Manx Breed Standard

GENERAL: the overall impression of the Manx cat is that of roundness; round head with firm, round muzzle and prominent cheeks; broad chest; substantial short front legs; short back which arches from shoulders to a round rump; great depth of flank and rounded, muscular thighs. The Manx should be alert, clear of eye, with a glistening, clean, well-groomed coat. They should be surprisingly heavy when lifted. Manx may be slow to mature and allowance should be made in young cats.

HEAD and EARS: round head with prominent cheeks and a jowly appearance (more evident in adult males) that enhances the round appearance of the breed. In profile, head is medium in length with a gentle dip from forehead to nose. Well developed muzzle, very slightly longer than it is broad, with a strong chin. Definite whisker break with large, round whisker pads. Short, thick neck. Ears wide at the base, tapering gradually to a rounded tip. Medium in size in proportion to the head, widely spaced and set slightly outward. When viewed from behind, the ear set resembles the rocker on a cradle. The furnishings of the ears are sparse in Shorthair Manx and full furnishings for Longhair Manx.

EYES: large, round and full. Set at a slight angle toward the nose (outer corners slightly higher than inner corners). Color is gold to copper, odd-eyed, blue-eyed, green, or hazel as appropriate to the coat color.

BODY: solidly muscled, compact and well-balanced, medium in size with sturdy bone structure. The Manx is stout in appearance with broad chest and well-sprung ribs. The constant repetition of curves and circles give the Manx the appearance of great substance and durability, a cat that is powerful without the slightest hint of coarseness. Males may be slightly larger than females.

Flank (fleshy area of the side between the ribs and hip) has greater depth than in other breeds, causing considerable depth to the body when viewed from the side.

The short back forms a smooth, continuous arch from shoulders to rump, curving at the rump to form the desirable round look. Length of back is in proportion to the entire cat, height of hindquarters equal to length of body. Males may be somewhat longer. Because the Longhair Manx has longer coat over the rump area and breeches, the body may appear longer.

TAILLESSNESS: appearing to be absolute in the perfect specimen. A rise of bone at the end of the spine is allowed and should not be penalized unless it is such that it stops the judge’s hand, thereby spoiling the tailless appearance of the cat. The rump is extremely broad and round.

LEGS and FEET: heavily boned, forelegs short and set well apart to emphasize the broad, deep chest. Hind legs much longer than forelegs, with heavy, muscular thighs and substantial lower legs. Longer hind legs cause the rump to be considerably higher than the shoulders. Hind legs are straight when viewed from behind. Paws are neat and round with five toes in front and four behind.

COAT LENGTH – SHORTHAIR: double coat is short and dense with a well-padded quality due to the longer, open outer coat and the close cottony undercoat. Coat may be thinner during the summer months.

COAT TEXTURE – SHORTHAIR: texture of outer guard hairs is somewhat hard, appearance is glossy. A softer coat may occur in whites and dilutes due to color/texture gene link but should not be confused with the silky texture found in the Longhair Manx.

COAT LENGTH – LONGHAIR: the double coat is of medium length, dense and well padded over the main body, gradually lengthening from the shoulders to the rump. Breeches, abdomen and neck-ruff is usually longer than the coat on the main body. Cheek coat is thick and full. The collar like neck-ruff extends from the shoulders, being bib-like around the chest. Breeches should be full and thick to the hocks in the mature cat. Lower leg and head coat (except for cheeks) should be shorter than on the main body and neck-ruff, but dense and full in appearance. Toe tufts and ear tufts are desirable. All things being equal in type, preference should be given to the cat showing full coating.

COAT TEXTURE – LONGHAIR: coat is soft and silky, falling smoothly on the body yet being full and plush due to the double coat. Coat should have a healthy glossy appearance. Allowance to be made for seasonal and age variations.

COLOR and MARKINGS: Manx colors and tabby patterns are recognized as described under colors. Color/patterns showing evidence of hybridization (chocolate/lavender/pointed or these combinations with white) are not allowed. Cats with no more white than a locket and/or button(s) do not qualify for the bi-color or OMC Class. Such cats shall be judged in the color class of their basic color with no penalty for such locket or button(s).

TRANSFER TO AOV: definite, visible tail joint.

PENALIZE: on the Longhair Manx, coat that lacks density, has a cottony texture or is of one overall length.

DISQUALIFY: evidence of poor physical condition; incorrect number of toes; evidence of hybridization; evidence of weakness in the hindquarters; in profile, pronounced stop or nose break.

MANX COLORS

WHITE: pure glistening white. Nose leather and paw pads: pink. Eye color: deep blue or gold to copper. Odd-eyed whites shall have one blue and one gold to copper eye with equal color depth.

BLACK: dense coal black, sound from roots to tip of fur. Free from any tinge of rust on tips. Nose leather: black. Paw pads: black or brown.

