Cymric
The Cymric is the long-haired Manx — the same tailless cat from the Isle of Man, with a semi-long double coat.
The name is a Welsh word, which is a puzzle given the breed's Manx origin, and the two are the same breed in some registries.
It weighs 3.5 to 5.5 kilograms, is round and compact with hind legs longer than the front, giving a rabbit-like hop at speed. Tail length varies and is described by named categories: rumpy with none at all, rumpy riser, stumpy and longy. The tailless gene is dominant and it is also lethal in the homozygous form, and in cats that survive it it can affect the spine — this is the defining medical fact about the breed.
- Origin
- Isle of Man; the long-coated form of the Manx
- Size
- 3.5–5.5 kg
- Lifespan
- 8–14 years
- Coat
- Semi-long double coat with a dense undercoat
- Tail
- Rumpy, rumpy riser, stumpy or longy
- Health
- Manx syndrome — spina bifida, bowel and bladder problems
Related: Manx
2 cymric photos, newest first
Living with a cymric
Manx syndrome is the thing to understand. The gene that shortens the tail shortens the spine, and in some cats it goes too far: spina bifida, a fused or malformed spine, and incontinence from poorly innervated bowel and bladder. It usually shows within the first six months, which is why responsible breeders keep kittens until four months before homing.
Two tailless cats are never bred together — kittens inheriting two copies die before birth.
Ask the breeder directly about incidence in their lines and about how long they hold kittens.
Check the rear end regularly. A cat that strains, dribbles urine or has poor litter habits needs a vet, not correction.
The dense double coat mats and needs brushing several times a week.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual cats vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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