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. Visit Baby Bird's page, (linked above) to read all about the history of the Manx cat! Also, please check out the page she made just for ME!

The faerie opened the door as he did each night and the the large Manx cat sauntered out into the darkness. A housecat by day and a King of the Cats by night, he was ready to assume his regal powers and prowl the realm.

It was whispered among the cats that he descended from an ancient Goddess but he was not feared, for he was known to be a mild mannered cat.

He always visited the wild feral cats that lived among the Unicorns in the meadow a short distance from his home. On this night, he found only one kitten, an orange and white one, sitting quietly beneath the fronds of a giant fern.

When the King Manx inquired about the others, the kitten told him the mean humans had come and taken them away. She had hid and they did not find her. She was very sad and lonely now so he told her she should follow him home because his human was kind to cats and had several although he was, of course, the leader. The kitten would not go, however, and was too young to know she should obey the King. He stayed with her until daybreak but then he had to go back home so the faerie could let him back inside again. His mistress did not know he ruled the night for she had never seen the other faeries, elves and Unicorns.

Later that day as the King Manx resumed his housecat role and watched the lane from a window ledge, he saw the Princess Cathalyn approaching. She was a good friend of his mistress and visited often.

The Princess usually brought a large bouquet of wildflowers but today she held something smaller in her arms..something furry and orange-gold in color. As she was ushered inside> the King Manx could only stare in surprise...she was holding the kitten from the meadow.

He listened as the Princess told his mistresss how she went> to the meadow for many days to try to catch a wild kitten but they always scampered away. This morning they were all gone...except one..this tiny one sleeping in an abandoned bird's nest that had fallen to the ground.

The kitten would be called Baby Bird and the Princess said she would cherish it for all its life. It too was a Manx cat and they were the most prized in the kingdom.

The King Manx looked at the kitten nestled in loving arms and thought he saw one eye close gently...in a wink!