MANX CATS GROW TAILS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1929, Page 3

MANX CATS GROW TAILS

THE ISLAND PERTURBED. DOUGLAS, (Isle of Man,) Sept. ]£. There is great perturbation in the Isle of Man because Manx cats have so far forgotten the dignity and exclusiveness of their breed as to grow tails. Many of them are no mere stumps but fine bushy tails which would stamp cats of other breeds as champions. Tails of any kind are unwanted and unappreciated here. The Manx Board of Agriculture, moved by a happy ‘sentiment and a keen desire to build up the now sadly depleted ranks, of the tailless army, has decided to wage war against any sort of tail which has a cat attached. It will be slow work. Tails are neither grown nor got rid of in a day. The -department Hopes, by giving encouragement to Manx people to breed real Manx cats that future generations will again see. the little island poulated with fine, big, but quite tailless cats. It was decided' to award attractive prizes at various shows to be held in the island in the future.

RESULT OF CROSSING. Mr T. S. Atkinson, veterinary inspector to the Douglas Corporation, told me to-day: There seems a real danger of the breed dyilfjb; out altogether. It is difficult to fittd a real Manx cat in the Tsle of Man to-dav. The trouble is that they .have intermingled with other cats and have become so badly crossed that it is now difficult to find a pure specimen. 'With succeeding generations tails have developed. That is the whole trouble. The tails will grow and they are spoiling the breed. People do not seem to have taken much interest in the breed for a great number of years. . “Manx cats are in big demand by holiday-makers to the island and good specimens bring from 10s to £l,” another Manxman said. “There have been many disappointed prospective buyers lately.”