Conference misery::feline_v1

    I am sure one of the noters can inform you as to where to
    find one over here. However, on the Isle of Man where they
    originated,  you would have a LONG WAIT unless you knew a
    breeder very well. Because the wait is up to two years to get
    a Manx kitten on the IOM, and because very few of them actually
    leave the country, devious persons from other countries are
    employed to go to IOM and steal the cats. They are then sold at great
    prices in other countries. 
    
    My mother visited a Manx cattery last spring and remarked at the
    GREAT care they are given. Conversations between humans were 
    interrupted because of a suspected cat/kitten sneeze. My mother said that
    she had never seen cats and kittens so pampered in her whole life
    as in the cattery. And I believe all the IOM catteries are the same.
    She was very positively impressed with their care.
    
    BTW - she said it was also quite remarkable at how well ALL the
    animals on the IOM were treated. She also visited a state-run
    stable where she saw horses in their late 30's who looked and acted 
    like teen-agers (horse teen-agers that is).       
    
    Good luck in getting a Manx - I suspect the wait is not nearly so
    long in the States. Also, are you looking for a completely tail-less
    cat or one with a stub (there are also Manx with full tails - but
    they are not the perferred ones because they look like ordinary
    cats). 
    
    We must have noters with Manx cats, and I would love to learn more
    about the breed. 
    

    I was under the impression that a Manx was a cross between a rabbit
    and a cat and was therefore a mule that couldn't be bred. So I guess
    I too was mis-informed and would love a true description of a manx.
    
    						Thanks
    
    						Geoff

     Unlike the dogs, they are born that way. I have only seen pictures
    of all three varieties. (I have a cat with a stub but hers was cut
    off accidentally, and when she runs she pulls it down and it just
    covers her butt. When she is at ease, it sticks up.) Also I think
    they can come in all colors and that they are short-hair rather
    than long. That is about ALL I know.
    
    
    
    

     I have owned 2 Manx's.  I find them to be very entertaining, but
    somewhat independent.  The only thing that I have heard about Manx
    cats, is that not having a tail or only a partial tail is actually
    a genetic defect.  I have heard that breeders will breed a tailess
    manx with a cat that has a tail, because if both the male and female
    have no tail, then the babies were born stillborn due to the genetic
    defect of the spine.   Now I am not positive that this is the case,
    but seems to be a logical explanation.   If anyone knows more about
    this then I would appreciate the information that will set me straigt.
      The only drawback that I have seen with my two, is that sometimes
    when they are having a bowel movement, they do not have enough control
    over there sphincter muscles and will sometimes still have feces
    stuck to their rear.   This doesn't happen all the time, but does happen
    once in awhile.  
      As far as colors go,  I have seen manx's with a solid color, with
    a mix, tiger striped, and also a blue-cream color.  My first manx,
    was what I called a blue cream (this may not be the actual name
    for the color) and she had light and dark grey fur with intermingled
    cream and white.  Out of the litter that she was born in, the colors
    ranged from an orange to black, with tails gradually increasing
    in size from no-tail to a long tail.  This was really cute to see
    5 kittens running around with such variations in tail length.  I
    have never seen any manx with any balance problems. (I had heard
    that tails were important for balance.)
      I guess the only other thing I have to say about Manx's, is that
    I would like to have one around always.  As far as breeders for
    Manx, I have not found any here in Mass.   I would suggest buying
    one of the Cat Magazines, and see if there is a breeder listed
    within driving distance from where you live.
                                                

    Re: .5
    
    Your understanding is correct.  A fetus with two Manx genes will
    die in the womb.  Even among the typical matings, there is a high
    incidence of spina bifida, making the Manx difficult to breed. 
    
    It is only because the Manx breed is an old, established breed that
    it is acceptable today.  If the mutation had first appeared in recent
    years, there's be almost no chance of it being accepted by the various
    cat associations, because of its connection with genetic defects.
    
       Gary 

	I lived in Maine when I was young - near Ellsworth.  We lived
	pretty far from civilization, therefore a prime place to dump
	unwanted animals.  My mother started feeding a cat with no tail. 
	Well, she was pregnant and we ended up with a litter of kittens 
	with no tails.  And so on and so on...
	until we had close to 30 cats with no tails!  Of course my
	mother placed as many as she could, but, they lived in our
	barn if we couldn't find homes for them.

	I never saw a cat with a long tail until I moved to MA at
	age 9.  My grandmother took most of the cats and placed
	them through a humane society.   

	We never knew it was a particular breed or anything special.
	It was just a cat with no tail.

	A MANX, huh?  Maybe there are a still a few in the Ellsworth
	area.  

