Manx

It is an old cat from the Isle of Man, between Great Britain and Ireland, where isolation fixed a dominant mutation of the TBXT gene that shortens or removes the tail. The same mutation can affect the spine and spinal cord. That is why Manx syndrome is not rare, and with two copies of the gene embryos die in the womb: it is always bred to tailed cats. It has a compact body, longer hind legs and a bouncy gait. It is calm, loyal, an excellent hunter and usually bonds closely with its family. It is a breed with an honest history, but buying a Manx means accepting its genetic risk.

Dense double coat: weekly brushing, daily during the moult. Hunting play and scratching posts. Watch for any sign of trouble in the first months: incontinence, constipation, an exaggerated bunny hop or weakness in the hind legs. Choose breeders who wait until kittens are at least four months old before selling them, when the syndrome has usually shown itself.

Manx syndrome: spina bifida, fusion of the sacral vertebrae, urinary and faecal incontinence, chronic constipation and megacolon. It is more common in rumpies and usually shows before four months of age. Also arthritis at the base of the tail in stumpies, and corneal dystrophy in some lines.