Manx cat

The Manx cat is a domestic cat breed originating on the Isle of Man, distinguished by a naturally short or absent tail caused by a genetic mutation.

Manx syndrome: A collection of spinal, neurological, and urinary problems associated with the taillessness mutation in some Manx cats. The mutation that shortens the tail can also affect the spine and nerves.
T-box transcription factor T: A gene encoding a transcription factor involved in embryonic development, including formation of the posterior body axis. Variants in this gene are associated with the characteristic Manx tail mutation.
Rumpy Manx: A Manx cat with no tail, sometimes marked by a small depression where the tail would begin. This is the most complete expression of the breed’s defining taillessness.
Isle of Man: An island in the Irish Sea and a self-governing British Crown Dependency. The breed takes its name from its place of origin.
Veterinary genetics: The study and clinical use of genetic information in animal health and breeding. Genetic knowledge helps breeders assess inheritance and avoid risky matings.
Autosomal dominant inheritance: A pattern of inheritance in which one copy of a gene variant can influence a trait. The Manx tail-length variant is inherited as a dominant trait, with outcomes shaped by gene dosage.
Homozygous: Having two identical copies of a particular gene variant at a genetic locus. Embryos inheriting two copies of the Manx tail variant generally do not survive.
Rumpy-riser Manx: A Manx cat with a short, movable tail stump consisting of one to three vertebrae. It illustrates a near-tailless form accepted in some breed standards.
Cat fancy: The organized breeding, exhibition, and registration of domestic cats. Manx cats became a standardized breed through modern cat-breeding organizations.
Animal breeding: The planned mating of animals to influence inherited traits in future generations. Manx breeding must balance desired tail traits with offspring health and survival.

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Lethal alleleBroader topic: The tail allele is lethal in homozygous embryos, while heterozygotes can survive.