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The
short-haired tail-less Manx or
"Rumpy"from the Isle of Man is unique,
although there are Cats without tails in Japan
& Mayalasia. Where the tail should start
there is a hollow. Breeding the true Manx is
difficult; they may produce kittens with long
tails. The high back legs give the breed a walk
which looks like a rabbits hop. The hindquarters
are high, giving the Cat a curious appearance,
the coat is short & double, like a rabbits
fur, the head is large and round, and the ears
are pointed. |
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The
origin of the breed is a mystery. Legend says
that the first Manx Cats landed on the Isle of
Man from two ships of the Spanish Armada wrecked
off Spanish Point. near Port Erin. An old Manx
newspaper says that in 1808 an "East County
ship was wrecked on Jurby Point, and a rumpy Cat
swam ashore". Another tradition states that
a Baltic ship wrecked between Castle Rushen and
the Calf brought the Manx to the Island. As the
ship drew close to the shore two or three
tail-less Cats leaped from the bowsprit and were
taken by the wreckers on shore, who were waiting
for loot. |
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The
Explorer Auguste Pavie believed that the Annamite
Cats were connected with the Manx. The Annamites,
small, graceful Cats with very short tails, were
probably imported into the East Indies from
Britain by the trading expeditions in the
eighteenth century. |
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The
old Welsh legend states that Manx Cats were known
in Cornwall at an early date, and that it was
from the West of England that the Manx went to
the Isle of Man. They were evidently sacred
animals, since they were said to have been the
offspring of an ancient goddess. |
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There
is an old superstition in the Isle of Man, that the Cats
have a King of their own. He is said to live the life of
an ordinary house-cat by day, but at night he assumes his
regal powers and travels the lanes in a fiery state. If
the householder who owns the King of the Manx Cats is
unkind to his pet, it is said that the King takes a
terrible revenge. |
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Remember,
all Cats are believed to be on intimate terms
with the Fairies, and with all the inhabitants of
the invisible world... and if a Cat is put out of
doors when the Family retires, the Fairies let it
in again during the night. |
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The
oldest and most amusing Manx story is the
Biblical one. It seems the Manx was the last of
all the animals to enter the Ark. Noah was very
impatient, because the waters were rising. But
the Cat was slow, so Noah hastened it along and
hurriedly shut the door on it's tail. |
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| Said the Cat,
and he was a Manx, |
| Oh, Captain
Noah wait! |
| I'll
catch the mice to give you thanks |
| And pay for
being late! |
| So the Cat got
in, but Oh, |
| His tail was a
bit too slow! |
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The
saddest facts have yet to be told. Today, because
of breeding practices that got out of control,
Manx are harder than ever to find. To remedy
this, many unethical breeders will amputate
newborn kittens tails without concern for the
repercussions. This practice is not done under
Veterinary care and without proper follow up
care, thus leading to nerve damage, infection,
problems with bowel function, etc. Some of these
problems go undetected until the kitten is sold
and becomes part of a loving Family. Buying and
selling of living flesh is an archaic practice
that today will guarantee "the best"
for those that practice it. For the rest of us,
we retain the right to the "throw
backs". Visit any Shelter and you can get a
so called perfect breed animal that has a defect.
Or contact your local Greyhound Rescue Service.
We don't accept the buying and selling of Human
flesh, aren't we all creatures of the same Earth?
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© 1997,1998,1999
