than their front legs. They are quite adept at hunting and farmers like these cats for rodent control on their farms. Sailors also like Manx for rodent control on their ships. They are also known for taking down much larger prey than your average tiny little mice. They can kill big rats from the time they are kittens!
Manx are a very active feline breed. They are friendly and domesticated. They aren’t very big as far as domestic feline breeds go. They can be considered medium to small in size. They aren’t bulky, but rather lean with muscular bodies. When you first lay eyes on a Manx, the first thing you notice is the lack of a tail. Almost immediately after, you notice the arch of the back and how the rump of the cat sticks up higher than the cat’s head. This is due to to the back legs being so much longer than the front legs.
These felines have a two coats—an undercoat and an outer coat. They can be long-haired or they can be short-haired. Some people view the long-haried Manx as a different breed of cat called Cymric.
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