Other Name
The friendly, affectionate Cymric (pronounced kim-rick) is the longhaired variety of the tailless Manx cat. Other than coat length, the two breeds are identical, with a solid body, round head, widely spaced ears and large, round eyes. The thick coat comes in many colors and patterns, including tabby, tortoiseshell and calico. The Cymric (pronounced kum-rick or kim-rick) is often considered the long-haired variation of the Manx cat. Therefore, it shares the same place of origin: the Isle of Man. Its name is derived from "Cymru," the Welsh name for Wales, which is located approximately 125 miles south of the Isle of Man.
There are lots of myths about how these cats lost their tails. One is that they were late boarding the ark and had the door slammed on the tail. Another is that Irish or Viking raiders would steal kittens because their tails were considered to be good luck charms, so the mama cats simply bit the tails off. More likely, taillessness is the result of a genetic mutation, enhanced by centuries of inbreeding on the Isle of Man, where the cats are from. Along with the taillessness may have come a recessive gene for long hair. Voila! The Cymric.
