Manx

Lore & Background

Tailless cats, then called stubbin in colloquial Manx language, were known by the early 19th century as cats from the Isle of Man, where they remain a substantial but declining percentage of the local cat population. Some folklore stories claim that tailless domestic cats were brought there by sea. They are descended from mainland stock of obscure origin. Like all house cats, they are ultimately descended from the African wildcat (Felis lybica) and not from native European wildcats (Felis silvestris), of which the island has long been devoid. The dominant trait of taillessness arises from a spontaneous mutation, the Manx taillessness gene, that eventually became common on the island because of the limited genetic diversity of island biogeography (an example of the founder effect and, at the sub-specific level, of the species-area curve).

Reader's Guide

The Manx cat is significant as a distinct breed with a long history on the Isle of Man, where its taillessness became common due to the founder effect and limited genetic diversity. Manx cats were one of the first breeds recognised by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), which has records on the breed in North America going back to the 1920s. The breed's taillessness does not breed true; tail length is random throughout a litter of kittens, and attempting to force the tailless trait to breed true by continually breeding tailless Manx cats to tailless Manx cats has led to increased negative, even fatal genetic disorders. Manx cats are classified by tail type: rumpy (no tail), riser (cartilage bump), stumpy (partial tail up to 3 cm), stubby (short tail up to half normal), and longy (half to normal length). Show cats have traditionally been rumpy through stumpy specimens. The breed's legacy includes its role as a skilled hunter and ship's cat, and its presence in folklore, including tales of a shipwrecked Spanish Armada cat and the biblical Noah story.

Did You Know?

• Two local terms for Manx cats on the Isle of Man are stubbin (short tail) and rumpy (no tail).
• The Manx cat's taillessness arises from a spontaneous mutation that became common due to the founder effect and limited genetic diversity on the island.
• Populations of tailless cats also exist in Cornwall, on the Danish peninsula of Reersø, and in Crimea, though whether they are genetically related to Manx cats is unknown.

Common Misconceptions (Editorial)

Some people believe that Manx cats descended from native European wildcats (Felis silvestris) or that taillessness developed naturally on the Isle of Man due to isolation alone. In fact, like all domestic cats, they descend from the African wildcat (Felis lybica), and their taillessness arose from a specific spontaneous mutation that became common because of the founder effect and limited genetic diversity on the island.

Why It Matters (Editorial)

The Manx cat endures as a cultural and biological curiosity, a living example of how island isolation can shape a breed through a single spontaneous mutation. Its history as a skilled hunter and favored ship’s cat also reflects a practical bond between humans and animals, reminding us that even a quirky genetic trait can be valued for its utility as well as its novelty.