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Isle of Man Cat Family – Cat Breed Guide


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Introduction

The Isle of Man Cat Family consists of the Isle of Man Shorthair and the Isle of Man Longhair. It is only recognized officially as a distinct breed by the New Zealand Cat Fancy or NZCF. All the other predominant international feline registries consider this particular NZCF breed group as just breeding stocks of the Manx and Cymric, and technically not recognized and have no set of standards for these tailed variants of the cats originating from the Isle of Man.

By recognizing these cats under the Isle of Man and not as Manx and Cymric, the NZCF appears to have given the much-deserved recognition of this often discarded “Manx and Cymric breeding stock“ type of cats that actually plays a very important role to the development and future of the breeds originating from the Isle of Man.

Two distinct breeds of Isle of Man cats as recognized by The New Zealand Cat Fancy or NZCF:
– The Isle of Man Longhair
– The Isle of Man Shorthair

Official Name

Isle of Man Cat Breed or Isle of Man Shorthair and Isle of Man Longhair

Isle of Man Shorthair called by other feline registries and associations as the Tailed Manx, a variety of Manx cat and a subgroup under the British Shorthair cat breed. Isle of Man Longhair is called by other feline registries and associations as the Long Tailed Cymrics, a variety of Cymric cat that is not officially recognized as a distinct breed. Some also call this a Tailed Manx Longhair, again another type of Cymric or Manx that is not officially recognized.

Origin

The Isle of Man Cat Breeds originated in the Isle of Man, England. Some believe that these cats actually predate the Manx cat as they are the native domesticated cats that were crossed with the maritime cats having the “Manx” tailless genes. These cats are believed to have existed for several hundreds of years.

Quick FAQs

Size: Isle of Man Shorthairs and Longhairs come in Medium to Large sizes.

Coat Type: Isle of Man Shorthair cats have short coats while the Longhairs have furs that may come medium to long coat length.

Body Type: Isle of Man Shorthairs and Longhairs cats have bodies that are semi-cobby in type.

Grooming Requirement: Isle of Man Shorthairs and Longhairs require different grooming attention. The Shorthairs can do with once every few week grooming. The Longhairs should be groomed at least once a week but preferably groomed two to three times every week.

Vocal Tendency: Isle of Man Shorthairs and Longhairs are considered to be average when it comes to being “talkative”.

Energy Levels: Isle of Man Shorthairs and Longhairs are cats that have average activity levels.

Time Alone: Both Isle of Man cat breeds requires more than 8 hours of “alone” time every day.

Care: Both Isle of Man cat breeds are very easy to handle and will need average attention when it comes to caring.

Recognized by

New Zealand Cat Fancy – Full recognition and accepted as Championship Breeds. The NZCF classified the two Isle of Man breeds as distinct and separate pedigrees with breed code IMS for Isle of Man Shorthair and ILH for Isle of Man Longhair.

History

Since the international recognition of the original Manx cat breed, breeders around the world have developed various cat breeds using the Manx stock that originated from the Isle of Man.

The world’s fascination with the Manx cat started when tailless or nearly tailless cats started appearing within the population of the local domesticated cats in the Isle of Man. This is a result of a naturally caused and spontaneous genetic mutation that happened presumably before the 1800s, as the local island domestic cats didn’t display the tailless traits until the introduction of the “Manx Gene”. The carriers of the said gene are assumed a maritime cat used in ships to hunt rodents that eventually found its way to the shores of the Isle of Man. The progenies of the first mating with the local island shorthairs and longhairs with the Manx Gene carrying maritime cat of unknown origin eventually became the foundation stock of the modern Manx cat breed.

By the 1920s, the shorthaired tailless cats locally called “stubbin” has gained international recognition and breeders around the world began developing consistent varieties or “sub-breeds” of the original Manx.

The first to be recognized, the term developed is deemed inappropriate as Manx cats with longhairs also appeared together with the first to be recognized shorthaired Manx cats, is the Longhair Manx which is now popularly called as the Cymric. The breed was first developed in Canada during the 1960s, using the original Manx foundation stock but selectively breed using two-tailed and longhaired Manx cats. This first sub-breed of the Manx is also the only variant that gained international recognition and acceptance by most of the major feline registries.

Then there’s the Tasman Manx or also known as the Curly-coated Manx. These tailless or partially tailless cats were developed in Australia and New Zealand using the Manx stock that has been bred in this part of the world. The Tasman Manx is considered to be the youngest of all Manx variants. Only the New Zealand Cat Fancy or NZCF recognizes this cat breed of Manx stock.

Then there are the Isle of Man cat breeds, tailed shorthair and longhaired cats of Manx stock that traces their roots to the early domesticated cats in the Isle of Man. Although mostly considered as a sub-breed of the Manx cat and recognized not as a breed but the breeding stock of both Manx and Cymric breeds, these cats play a vital role in the past and future of the Manx and Cymric cats as mating two tailless cats of these types will result to various defects and can even be lethal.

Also, the Isle of Man cat breeds is believed to be the originally domesticated cats that are native to the island nation in the British Isles. There could have been no Manx or Cymric without these feline islanders.

The NZCF’s recognition of the Isle of Man cats as a “Manx stock” has been followed by other major feline organizations.

Personality

The Isle of Man cats is known in New Zealand and Australia as intelligent, cheery and highly sociable household pets. These cats will be faithful, committed and steadfast to their family. These cats are also highly energetic and will be very playful. Other predominant traits of the Isle of Man cats are gentleness, calmness, even-tempered and very suited to be companion pets.

Standards

Appearance
The Isle of Man Shorthair and Longhair are similar in appearance to the Manx and Cymric except that these cats have full-length tails. The two Isle of Man cat breeds that are recognized by the NZCF shares the same standards of the Manx and Cymric except on the tail area.

Isle of Man cats have tails that can come in medium to long in length as well as in its width. These cats’ tails are tapering to a rounded end.

Health

The Isle of Man cat breeds is also prone to the same medical problems of the Cymric and the Manx except for the tailless genetic mutation that can be lethal, making them healthier than the two tailless domestic cat breeds.

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