BLUE: blue, lighter shade preferred, one level tone. Sound to the roots. A sound darker shade is more acceptable than an unsound lighter shade. Nose leather and paw pads: blue.

RED: deep, rich, clear, brilliant red; without shading, markings, or ticking. Lips and chin the same color as coat. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red.

CREAM: one level shade of buff cream without markings. Sound to the roots. Lighter shades preferred. Nose leather and paw pads: pink.

CHINCHILLA SILVER: undercoat pure white. Coat on back, flanks, and head sufficiently tipped with black to give the characteristic sparkling silver appearance. Legs may be slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, stomach, and chest, pure white. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.

SHADED SILVER: undercoat white with a mantle of black tipping shading down from sides and face from dark on the ridge to white on the chin, chest, and stomach. Legs to be of the same tone as the face. The general effect to be much darker than a chinchilla. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.

BLUE SMOKE: undercoat white, coat is deeply tipped with blue. Nose leather and paw pads: blue.

RED SMOKE (Cameo Smoke): undercoat white, coat is deeply tipped with red. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose.

CREAM SMOKE (Dilute Cameo Smoke): undercoat white, coat is deeply tipped with cream. Nose leather, rims of eyes, and paw pads: pink.

BLACK SMOKE: undercoat white, coat is deeply tipped with black. Nose leather and paw pads: black.

TORTOISESHELL/DILUTE TORTOISESHELL SMOKE (Blue Cream Smoke): undercoat white, coat is deeply tipped with black for the non-dilute or blue for the dilute with patches of red or cream or softly intermingled areas of red for the non-dilute or cream for the dilute. Nose leather and paw pads: may be mottled with pink.

CALICO SMOKE (Smoke Calico, Dilute Smoke Calico): undercoat white, coat is white with primarily unbrindled patches (minimal brindled color acceptable) of black (non-dilute) or blue (dilute) and red(non-dilute) or cream (dilute). White predominant on underparts. Includes all expressions of the white spotting gene including the van pattern. Nose leather and paw pads: may be mottled with pink.

TORTOISESHELL & WHITE SMOKE (Smoke Tortoiseshell and White, Smoke Blue-Cream and White): undercoat white, coat is black( non-dilute) or blue(dilute) and red( non-dilute) or cream(dilute) with minimal white present (white limited to one or more feet, belly, chest, face, and/or small spot of white on back, flank, or neck). Cats with no more than a locket and/or a button do not qualify for this class. Such cats shall be judged as a smoke tortoiseshell/dilute smoke tortoiseshell(blue cream) with no penalty for such locket and/or button. Nose leather and paw pads: may be mottled with pink.

BI-COLOR SMOKE (Black Smoke and White, Blue Smoke and White, Red Smoke and White, Cream Smoke and White): Includes all expressions of the white spotting gene from low-white to van patterns. Cats with no more than a locket and/or button do not qualify for this color class. Such cats shall be judged in the color class of their basic color with no penalty for such locket and/or button

SMOKE: The smoke has a white undercoat deeply tipped with color. The smoke in repose appears solid in color. In motion the white undercoat color is clearly apparent. Extremities are solid in color, and have a narrow band of white at the base of the hairs next to the skin, which may be seen only when the fur is parted.

CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and broad. Legs evenly barred with bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Several unbroken necklaces on neck and upper chest, the more the better. Frown marks on forehead form an intricate letter “M.” Unbroken line runs back from outer corner of eye. Swirls on cheeks. Vertical lines over back of head extend to shoulder markings which are in the shape of a butterfly with both upper and lower wings distinctly outlined and marked with dots inside outline. Back markings consist of a vertical line from butterfly down the entire spine with a vertical stripe paralleling it on each side, the three stripes well separated by stripes of the ground color. Large solid blotch on each side to be encircled by one or more unbroken rings. Side markings should be the same on both sides. Double vertical rows of buttons on chest and stomach.

MACKEREL TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and all narrow pencillings. Legs evenly barred with narrow bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Necklaces on neck and chest distinct, like so many chains. Head barred with an “M” on the forehead. Unbroken lines running back from the eyes. Lines running down the head to meet the shoulders. Spine lines run together to form a narrow saddle. Narrow pencillings run around body.

TICKED TABBY PATTERN: body hairs to be ticked with various shades of marking color and ground color. Body when viewed from top to be free from noticeable spots, stripes, or blotches, except for darker dorsal shading. Lighter underside may show tabby markings. Face, legs, and tail must show distinct tabby striping. White buttons and/or lockets allowed.

PATCHED TABBY PATTERN: a patched tabby (tortie) is an established silver, brown, or blue tabby with patches of red and/or cream.

