Manx cat care

Animal file: Cat manx

Can you imagine a cat that does not have a tail? Surely you will find something a little strange to see. In case you did not know, there are several breeds of cats which are characterized by a very short tail, or lack of it. This is the case of the cat manx.

If you have a manx at home, surely you will enjoy the docility of these felines, because they tend to be quite tame and sociable, even with other pets. Purebred animals usually need some extra care that may not be required by mestizos, whether they have a genetic predisposition to develop certain diseases or that the fur requires special maintenance, for example. Therefore, keep reading this article to discover which are the manx cat care.

The manx race

This variety of feline is originally from the Isle of Man, territory belonging to Great Britain. It is one of the breeds of cats that do not have a tail and, if they have one, scarcely reaches three centimeters. Many legends are about the origin of this particularity, although the reality is that it is due to a genetic mutation that affects the formation of the spine.

It is an animal of great intelligence, tolerant with other pets and capable of developing a strong emotional bond with his human family. The colors of the hair are varied in terms of combination, and its body is round and plump.

In itself, the care you need are quite simple, except for special attention in terms of health, due to how prone these cats are to suffer from problems in the spine.

The entertainment of the cat manx

The manx is a pretty active cat, so will need game sessions. He is an excellent hunter, so chasing flashy toys is a good way to have fun together, while the pussycat gets in shape.

Climbing trees and climbing on shelves and shelves is another of their entertainments. If you have a garden at home, it will only be necessary to ensure that the cat does not get hurt when it climbs. If, on the contrary, it lives within a department, it is recommended to obtain for it a tree for cats or scraper of several levels, where it can be climbed safely.

Due to his sociable nature and his personality full of adrenaline, It’s a good idea to have another cat at home to keep the manx company in their games and adventures.

What does the manx eat?

Fortunately, the manx does not require a particular type of food, because it is a healthy and strong cat. Whether a dry, moist or even homemade diet is good for this feline. The only thing that you have to take into account is the ease with which you gain weight, so overfeeding it is not a suitable alternative. For more information, do not miss our article in which we treat obesity in cats and show how to avoid it.

The care of the coat

This cat breed does not have very long hair, so there are not many cares that the manx cat requires in this area. A simple brushed once a week it will be enough to eliminate all the dead hair and to give shine to the mantle. It is not necessary that you bathe it if it is not dirty or that you use any extra product for this purpose.

As it happens in other races, it is necessary to be attentive to the presence of possible parasites, such as fleas or ticks, or of infections such as ringworm, to intervene in time.

The right space

A comfortable and warm bed, a container for food and another for fresh water, and its respective litter box are the basic items with which your cat will be comfortable manx. Remember to keep these objects clean and clean the areas where the feline spends the most time to prevent infections, mites and other discomforts.

The health of the cat manx

In general, it is a healthy race. In many cases, it is enough to have your vaccinations up to date and monitor any symptoms that indicate the presence of a possible disease. However, to offer the best care to the cat manx, the development of the spine must be monitored, by the tendency to suffer malformation problems.

Due to the mutation that causes lack of tail in the manx, this can get to suffer various disorders of the column encompassed in what is called ‘Isle of Man syndrome‘.

What is?

La mutation of the column can affect the cat from the moment of birth, causing malformations that are capable of killing puppies after a few days of life. Due to this, it is recommended not to cross short tail manx to each other, to avoid the appearance of this recessive gene. Ideally, they should mate with some varieties that do have a tail, such as the american shorthair, or that are sterilized to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.

If the kittens born with the malformation survive, throughout their life they will develop some disease related to the mutation. Apart from spina bifida (which causes pain, inability to adopt a normal posture and problems in the nervous system), it is also possible that they suffer different disorders in the vertebrae and even in the pelvic area. These bone malformations end up affecting the internal organs, so the feline will suffer from incontinence, digestive problems, constipation, hydrocephalus, among others. In cases of extreme gravity, paralysis is a possibility.

If you have a manx cat, it is best to control it with a veterinarian since he is a puppy to detect such problems in time.

If you want to read more articles similar to Manx cat care, we recommend that you enter in our Basic Care section.