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 Cat Breeds - There are a variety of different cat breeds. Read about the many domestic cat breeds, including the Maine Coon and Siamese cats. And view the many cat breeds pictures to see how each breed differs dramatically in coat length and overall look.
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Cymric. Famous for being tailless, read all about this affectionate intelligent breed, typical Cymric characteristics and temperament, their origins and more...
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CYMRIC
The tailless Cymric, whose name is derived from the Gaelic word for
Wales, is a longhaired version of the Manx. It is a friendly,
affectionate, relaxed companion--an easy feline to share a home
with.
According to some sources the Cymric is somewhat doglike in
its habits; it will play "fetch," growl at an unidentified
disturbance, and may follow its owner around.
History
The Cymric and its shorthaired cousin, the Manx, are among
the oldest natural breeds of cats. They are native to the Isle of
Man, an island in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland.
How did these cats lose their tails? Geneticists have determined that
taillessness occurred as the result of a spontaneous mutation. The
Manx was easily established due to the genetic nature of the
tailless trait and centuries of inbreeding in an isolated island
environment.
Both long- and shorthaired cats existed on the Isle of
Man before the appearance of the mutant gene for taillessness. When
the tailless Cymric appeared, the recessive longhair gene may have
been part of the package.
Description
The Cymric is a solidly built, medium-size, cobby cat. The head is round, with a
short nose, strong chin, large, round eyes, and medium ears that are
rounded at the tips.
The legs are short and thick, with the hindlegs longer than the
forelegs. The paws are round and large.
A completely tailless Cymric is called a "rumpy"; the "rumpy riser"
appears to be tailless but has one to three vertebrae fused to the
end of the spine; the "stumpy" has one to five normal vertabrae,
which give the cat a short, moveable tail stump; the "longy" is a
cat witha shorter-than-normal tail, but a tail nonetheless.
The overall body generally has
an arched appearance, due to shorter than normal vertebrae.
The Cymric has a soft, semi-long outercoat that gradually lengthens
from head to rump.It has a
a thick undercoat and shiny, smooth top
hairs. Many colours and patterns are accepted, including
tabby, solid, bicolour, shaded, tortoiseshell, and calico.
The Cymric is the moderately longhaired version of the Manx. Except
for the length of the fur, in all other respects, the two breeds are
identical.
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Characeterics and Temperament
Cymrics are affectionate, intelligent cats, happiest when they are
doing something. They have good mousing ability and enjoy time
outdoors, but they are very comfortable in the home as well. They
get along well with other animals, including dogs.
Because the bodily features that give the breed its distinction are
essentially genetic defects, the Cymric is a controversial breed. If
it were introduced for recognition today, further breeding would
probably be discouraged.
Special Requirements
The Cymric's dense coat needs to be combed two
or three times a week to remove loose fur.
Although the coat requires regular brushing, it is easily groomed and very
rarely mars.
Some Cymric cats experience neurologic disorders and
defecation problems due to spinal defects associated with the gene
for taillessness.
The rabbitlike hop that is sometimes seen in
Cymric cats is probably due to some degree of spinal deformity.
Spinal abnormalities can be discerned in kittens before they reach
four months of age.
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Site written by Gemma Littlemore