The Cymric cat breed is solidly built and chunky with a similar body type to the British Shorthair cat breed with large eyes and widely spaced ears. The lack of a tail is the breed's most outstanding feature. Its hind legs are longer than the front legs. The Cymric cat's hair is thick and provides a layer of padding over the main body, adding to the round appearance. A rabbit-like hop can sometimes be seen in Cymric cats because of the spinal deformity, similar to spinabifida, which associated with the taillessness. Cymric cats come in all colours and patterns, except the pointed Siamese cat breed type.
The need-to-know
- Playful and curious cat
- Sociable and dependent cat
- Somehow talkative cat
- Average build cat breed
- Requires grooming every day
- Outdoor cat
- Great family cat
Personality
The Cymric cat is a very quiet, playful and intelligent cat. It can be a little shy and reserved around strangers and tends to bond very closely with one individual. It is a breed that seems to keep its kitten-like behaviour well into adulthood.
History and Origins
Country of Origin: Isle of Man (UK)/Canada
The Cymric cat breed is a semi-longhaired version of the Manx cat. Despite its name, which derives from Cymru the Celtic name for Wales, it originates from the Isle of Man. Tailless cats are common on the Isle of Man where inbreeding among the island cats allowed a naturally occurring tailess gene mutation to spread. As for the Manx cat, litters of Cymric kittens can have stumpy tails of various lengths (classed as rumpy-risers, stumpies, and longies) or no tails at all (rumpy). Breeding programmes in Canada in the 1960s lead to popularity of Cymrics in the USA where only completely tailless animals are shown.
Other Information
Health and common issues
The lack of a tail is a severe genetic defect and the Cymric cat's 'deformed' spine may cause health problems including arthritis from an early age. In some cats the anal passage may be narrowed and this can cause bowel blockages. As with all cats, Cymric cats and kittens need vaccinations, parasite control and annual veterinary health checks.
Best cat breeds for children
While this breed is not widely recognised as one of the best breeds for children, all cats are different and with the proper familiarisation may still be able to live with children.