Why do some cats on the Isle of Man not have tails?

fpgjc

The breed has been recognised on the Isle of Man for several hundred years and is believed to have come about through mutation http://www.manx-cats.com/ http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/articles/manx.html May 30 02, 9:28 AM

Gatsby722

I agree---but I must say, the site mentioned, is just awesome. Not only do you get to see this beautiful animal but you get to hear the song 'Danny Boy', too. How much calm can one guy take? May 30 02, 10:51 AM

Gnomon

The lack of a tail is a harmful mutation. It would die out very quickly in a large population of cats but has carried on in Man because the island is so small. Cats with the mutation on one of a pair of chromosomes have no tail. Cats with the mutation on both chromosomes die before birth. This means that one in every four of the kittens of two tail-less cats will die. May 30 02, 11:26 AM

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