Manx vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

The Manx cat is a domestic cat originating on the Isle of Man, with a short tail. It is one of the oldest cat breeds.

The cat is actually known as being a tailless cat. This is the cat's most distinguishing feature. They've been seen at cat shows since the 1800s.

These cats are descended from mainland stock, whose origins are unknown. It is said these cats are descended from the African wildcat.

The Manx is recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association as well as other cat associations.

The handsome American Longhair cat is thought to be the result of attempts by breeders to have a cat that portrayed some Persian varieties.

American shorthairs have characteristics and looks from both breeds. The American Longhair, although it comes from champion bloodlines, isn’t actually recognized by larger cat organizations.

The Manx cat is a medium-sized cat with a stocky, muscular, heavy build. He can weigh between 3 and 6kg. Manx cats come in all coat colors and patterns.

The coat of the cat can be short or long. The long-haired variety is considered its own breed. The cat has always been popular for helping farmers keep rodents under control.

Besides taillessness, the Manx is described as a round cat and its head is round too. The back legs of the cat are much longer than the forelegs.

The eyes of this cat are large and round and can be in different colors such as green, gold, copper, brown, or yellow.

Temperament:

They are very playful and intelligent cats who are devoted to their families. They can easily learn tricks and he can even be taught to walk on a leash.

They’re cats that love to jump and they’re active, playful cats. Don’t be surprised if you see him playing with the water in his water bowl as he is a cat fond of playing in water. 

These cats are thought to be dog-like as they’re capable of becoming devoted to their human family. They also have a great sense of humor and they become very entertaining. Children love them as they’re so playful and they in turn get on well with children. When you have a Manx cat in your house, there is never a dull moment.

You’ll find that there are quite a few American Longhairs that have the snub nose of the Persian cat which is part of its ancestry.

This is a well-muscled, medium to large sized athletic cat with a thick double coat of many colors and patterns that sheds fairly heavily.

Temperament:

This isn’t a particularly vocal cat, but in true cat-fashion, it is independent and doesn’t require a lot of attention.

This cat will make a nice companion for older people and it is calm enough to enjoy a leisurely stroll outdoors with a harness on. They’re adaptable to different situations, but the American Longhair isn’t the ideal choice for children as it isn’t your playful, lover of noise and games type of cat, preferring the attention of other animals.

They love going into barns and being buffeted and licked by the cows and other barnyard animals.

The loving Manx cat is such an even-tempered cat as well and wants to get along well with its entire human family. You can be sure of many years of affection and companionship from this cat.

It’s a cat that is fairly placid but it still loves to run and play, It’s an amusing cat too and to round everything off it also has a strange way of walking and running.

Give the Manx cat a warm. Loving home and you’ll quickly discover why the Manx cat is such a popular companion cat for so many people. The Manx is such a social, family orientated cat and you shouldn't bring him into your home if you don't have plenty of time for him.

Your American Longhair is an easy-going, friendly social cat that doesn’t demand a lot from his human owners.

These cats are intelligent too and you can even teach them a trick or two. They enjoy the company of their humans and will even follow you around.

Bringing one into your home promises to be a rewarding pet-ownership experience.

The absence of a tail with the Manx cat is believed to be a genetic defect and because of the spine that looks deformed, it is thought that this would cause the cat problems.

Arthritis can set in early with the Manx cat. Arthritis or osteoarthritis affects many cats and the signs of arthritis in a cat can actually be subtle. The disease can go undetected. Arthritis is about wear and tear in the joints, although other factors such as injury, infection and genetic makeup come into play as well. Arthritis can affect one or more joints in the body such as the hips, elbows ad spine.

The mutant gene that causes the taillessness in this cat may also be responsible for other skeletal deformities in the Manx cat. As a round-shaped cat, the Manx cat can also battle with bladder control.

These ailments are just possibilities with this cat breed and it is more than likely that your Manx cat will never have any one of these diseases.

The American Longhair doesn’t have many health concerns and you can expect him to live up to 18, 19 or 20 years of age with good care.

There are some American Longhairs that come with that shortened face of the Persian, and this may mean him battling with breathing problems.

Also, be aware of Polycystic kidney disease where you get cysts that form in the kidneys and which can become larger over time and eventually affect kidney function, leading to kidney failure.

One of the most important caring things that you can do for your cat is to provide him with the best diet there is. The Manx cat requires a balanced diet of protein, vitamins and minerals.

The Manx cat is a carnivore and will need a diet high in protein. Learn to read the labels on the packaging of the commercial cat food, whether wet or dry, and ensure that ingredients such as omega 3 fatty acids and taurine are in the ingredients list.

If you are in any doubt as to what to feed your Manx cat, speak to your vet.

The short coat of the Manx is easily cared for by a brush each week to remove dead, loose hair.

With this tailless cat, you need to check the rear end and perhaps clip the hair short in this area to ensure no feces clinging to the fur surrounding the anus.

The long coat of the American Longhair will require some brushing to keep it shiny and smooth and free from dust but also to remove all those loose hairs.

Make sure your cat’s food and water dishes are in an appropriate spot and keep them separate from your cat’s litter box. House train your cat immediately on how to use a litter box. Keep the litter box clean and rake up your cat's droppings regularly and dispose of them.

Before you get a cat, know that they scratch. It is normal for a cat. Provide your cat with a scratching post as well as climbing equipment such as a cat climbing tree.

Diet:

Always feed your cat a meat-based diet, after all, cats in the wild are carnivores. There are some ingredients that a cat must have and they require certain amino acids found in meat-based proteins or else they could become ill.

The top quality cat foods provide cats with all the nutrients they need to keep them healthy. There are some cat owners who opt to feed their cats home-prepared meals because then they know exactly what’s going into their beloved pets food.

There are other cat owners who choose to provide their pet with a raw diet because they believe that this comes close to the cat's natural diet in the wild.

Always speak to your vet if you are in any way uncertain about the best foods for your cat. He should always have access to fresh cool water.

Parasites:

Check your cat for problems such as parasites such as ticks and fleas. You will also need to have your cat checked for worms. Your vet can diagnose worms with a physical exam. If it is discovered that your cat does have worms, the vet will recommend some safe, effective medications for your pet.

You will also need to check its body for skin problems such as unusual lumps.

If you are able to, get your cat regular veterinary examinations to ensure he is always in tip-top condition.

Have your cat spayed or neutered to prevent unwelcome kittens in a world where there are just too many unwanted kittens. These procedures can have health benefits for your cat as well.

American Longhairs are lively playful cats so give your cat toys to play with to ensure mental stimulation.