Manx
Manx ~ Red Tabby
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Manx
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Manx ~ Red Tabby
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| A curly-coated, playful, sociable acrobat The first Cornish Rex was a male named Kallibunker born to Serena, a tricolor housecat, in 1950 on the Ennismore farm near Bodmin in Cornwall, England (hence the name Cornish Rex). His curly coat resembled that of Rex rabbits discovered on a French farm in 1919. In order to preserve this recessive mutation, the breeding program combined inbreeding with outcrosses to Siamese, British Shorthairs, and Burmese. In 1967, the Cornish Rex was officially recognized in England. In 1960, Professor E. Letard brought a Rex couple from Germany to France. Only the green-eyed male, Marco, survived the trip. He was mated with a Burmese queen. The kittens were black and straight-coated, proving that the gene responsible for the Rex coat was indeed recessive. Letard inbred the mixed-breed offspring and in 1962, finally obtained a male Rex - Lisko, a descendant from the French Rex line. In the United States, a breeding program began in 1957. Crosses with Siamese and Orientals resulted in a lighter, oval-headed cat, while the English Cornish Rex was heavier and had a more triangular, rather than long, head. This breed is highly prized in the United States and Europe. |
| A devilish, stubborn clown. Lots of bluster. Lively and intelligent, very owner-oriented. Needs discipline, easily trained. Not very vocal. |
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Head
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Round head with prominent cheeks and a jowly appearance (more evident in adult males) that enhances the round appearance of the breed. In profile, head is medium in length with a gentle dip from forehead to nose. Well developed muzzle, very slightly longer than it is broad, with a strong chin. Definite whisker break with large, round whisker pads. Short, thick neck. |
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Eyes
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Large, round and full. Set at a slight angle toward the nose (outer corners slightly higher than inner corners). Ideal eye color conforms to requirements of coat color. |
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Ears
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Ears wide at the base, tapering gradually to a rounded tip. Medium in size in proportion to the head, widely spaced and set slightly outward. When viewed from behind, the ear set resembles the rocker on a cradle. The furnishings of the ears are sparse in Shorthair Manx and full furnishings for Longhair Manx. |
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Neck
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Short, thick, powerful. |
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Body
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Solidly muscled, compact and well-balanced, medium in size with sturdy bone structure. The Manx is stout in appearance with broad chest and well-sprung ribs. The constant repetition of curves and circles give the Manx the appearance of great substance and durability, a cat that is powerful without the slightest hint of coarseness. Males may be slightly larger than females. |
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Paw
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Forelegs shorter than hind legs. Heavy-boned and very muscular. Round paws. Hopping gait resembling that of a rabbit. |
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Tail
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Appearing
to be absolute in the perfect specimen. A rise of bone at the end of the
spine is allowed and should not be penalized unless it is such that it stops
the judge's hand, thereby spoiling the tailless appearance of the cat. The
rump is extremely broad and round. Coat : Short, dense, double coat (very thick undercoat). All colors and patterns are allowed, with or without white. |
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Fault
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Eyes not set at a slant. Long, slender body. Flat back. Short hind legs. Fine-boned. Disqualify: weakness in hindquarters. |
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Disqualify
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Evidence of poor physical condition; incorrect number of toes; evidence of hybridization; evidence of weakness in the hindquarters; pronounced stop or nose break. |
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Character
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With his excellent character, this cat adapts easily to changes in lifestyle. Manxes are sociable and accepting of other animals. Patient with children, they are affectionate toward their owner. Hardy, lively, and active, they are good hunters. Manx kittens grow slowly. Manxes are less prolific than average for domestic cats, and they are difficult to breed. Homozygotic kittens (MM, carriers of two "doses" of the dominant mutant gene) die in the uterus (due to the incomplete development of the spinal cord). Thus, all Manxes are heterozygotic (Mm). Rumpies should not be bred together, due to the risk of this fatal gene combination. Instead, it is advised to breed Manxes with American Shorthairs or British Shorthairs, knowing that not all the kittens in each litter will be Manxes. Manxes are easy to groom. |
| Not a breed for the novice cat fancier. The Manx carries a lethal gene: lack of tail is a genetic defect indicating spinal deformities (spina bifida) and cartilage weaknesses. These may affect the legs and neck, causing paralysis. A Manx should be able o stand, walk, run, and climb normally. A "bunny hop" gait is a trait but may indicate problems. |