Which island gives the Manx cat breed its name and traditional association?

The Isle of Man gives the Manx cat breed its name and traditional association. The island lies in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland, and tailless cats have been recorded there for centuries.

Manx cats are known for a naturally occurring mutation affecting tail development. The mutation does not produce one uniform tail type: some Manx cats have no obvious tail, while others have a short stump or a nearly full-length tail. Breeders use terms such as rumpy, stump, and longy for these variations.

The breed’s taillessness is not caused by docking. In some pairings, inheriting two copies of the relevant mutation can cause serious developmental problems, so responsible breeding is important. Manx cats may have short or long coats; the long-haired variety is commonly called the Cymric in some registries.