Manx

According to the CFA's breed profile, the Manx is mostly a calm, gentle companion, but it also has a playful streak that can send it chasing invisible objects late in the evening. It spends much of the day on the couch or in a lap, then may leap to the top of the refrigerator in a single bound. It's clever and affectionate and usually bonds very strongly with one or two family members, so it can take a while to warm up to newcomers.

Because it loves fetch and interactive games, it's often called "doglike"; it will politely bring you a toy it wants thrown. It usually gets along well with dogs and other cats. It's talkative but not loud, communicating with chirps, trills, purrs and the occasional head bump. The GCCF also describes the breed as playful, intelligent, sociable and inclined to avoid conflict.

The Manx suits people who want a calm but playful cat that's devoted to its family. A healthy Manx isn't hard to care for, but anyone adopting a tailless cat should know the signs of Manx syndrome and be ready for veterinary care if needed.

According to the CFA, when a child holds a Manx too tightly, it will usually squirm free with its powerful back legs rather than lash out. Still, teach children not to hold the cat against its will and to be especially gentle around its rear and the base of the spine.

According to the CFA, the Manx is an old breed that arose on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea; tailless cats were first recorded there by visiting sailors in the 16th century. The story of a cat losing its tail in the closing door of Noah's Ark is a charming legend; in reality, taillessness most likely began with a gene change in the island's shorthaired cats and spread through the isolated island population. The longhaired type is thought to have appeared with cats that arrived during the Viking era.

The Manx appeared at the first cat shows in Great Britain and was among the first breeds registered when the CFA was founded in 1906. A 2013 genetic study found four different changes that shorten the tail in separate Manx lines from the US and the Isle of Man; all were in the T (Brachyury) gene, which plays a role in spinal development.

According to the CFA standard, the overall impression of a Manx is roundness: a round head, full cheeks, a broad chest, a short back and a round rump. The hind legs are noticeably longer than the front legs, so the rump sits higher than the shoulders. It's heavier than it looks when you pick it up. The CFA jokingly calls it a "bowling ball with fur."

• Tail types: The GCCF lists four types: the "rumpy" with no tail at all, the "rumpy riser" with a small knob of bone at the base of the spine, the short-tailed "stumpy" and the Manx with a normal or near-normal tail. According to Science for Animal Welfare (formerly UFAW), the vertebrae are abnormal in the first three types.
• Coat: Both shorthaired and longhaired cats have a dense, well-padded double coat. The longhaired type is called the Cymric by some organizations.
• Weight: According to the CFA, males average 10 to 12 pounds (about 4.5–5.4 kg), and females are slightly smaller.
• Colors: Many colors and patterns are accepted; the CFA and GCCF don't accept certain colors that suggest crossbreeding with other breeds (such as chocolate, lilac or pointed patterns).
• Development: According to the CFA standard, Manx may be slow to mature.

According to the CFA, the Manx coat isn't prone to matting, but because it's dense it should be combed regularly. For longhairs, a weekly combing with a wide-toothed comb is recommended, paying attention to spots where mats start, like under the legs and the sides of the face; for shorthairs, two or three times a month. The GCCF notes that older cats that groom themselves less may need help.

• Rear-end hygiene: In tailless cats, check the base of the spine and the area around the anus regularly; if you notice soiling, redness or odor, see your vet.
• Litter box: Keep track of litter box habits and urine and stool patterns; changes can be an important warning sign in this breed. Our litter box guide helps you set up a good routine.
• Play: Fetch and hunting games keep this playful breed happy; our article on playing with an indoor cat has ideas.
• Claws: Provide a scratching post; if the claws grow long, trim them the way your vet shows you.

For grooming tips, see our article on cat grooming too.

Manx don't need a special food; a complete, balanced cat food that suits their age is enough. The GCCF notes that the breed matures slowly and should eat kitten food for its first year while its bones develop. The thick coat and round build can make extra weight easy to miss.

