CymricCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

Taillessness appeared as a mutation among the cats of the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea. The FIFe profile says the cats probably reached the island on Viking ships. On a small island the gene spread easily, together with the gene for long hair.

Longhaired kittens had appeared in Manx litters before, but they were set aside. In the 1960s, similar kittens were born in Canada and were bred deliberately. The breed began to become popular in the mid-1970s.

The name comes from “Cymru”, the Welsh name for Wales, although the breed has no connection with Wales; a “Celtic”-sounding name was probably chosen.

How the breed developed

• The seventeenth century – the first records of the Manx cat.
• Around 1900 – the first breeding registers for the Manx.
• The 1960s – longhaired Manx cats are bred deliberately in Canada.
• The mid-1970s – the Cymric becomes popular.
• 2006 – recognised by FIFe.

• Families with children and other pets. It is gentle and sociable.
• People who want a cat that “waits for you at the door”. It is very attached to its owner.
• People with time for brushing. The dense, semi-long coat needs regular grooming.
• Mind its health. The tail gene can bring spinal problems.

It is a muscular, compact cat, medium to large, with solid bones; the missing tail makes it look smaller. German Wikipedia gives 3–6 kg. The front legs are shorter than the hind legs, and the line of the back rises from just behind the shoulders to the rump.

General appearance

The overall look is round: a large, round head and eyes, and a broad chest. The ears are tall, tilted slightly outwards, with moderate tufts. The tail can be completely absent or short or of medium length: FIFe divides the cats into rumpy (tailless), rumpy riser (very short tail), stumpy (under 3 cm) and longie.

The dense, semi-long coat forms a full ruff at the neck and “breeches” on the upper part of the hind legs. At shows, coat quality matters more than colour; there are many colours and patterns.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Manx is the same cat, with short hair; kittens with both coat types can appear in the same litter. Other short-tailed breeds, such as the Japanese Bobtail or the Kurilian Bobtail, have other mutations, unrelated to the Manx.

The FIFe profile says Manx and Cymric cats are loving, loyal and seek people's company. They wait for you to come home and follow you from room to room. They are intelligent and entertain their owners by fetching toys. They have a soft voice and very expressive eyes.

Socialisation

They are gentle by nature and get on with the other animals in the house; French Wikipedia adds that they get on well with children and even with strangers.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

Its long hind legs give it great power: it runs and climbs very fast. It needs daily play.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The semi-long double coat is brushed several times a week, especially the ruff and the “breeches”, so it does not tangle.

Common health problems

The mutation that shortens the tail can also cause other problems, called “Manx syndrome”: spina bifida (a defect of the spine), with difficulty walking or urinating and defecating. Some cats hop like rabbits. The problems usually show before 6 months. Kittens that inherit the gene from both parents die before birth, so litters are small.

Recommended genetic tests

The ACF and GCCF impose special breeding rules for the Manx and Cymric because of this gene. Ask the breeder what tail type the parents have and have the kitten seen by a vet before 6 months.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Choose a kitten over 3–4 months old that walks and uses the litter tray normally; spinal problems usually show before 6 months.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• A Welsh name with no link to Wales. “Cymric” comes from “Cymru”, the Welsh name for Wales.
• The national cat of the Isle of Man. The FIFe profile says the Manx, from which the Cymric comes, is the island's national breed.
• Small litters. Kittens with two copies of the tail gene die before birth, so there are fewer kittens.
• Four kinds of tail. Rumpy, rumpy riser, stumpy and longie, depending on how long the tail is.

Are all Cymrics tailless?

No. The tail can be completely absent or short or medium-length, because of the same gene.

How is it different from the Manx?

Only in its coat: the Cymric has semi-long hair, the Manx short hair.

Does it have health problems?

The tail gene can cause “Manx syndrome”, with spinal problems; these usually show before 6 months.

How much does it weigh?

Usually 3–6 kg.