Friday, January 4, 2019

Life List #1: (Virtual) Isle of Man and Manx Cats



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.

                                                   Curly Haired Manx

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...