• Measure food; decide the daily amount with your vet based on your cat's ideal weight.
• Count treats as part of the daily food.
• Being able to feel the ribs lightly is a good sign; because the coat is thick, check with your hands, not your eyes.
• Constipation is something to watch for in this breed, so make it easy for your cat to drink plenty; if its stool habits change, talk to your vet about its diet.

The information below is for awareness only; ask your vet about diagnosis and treatment. First, the key point: the gene behind the missing tail and most of the problems below can't be separated.

How does the tailless gene work?

According to Science for Animal Welfare, the tail is shortened by a dominant gene that needs only one copy, and every Manx carries a single copy of it. Kittens that inherit two copies die very early in the womb. That's why Manx don't "breed true": some kittens born to two Manx have normal tails and don't carry the gene at all. The GCCF also notes that two copies usually result in pregnancy loss and that breeders generally avoid mating two completely tailless Manx.

Manx syndrome

According to Science for Animal Welfare, the same gene can disrupt the development of the spine and spinal cord; the most common problem is spina bifida, in which the spinal canal doesn't close completely. Signs depend on severity: a rabbit-like hopping gait, walking flat on the hocks, urinary and fecal incontinence, loss of sensation around the base of the spine, constipation and an enlarged colon (megacolon). Some cats show no signs at all, while severely affected kittens can't survive. In a 1979 study, 7 of 44 kittens (16%) had severe congenital abnormalities, and all of them were completely tailless. Science for Animal Welfare notes that the syndrome usually can't be treated and is lifelong.

Signs can be present at birth, or appear over weeks or months when the spinal cord stays tethered to the growing spine. According to the CFA, the syndrome is usually noticed before a kitten is four months old, which is why good breeders don't place kittens before that age.

The tail's job, and pain

A 2025 animal welfare paper notes that cats use their tails for balance and communication (such as a friendly tail-up greeting) and that how much taillessness affects these hasn't been studied. Most research on the Manx dates back to the 1970s and didn't look at pain; the paper reports a recommendation that Manx cats routinely be assessed for pain. The GCCF and PetMD note that cats with short (stumpy) tails may be prone to painful arthritis.

Other reported issues

PetMD and the GCCF report a predisposition to an inherited disorder of the clear front layer of the eye (corneal dystrophy); according to PetMD, signs usually begin at around 4 months of age. The GCCF also mentions a tendency toward inflammation in the skin fold at the base of the spine.

We couldn't find a breed-specific life expectancy for the Manx calculated from a large data source like VetCompass. The GCCF's profile gives 12 to 14 years and PetMD's vet-reviewed profile 10 to 14 years, noting that this is shorter than the average cat. These are general ranges, not measured data.

The general rules apply to a healthy Manx: in a 2024 UK study, neutered cats and cats at their ideal weight lived longer. In cats with Manx syndrome, however, Science for Animal Welfare says life expectancy can be severely reduced; mildly affected cats can live well in a protected environment with close attention.

• Know the welfare debate: Science for Animal Welfare notes that because the gene causing these problems is the breed's defining feature, the problems will continue as long as Manx are bred, and that the ethics of continuing the breed should be seriously considered. International Cat Care also lists the Manx among breeds whose defining feature rests on a gene change that harms health, and reminds buyers that they create demand for breeding.
• Consider a shelter: Many cats, tailed or tailless, are looking for homes; follow adoption listings.
• If you buy from a breeder: Don't take a kitten home before it's at least four months old; see its gait, litter box habits and rear end for yourself, and ask for a vet exam before you buy. Ask about the parents' health history and whether Manx syndrome has occurred in the line. The CFA also suggests talking to the breeder about any possibility of Manx syndrome in the lines.
• A tailed Manx: According to Science for Animal Welfare, Manx with normal tails don't carry the gene and aren't affected by the syndrome. The CFA also notes that adopting a tailed Manx, which has the same personality, is an option; short-tailed (stumpy) cats, however, do carry the gene.
• Registration: Rules vary by country; many places require or recommend microchipping. In Türkiye, owned cats must be microchipped and registered in the PETVET system.