Decided to take this entire year and
experience, see, do, try
some of the items
on my
Bucket List
(or as I like to call it: Life List)
Today, in no particular order, we will
start just off the coastline of Ireland between
Ireland and Great Britain
The Isle of Man
Last year
I became a "kitty mom"
to the most uncatlike kitten
I have ever owned.
Meet Sofi
A Calico Manx
Research into the breed
(and specifically, why my new cat most often acts more like a dog)
brought me to
The Isle of Man.
We will get back to that
in a moment.
Man has been inhabited since 6500 BC
and is a self-governing dependency of
the British Crown.
It is named after
Mannanan
who in Irish Mythology
is the King of the Underworld.
(which may also go a long way in explaining my kitten)
Man has a population
of
83,000
not including
'the cats.
Isle of Man
https://youtu.be/oqv9lOu-Wlg
This is Sofi showing off her Manxness.
I found it fascinating that
all the Manx Cats
past, present and future
originated genetically
on this small island.
We like to call her
The Cabbit.
Manx have
either no tail
(rumpy)
like Sofi
or
a short stub
(stubby)
or
longer than a stub but shorter than a normal tail
(longy)
Longys do not possess the ability
to produce Manx kittens later.
There are a number of stories as to how
the Manx lost its tail
including one
where Noah
closed the door
to the Ark
on it
and Manx have been tailless from
that day until this.
The truth a bit less fanciful.
The gene for MANX
is extremely dominate
and if a parent cat has the Manx gene
at least one or two of the kittens
will turn up Manx.
The gene is also why
two rumpy Manx can never be bred together
to deliberately
throw rumpy Manx kittens.
Two rumpy Manx parents will usually result in
stillbirths.
How "different"
is a Manx?
They have a tendency to love water and baths.
They vocalize differently...not the meow we associate
with most domestic cats
more trilling and almost vowel-like
utterances
at times.
Sofi crates at night...and begins the day with a soft "All-o" "Ah-lo"which rises in crescendo until I open her door.
They are quite intelligent and dog-like
including the fact they rarely scratch
preferring instead to bite or mouth you
like a dog.
They will play fetch.
(endlessly)
Their back legs are
considerably longer that the front
giving them a
rabbit-like bunchiness
sitting
oh...and instead of running
they HOP.
You haven't lived
until you have experienced
a Manx with The Rips.
Hopping wildly from room to room.
Who need television?
Grown they weigh between
9-12 pounds
and live from 8-13 years.
Have Bat-Ears
Although they
come in a variety of colors now
they were predominately
Tabby, Tortoiseshell and Calico
with gold or amber eyes.
It is speculated that
the Manx left
The Island by Trading Ships
who would bring them onboard
as mousers.
They are now
recognized by the
Cat Association
and Rumpies and Stubbins
can be shown
in
competition.
Playful and affectionate
Manx tend to be high
maintenance.
They have a deep undercoat
which requires daily brushing
this is more obvious with
the long haired and curly haired.
The same shortened spine that
gives them the characteristic
taillessness
also creates
numerous bowel problems
and neurological disorders.
There is also Manx Syndrome which generally
shows up before 4 months old
and is incurable.
When they are young they
tend to not realize they have
a bottom at all
and you must clean it
or clean up
everywhere they sit
or walk after a bowel movement.
Wet Wipes
become your best
friend.
Thankfully Sofi
has outgrown this particular annoyance
and found her bum.
Sofi then
and now
In Stanton on the Isle of Man
is the Mann Cat Sanctuary.
A registered Manx Charity.
But takes in all unwanted cats.
https://youtu.be/-a6E1-QgnX8
Kind of like your crazy cat lady Aunt
only with funding!
More Anon...
