Why Don’t Manx Cats Have Tails?
The lack of a traditional tail in Manx cats is caused by Manx Syndrome, also known as Sacrocaudal dysgenesis. The gene causes varying degrees of taillessness, some of which can be fatal. In severely affected cats, there are serious spinal defects including a gap in the last few vertebrae, fused vertebrae, or spina bifida in newborns. Neurological deficiencies such as fecal or urinary incontinence and in-coordination of the rear legs are often the result of these spinal defects. Clinical signs of Manx Syndrome are typically obvious within the first three weeks if not immediately at birth. Breeders will usually keep Manx kittens until they can clear them of a serious defect.