SPOTTED TABBY PATTERN: markings on the body to be spotted. May vary in size and shape with preference given to round, evenly distributed spots. Body spots may subtly suggest a mackerel or classic pattern but may not be connected and preference given to spots in a random pattern. A dorsal stripe runs the length of the body. The stripe is ideally composed of spots. The markings on the face and forehead shall be typical tabby markings. Underside of the body to have vest buttons. Legs are barred. On the upper chest there are one or more broken necklaces.

BROWN PATCHED TABBY: ground color brilliant coppery brown with classic, spotted or mackerel tabby markings of dense black with patches of red and/or cream clearly defined on both body and extremities. A blaze of red and/or cream on the face is desirable. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes.

BLUE PATCHED TABBY: ground color, including lips and chin, pale bluish ivory with classic, spotted or mackerel tabby markings of very deep blue affording a good contrast with ground color. Patches of cream clearly defined on both body and extremities. A blaze of cream on the face is desirable. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole.

SILVER PATCHED TABBY: ground color, including lips and chin, pale silver with classic, spotted or mackerel tabby markings of dense black with patches of red and/or cream clearly defined on both body and extremities. A blaze of red and/or cream on the face is desirable.

BLUE-SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): undercoat white, ground color, including lips and chin, pale clear bluish silver. Markings sound blue. Nose leather: blue or old rose trimmed with blue. Paw pads: blue or old rose.

BLUE-SILVER PATCHED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): undercoat white, ground color, including lips and chin, pale clear bluish silver. Markings sound blue with patches of cream clearly defined on both body & extremities. A blaze of cream on the face is desirable. Nose leather: blue or old rose trimmed with blue. Paw pads: blue or old rose.

SILVER TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color, including lips and chin, pale clear silver. Markings dense black. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black.

RED SILVER TABBY (Cameo Tabby) (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color, including lips and chin off-white, markings red, undercoat white. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather and paw pads: rose desirable.

RED TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color red. Markings deep, rich red. Lips and chin red. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red.

CREAM SILVER TABBY (Dilute Cameo Tabby) (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color, including lips and chin off-white, markings cream, undercoat white. White trim around lip and chin allowed. Nose leather and paw pads: pink desirable.

BROWN TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color brilliant coppery brown. Markings dense black. Lips and chin the same shade as the rims around the eyes. Back of leg black from paw to heel. Nose leather: brick red. Paw pads: black or brown.

BLUE TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color, including lips and chin, pale bluish ivory. Markings a very deep blue affording a good contrast with ground color. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole. Nose leather: old rose. Paw pads: rose.

CREAM TABBY (classic, mackerel, spotted): ground color, including lips and chin, very pale cream. Markings buff or cream sufficiently darker than the ground color to afford good contrast but remaining within the dilute color range. Nose leather and paw pads: pink.

TORTOISESHELL: black brindled with red and/or shades of red. Brindling with minimal patching acceptable.

CALICO: white with primarily unbrindled patches (minimal brindled color acceptable) of black and red. White predominant on underparts. Includes all expressions of the white spotting gene including the van pattern.

DILUTE CALICO: white with primarily unbrindled patches (minimal brindled color acceptable) of blue and cream. White predominant on underparts. Includes all expressions of the white spotting gene including the van pattern.

BLUE-CREAM: blue brindled with cream. Brindling with minimal patching acceptable.

BI-COLOR: Manx solid colors (Blue, Black, Red, Cream, Blue Smoke, Black Smoke, Red Smoke (Cameo Smoke), Cream Smoke (Dilute Cameo Smoke) with the addition of white. Includes all expressions of the white spotting gene from low-white to van patterns. Cats with no more than a locket and/or button do not qualify for this color class. Such cats shall be judged in the color class of their basic color with no penalty for such locket and/or button.

TABBY & WHITE: All recognized Manx tabby colors and patterns with the addition of white. Includes patched patterns where applicable. Includes all expressions of the white spotting gene from low-white to van patterns. Cats with no more than a locket and/or button do not qualify for this class. Such cats shall be judged in the color class of their basic color with no penalty for such locket and/or button. Eye Color: to conform to already established tabby requirements with the addition of odd-eyed or blue-eyed.

TORTOISESHELL & WHITE: black and red and/or shades of red brindled with minimal white present (white limited to one or more feet, belly, chest, face and/or small spot of white on back, flank or neck). Cats with no more than a locket and/or button do not qualify for this color class. Such cats shall be judged in the tortoiseshell color class with no penalty for such locket and/or button.

BLUE-CREAM & WHITE: blue and cream brindled with minimal white present (white limited to one or more feet, belly, chest, face and/or small spot of white on back, flank or neck). Cats with no more than a locket and/or button do not qualify for this color class. Such cats shall be judged in the blue-cream color class with no penalty for such locket and/or button.

OMC (Other Manx Colors): any other color or pattern with the exception of those showing hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan pattern, or these combinations with white.