Manx cats are unique a breed that comes from the Isle of Man. Typically, they look like domestic cats with a round head, round eyes, and thick fur that comes in different patterns and colors. The primary characteristic of this type of breed is the lack of a tail. Although most Manx cats have shorthairs, some breeds have longhairs, such as the Cymric.
There are different theories, concepts, and stories on why do they lack a tail. Well, most religious people in the Isle of Man believe that Manx cats were late getting to Noah’s ark. They believe that when the cat entered the ark, the door shut on its tail, and that’s the reason they don’t have tails.
On other hand, there is another myth about the Manx cats, and that is about the Vikings who would consider young kittens as a blessing and take them for good luck. That’s why mother cats began to bit off their kittens’ tails so that the Vikings could not take them away.
We are living in a fast-paced technology world where we can access and explore the DNA that controls our cellular and body functions. Scientific or research studies have proven that Manx cat was first found in the Isle of Man with no tails, and this was because of a genetic mutation due to inbreeding.
Why do some Manx cats have tails?
Most breeds or varieties of the Manx cats have no tails due to mutation in the Manx gene that controls the characteristics of having a tail or no tail. Recent studies show that Manx cats have two genes, one for the full tail and the other one of tailless characteristics.
The former is recessive and the latter is dominant, which means Manx cats that produce offspring will carry both the genes. However, it will predominately cause tailless characteristics in most Manx cats.
Genetics is simple to understand in terms of Manx cats. Let us consider “T” as the dominant gene and “t” as a recessive gene. When a breeder breeds two Manx cats, it produces offspring that will have the pair of genes as “TT,” “Tt,” tT,” and “tt.”
So, considering this, the “TT” means no tail at all. The “Tt” means either no or partial tail. Likewise, the “tT” means the kitten has both recessive and dominant genes. It can either have no tail or partial tail. The last one – i.e. “tt” means full tail because the kitten does not receive the Manx gene from its parent cats. Most often, the rumpy cats have a full tail or partial tail.
The mutation or defects in the gene cause the Manx syndrome, which affects the spine and its components, such as the cartilage and nerves. As a result, the Manx cat develops long hind legs and short front legs. The Manx syndrome can also cause severe damage to the spinal area, leading to spina bifida that can cause bowls, digestion problems, and bladder issues.
Final Words
The tailless characteristic is what makes the Manx cat distinguish from other breeds. Remember, all religious theories and folk tales about the Manx cat’s tail are baseless and merely stories. The fact is that the Manx cat underwent a genetic mutation that causes the tailless characteristics. Scientists are making efforts to identify the cause of mutation.