Tales about the Tailess Cat

There are many tales of the tailless cat known as the Manx or ‘Rumpy’ from the Isle of Man. I have a round headed cranky, yet cocky, old black Manx named “Sable’. Some of these tales actually explain some of the “personality Sable” has and I will be very careful how long I make him wait for his tuna.

There is a biblical account of the origin of Manx Cats.

I have no scriptural reference but I am sure Sable would make up one. The story goes that a cat was late to get on Noah’s arc and Noah “accidentally ‘closed the door on the poor cat’s tail. The door was so heavy it left the poor cat tailless. The cat said to Noah “Oh, Captain Noah wait! I'll catch the mice to give you thanks So the Cat got in, but Oh, the tail was two slow”.

The true origin of the Manx Cats is unknown. The most poplar legend says that two ships of the Spanish Armada wrecked off of Spain Point. An Isle of Man newspaper said the “in 1808 an "East County ship was wrecked on Jurby Point, and a rumpy Cat swam ashore".

Another Manx and shipwreck story states that a Baltic ship wrecked between Castle Rushen and the Calf were the source of the tailless wonders. Apparently, when the ship came into port two tailless cats jumped from the bowsprit. There were wreckers waiting to loot the naval mishap. One of these wrecker crews saved the doomed tailless cats and delivered them safely to the Isle of Man.

The famous explorer Auguste Pavie thought the Manx breed was related to the Annamite cats.These cats came to the east Indies from Britain in the eighteenth century. They were a small breed with extremely short tails.

A Welsh legend says the Manx Cats were the offspring of ancient Goddess. They migrated from Cornwell to the west of England ending up on the Isle of Mann. Sable believes they moved because they were being bothered by snotty English fox hounds who did not appreciate their sacred roots.

This legend Sable claims is the most truthful. It is believed by those who live on the Isle of Mann the Manx Cats have their own king. The king of the Manx is a house cat by day but a night comes into his regal magical powers. If someone who owns a Manx is unkind to the cat; the King of the Manx will take awful revenge. Sable will not be denied his tuna or his place a head of the household herd of cats. We fear to displease prince Sable.