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A long-haired version of the Manx, the Cymric first appeared in
Canada in the 1960s in litters of strictly pedigreed cats that had
no long-haired animals in their ancestry. The new cats were bred
together, and the new breed held true.
The Cymric's predecessor, the Mans, is itself a genetic mutation
first discovered on the Isle of Man, off the west coast of
England. The length of the tail, which is totally absent in the
breed standard (referred to as "Rumpy"), actually can vary quite
widely and in some individuals is only a bit shorter than normal
cat tails. Some individuals have a remnant tail and these are
dubbed "Stumpies," while those which have nearly full tails are
called "Longies."
Some theories suggest that the Manx, and subsequently the Cymric,
are actually the descendants of the Japanese Bobtail or a related
breed that was somehow transported to this distant island half a
world from its native land in the Far East. Other tales tell of
invaders that nipped the tails from the cats as a sort of victory
symbol and of queens that habitually bit the tails from their
offspring.
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.
All colors and patterns are acceptable in the Cymric, which has a
medium to long coat with a thick undercoat and shiny, smooth top
hairs. The body has a stocky, muscular build. In the true breed
standard the end of the thumb should fit into the hollow that
marks the spot where the tail should start. The overall body
generally has an arched appearance, due to shorter than normal
vertebrae.
The legs are short and thick, with the hind legs longer than the
forelegs. The paws are round and large. The head is round, with a
short nose, strong chin, large, round eyes, and medium ears that
are rounded at the tips.
The coat requires regular brushing, but it is easily groomed and
very rarely mars.
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.
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Ratings out of 10 |
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Compatibility:
-Children
-Other Pets
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10 |
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Grooming |
6 |
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Affection |
7 |
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Playfulness |
8 |
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Attention Need |
7 |
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Healthiness |
3 |
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Independence |
5 |
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Activity Level |
6 |
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Vocality |
5 |
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Intelligence |
8 |
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