	- Linda

    Check a recent Cats magazine - Glen Oren in Illnois is one
    of the best. There is a breeder in Maine also but I can't
    remember the name.
    
    The Manx is a true mutation that has been around for a long time.
    Legend has that they were the cats of the Druids and orginated
    on the Isle of Man.
    
    They come in all colors and patterns with points being awarded
    for Manxness and clarity of color and pattern.
    
    The so called Manx gene is considered to be a lethal recessive
    but some geneticists believe it was not lethal until excessive
    inbreeding occured. You can have cats with both parents being
    Manx and they will be ok but the lines must be selected carefully.
    
    As a breed their most admired traits are:
    
    not very vocal-chirp rather than meow
    love their people-almost doglike in affection to "their person"
    hop like a rabbit.
    
    Their hind legs are built different from cats and are more similar
    to rabbits but they are not the result of a cross between a rabbit
    and a cat(biologically impossible!)                               
    
    I don't ever remember seeing a comparison from a biological point
    of view between bobcats and Manx but they are similar in build.
    
    A Manx doesn't fully mature until around three years. Most grow
    to be quite large cats.
    
    BTW The Isle of Man is a great place for people and animals!
    
    (Former Manx brreder)
    

    I happen to have a couple of very close breeder friends who breed
    Manx cats.  In fact they have C.F.A.'s National best Manx for last
    year, and looks like another of theirs will be tops this year! 
    The cat they are showing this year is a GORGEOUS red and white Manx
    male named NUFUR's NOHOW (a.k.a. Howie).  Manx cats not only are
    noteworthy for their lack of tail, they are also very short bodied,
    very round cats.  Everything about them is roly poly looking, but
    when you pick one up, you discover that they aren't as pudgy as
    they look!  They are solid, and much heavier than you'd expect.
    A Manx that looks like a medium sized cat may suprize you by actually
    weighing about 14 or 15 pounds!
    My friends have a litter of Manx kittens that are two weeks old.
    The mother is GRC NUFUR's NEGLEGE D.M. and the father is GRC NUFUR's
    NOHOW (one of C.F.A.'s top 20 cats this year!)  These kittens are
    SO cute.  One is red and white like dad, and she has a stump of
    a tail.  The other two are all white like mom, and look like little
    white bunnies.  One of those is a "rumpy", the tailless show quality
    variety, and the other has a "riser" a slight tip of a tail - not
    quite a stump.  None of the three has a noticeable tail, but only
    one is show quality.  The kittens are located in California (L.A.
    area), so I guess that's kind of far for you east coast people,
    but I know of one or two breeders in the New York area.  Would you
    like me to find out about breeders in New England?   
    
    As far as deformities of the hind quarters etc., what I've heard
    is that many of the lines have selectively been able to breed the
    defects out (by never using a cat with any weaknesses), so that
    unless a breeder inbreeds on the weaker cats, it is unusual to see
    the problems anymore.
    
    It is interesting to note that (in C.F.A. anyway) the Manx is the
    ONLY breed of cat that is REQUIRED to stand, and preferably walk
    on the judging table.  If the judge cannot get the cat to stand,
    the cat must be disqualified. 
    
    Also, there ARE long haired Manx, but they are a separate breed,
    called the CYMRIC, pronounced like "KIMRICK".  They are also very
    beautiful, but there is something about a short haired white manx,
    that makes it look like a white bunny - it's just SO appealing!
    I hope everyone gets to meet one of these nifty cats, they are really
    special!
            
    Molly

    Boy, am I happy that I found this note file...  I was beginning
    to believe that I was one of the few folks looking for a Manx kitten.
    We currently have a pure black Manx female (kitten proofed), and
    are now looking for another one.  My vote is Manx all the way, living
    on a farm we seem to get drop offs (which we love, kitten proof
    and find homes for) so we have had one of everything under the sun
    from long haired cats to some pretty strange individuals. However,
    3 years ago we bought a Manx for my mother in-law which just had
    put her 17 year old cat to sleep and has a Siamese which we thought
    would be lonesome.  Wrong, the Siamese wanted to kill the kitten,
    so I took her home with me (boy, was I hooked, I was actually glad
    that they couldn't keep the kitten, mean aren't I?).  
    
    This little bundle of love, is named Bunnie and is the farms resident
    owner, we just pay the bills, if you know what I mean.  
    
    To make a long story short...  Please give us the address of the
    catteries in New York. Does anyone know how much it costs to ship
    a cat from California, I would assume it would have to be by air.
    
    Thanks for Any Information!
    
    Sincerely, (a Devoted Manx person)
    
    Lorna