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A Cymric cat with a stumpy tail.
The Cymric cat originally comes from the Isle of Man, a British island. It is closely related to the Manx cat but has longer fur. Its most striking characteristic is its lack of a tail.
The Cymric has a fluffy coat, round head and compact physique. Its eyes are large and round and the ears are far apart.
Weighing between 3 to 6 kilograms, the Cymric is a medium-sized cat breed.
Its coat is semi-long, dense and has an abundant undercoat. All fur colours, markings and eye colours are recognised by breeding associations.
Since their rear legs are longer than its front legs, Cymric cats resemble hopping rabbits when walking. This impression is further reinforced by the lack of tail.
The tail is missing entirely with most Cymric cats. Some individuals simply have a small stumpy tail. This anomaly is typical of cats from the Isle of Man. Manx cats, relatives of the Cymric, are almost all tailless.
These different tail shapes are found with Cymric cats:
Cymric cats are good mouse hunters. This breed is considered fun-loving, active and curious. A Cymric is interested in everything that goes on in its family and wants to be everywhere. If you own a Cymric, you don’t need a watchdog. These attentive felines react immediately if they think something isn’t right and start to growl.
However, the Cymric also has a calm and gentle side. It enjoys taking a nap in its owner’s lap. In general, this breed is very people-oriented, loyal and affectionate. The Cymric is also said to get on very well with fellow felines and even dogs.
As former desert animals, cats are normally afraid of water. Only a few cat breeds such as the Turkish Van actually like water. Cymric cats are also said to have an unusual fondness for cool water.
Cymric cats need plenty of attention. If you wish to give one a home, you should be able to spare plenty of time for playing and cuddling.
Members of this cat breed are very intelligent and love to be taught tricks. Clicker training or cat agility are ideal activity options. With the right training, these smart felines should also be keen on walks on a lead.
The Cymric’s thick fur needs brushing three to four times a week. Regular grooming prevents your cat’s coat from matting.
In addition, you should regularly check the furry ears for dirt and clean them if necessary. Dirt can get stuck in the hair and mites can also settle in the auricles.
The Cymric cat’s missing or stunted tail is due to a genetic mutation. However, not just the tail is affected. This genetic defect affects the entire spinal column and the spinal cord.
For example, you find animals with deformed or fused vertebrae. Some also suffer from a split spine (spina bifida). Paralysis in the hind legs and problems with defecation and urination are common consequences. Vets have also established that tailless cats are extremely sensitive to pain in the pelvic area.
If you pair two tailless Cymric cats, 25% of the puppies die in the womb or shortly after birth.
Cats need their tail to keep their balance when climbing. As well, it is an important method of communication. If it is missing, cats are severely limited in their natural behaviour.
In the article Understanding and Learning Cat Language, you will find out what a cat’s different tail positions mean.
Cats of this breed are also prone to arthritis, a painful joint inflammation.
Important: Regular veterinary check-ups If you have a Cymric cat, you should definitely get it regularly examined by a vet. Problems with the spinal column are not to be underestimated and can even worsen over the course of time.
Cats of this breed are very rarely offered in Germany. On average, a Cymric cat costs between £400 and £700.
The relatively high price is primarily due to difficult breeding. Many offspring don’t survive because of genetic damage, therefore the litters of Cymric cats are smaller than with other cat breeds.
Please: Even if you’ve fallen for these beautiful cats, you shouldn’t buy a Cymric cat from a breeder. This is because by providing demand, you are encouraging the targeted production of cats with severe health problems.
Perhaps instead you will strike lucky in your local animal shelter. It’s not at all uncommon for pedigree cats to end up there.
Cymric cats are closely related to Manx cats. Both cat breeds originally come from the Isle of Man, an island in the Irish Sea between Ireland and Britain.
There was a genetic mutation responsible for the missing tail amongst the cats living there. This genetic defect could prevail due to the isolated setting and a larger population of tailless cats developed.
These cats were called Manx cats due to living on the Isle of Man. In the 1920s, they were recognised as an independent breed by the breeding associations.
Manx cats are normally shorthair. The few longhair Manx cats weren’t deployed for breeding. It was not until longhair Manx cats were born in Canada in the 1960s that they began to be bred in a planned manner. The Cymric breed emerged.
The name Cymric comes from the word Cymru, which is Welsh for Wales. However, this cat breed has nothing to do with Wales – they just wanted to give it a Celtic-sounding name.
The Manx and Cymric aren’t the only tailless cat breeds. The Japanese Bobtail, Mekong Bobtail, Kurilian Bobtail, Pixie-bob and American Bobtail are also tailless.
The Cymric cat captivates with its attractive appearance and loving personality. It is intelligent, playful and people-oriented.
However, Cymric breeding is highly problematic and shouldn’t be supported for ethical reasons. It’s better to give a home to a Cymric cat from an animal shelter or to look for another cat breed right away.
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