Manx Cat

Manx Cat (English name: Manx), is a cat breed originating from the Isle of Man, United Kingdom. What makes this cat unique is that purebred Manx cats have no tail at all, only a hollow where a typical cat's tail would be. The body shape of the Manx cat is similar to that of the British Shorthair, but the hind legs are longer than the front legs, so they walk like rabbits. The most notable feature is the absence of a tail. To determine if a cat is a true Manx cat, you can try putting your thumb tip into the hollow where the tail should have been. As for the type of Manx cat with a regressed tail that is thick and short, it is another variant of the Manx cat.

Legend has it that the poor Manx cat was late to board Noah's Ark, and its tail got caught when Noah closed the door. In fact, the real reason why this cat has no tail is not so legendary. The Manx cat has a unique shape, which has made it popular for hundreds of years. If it were a breed that only appeared today, it would be unlikely to be accepted because it is a cat caused by genetic abnormalities. There are three explanations for why the species has no tail:

In the 1930s, a plague struck the island's cats, resulting in over half of them dying. The kittens born to the survivors did not have tails. The island's residents found the tailless cats strange and specially created cats of various sizes, colors, made from silver, wood, cloth, ceramics, etc., to attract tourists as souvenirs.

The Manx cat was late to board Noah's Ark, and its tail got caught when Noah closed the door.

The earliest Manx cats were mutated cats brought to the Isle of Man in the 16th century by Spanish merchant fleets from the Far East. Because the island was geographically isolated from the outside world, this tailless cat was preserved.

The Isle of Man is located between the British Isles, and it also has a strange name: "Mann". The Manx cat is also known as "Isle of Man's Manx Cat". The Manx cat is a strange tailless cat and the only cat breed in the world without a tail. It is known as a major feature of the Isle of Man. It is rumored that in the 1930s, a cat plague occurred on the island, and the surviving cats were tailless. The Manx cat is one of the world's eight famous cats and was the favorite pet of Edward VII.

For families and individuals with or without children and other pets (not recommended for those allergic to cat hair)

1. Feline Ringworm

Feline ringworm is a common skin disease in cats, which is essentially a fungal infection.

Cause: Kittens with poor physical condition are more prone to ringworm. Another cause is fungal infection due to warm and humid living environment.

Symptoms: The most common locations for ringworm to appear are the ears and chin. In the early stage, small patches of ringworm, hair loss, dry flakes, and severe skin ulceration and extensive bald patches may occur.

Solution: Isolate first - shave the fur (shave the fur near the ringworm area, for the convenience of applying medicine and to prevent the spread of fungi) - oral medication (commonly used are itraconazole/fluconazole/griseofulvin) - topical ointment (ketoconazole cream/miconazole cream/tolnaftate cream/petfen spray, remember to follow the doctor's instructions before use) - medicated bath (ketoconazole solution/miconazole solution, continue for 1-2 weeks until recovery) - increase nutrition (cats infected with ringworm generally have some issues with their immune system, so they need to increase nutrition, cook some chicken breast and carrots) - sunbathe more (exposing to sunlight and maintaining ventilation can help kill bacteria).

2. Feline Upper Respiratory Infection

Feline upper respiratory infection is also a common disease, and weak kittens are more prone to it.

Cause: A strain of bacteria called herpesvirus invades the cat's respiratory tract, where it attaches to the trachea and begins to damage their respiratory system.

Symptoms: Fever, mucus around the nose, frequent sneezing, excessive secretion around the eyes, and severe cases may also have conjunctivitis.

Solution: When it is not too severe in the early stage, taking lysine and using antiviral eye drops can be helpful. It is recommended to vaccinate young kittens to reduce the chance of feline upper respiratory infection. The virus that causes feline upper respiratory infection has strong vitality, so it is necessary to disinfect the entire house. Formaldehyde and phenol can be used for disinfection.

3. Vomiting

Vomiting is also common in cats. Sometimes, cats vomit as a self-protection mechanism, and generally feel better after vomiting.

Cause: Inhaling excessive hair, indigestion, ingesting foreign objects, rapid change of food, catching a cold, and gastrointestinal inflammation can all cause vomiting in cats.

Symptoms: Vomit containing hair and mucus; or vomiting food, yellow water, and foam, etc.

Solution: If the cat vomits hair, it is recommended to buy hairball paste or cat grass for the cat to eat.

When a cat vomits, it is recommended to fast the cat for a day, give it warm water to drink, and then feed it some pet probiotics to regulate the intestinal flora. If the cat's vomiting symptoms stop, feed it a small amount of softened cat food or easily digestible food such as soup-rich canned food. If the vomiting does not improve, it is recommended to seek medical attention.

Hygiene: Due to the excessive fur on the cat's body, it is prone to carrying various bacteria and fleas. For the health of both the cat and the owner, the cat should be bathed and groomed regularly;

Diet: Different cats have different food preferences. Owners should not randomly choose cat food on the market for convenience. They should carefully select cat food based on the type, growth situation, and physical condition of the cat, and also prepare dedicated tableware for the cat;

Health: Like humans, cats can also get sick. When a cat is sick, it must be taken to a specialized animal hospital for treatment. In normal times, the cat should also undergo periodic physical examinations and vaccinations. Only with a healthy body can the cat have the energy to play with the owner;

Safety: There is a saying "curiosity killed the cat." Cats are restless and always have great curiosity about various things. Moreover, their nature makes them particularly fond of entering enclosed spaces. Therefore, owners must close doors, windows, and lids to prevent cats from getting into potential dangers;

Living space: The cat's favorite thing is to lie down and sleep, so as an owner, you should prepare a small mat for it to sleep on. However, after a long period of use, these mats will accumulate a lot of bacteria, so you must pay attention to cleaning and disinfection at all times;

Litter: The problem of pets defecating everywhere has troubled many pet owners. But cats are actually very clean animals, so as long as the owner prepares cat litter for the cat, it will go to the litter box to defecate by itself;

Cats are not submissive animals. They can become irritated when forced by their owners to do something. Therefore, owners should regularly trim the cat's nails to prevent infection from scratches while playing with it.

Grooming Time: Recommended every three days

1. Relax the cat: Before combing the fur, you can give the cat a massage. Wait until the kitten purrs before proceeding with the following steps;

2. Comb along the hair: From the back → waist → buttocks → tail; wet the cat's fur with a small amount of water during combing to reduce static electricity. Comb along the direction of hair growth, from top to bottom;

3. Comb from chest to abdomen: Lift the cat, sit on your lap in a sitting position, and comb from top to bottom. The cat's belly is more sensitive, so the pet owner must be quick and accurate when grooming;

4. Comb the head and the area around the face: You can comb from the cat's head or face towards the neck. Be careful with the cat's eyes;

5. Hair under the armpits and on the belly: At this time, the cat can lie on its side, lift its front paws, and comb from the armpits to the side of the belly;

6. Finally, use a fine-toothed comb to comb again, remove excess fur, and tidy up the cat's coat to complete the whole process.