One of the oldest cat breeds, the Cymric is a long-haired variety of Manx. Besides their hair length, the Cymric and Manx are virtually identical—both have rounded features and naturally short tails. These slow-to-mature breeds also share playful, kitten-like personalities that persist into adulthood. The Cymric and Manx are so genetically similar that Manx kittens may appear in Cymric litters and vice versa. 

Cymric Characteristics

The Cymric is a slow-growing cat, taking up to two years to fully mature. Even when it is an adult, this medium-sized cat continues to act like a playful kitten. Its friendly personality makes it a great pet for most people, including families with kids and other pets.

History of the Cymric

The Cymric evolved on the Isle of Man, an island located in the middle of the Irish Sea, with the Manx breed. The first felines arrived on the island via ship, but no one knows where they originated.

Sometime in the late 18th century, a spontaneous natural mutation occurred in a litter of kittens—they were born without tails. Within the island's limited gene pool, the mutation passed to more and more cats until the Manx breed and its long-haired variant, the Cymric, became well-established. 

Manx cats were part of the earliest cat shows in the 1800s, but the long-haired variety was not as well-known. Later, the long-haired Manx became known as the Cymric, which means “relating to Wales,” the country near the Isle of Man where many long-haired tailless cats were found. 

Various cat registries recognize the Cymric differently. For instance, the Cat Fanciers’ Association considers the breed to be a long-haired variety of the Manx breed. The CFA calls the breed Longhair Manx, and it follows the Manx breed standard, which includes both Shorthair Manx and Longhair Manx. The International Cat Association and the Canadian Cat Association both recognize the Cymric as a separate breed from the Manx. Both TICA and the CCA have established a unique breed standard for the Cymric. 

Cymric Care

Grooming

The Cymric's medium-length, dense, double coat sheds moderately. To keep the coat glossy, brush two or three times a week and bathe occasionally if the coat feels greasy or starts to clump.

Keep your Cymric’s nails trimmed short and check the ears occasionally, cleaning with a cotton ball and pet-safe cleaner if you see dirt or debris.

Exercise

Cymric cats are intelligent and playful. Some are even known to play fetch with toys. Help your Cymric get enough exercise by encouraging play with a variety of fun and stimulating toys and climbing opportunities, including feather wands to chase and cat towers to climb. Cymric cats are people-oriented, so they don’t do well when left alone for long.

Common Health Problems

Cymric cats and Manx share the same health concerns. The gene that causes the Cymric and Manx to be tailless is associated with spinal defects like spina bifida, which can cause neurological issues—difficulty moving normally or elimination difficulty. Such problems are typically noticed early (before six months of age). Depending on the severity of the condition, the kitten may need to be humanely euthanized. 

Appearance

The Cymric is a medium-sized cat with rounded features: a round head with round cheeks and muzzle, round eyes, and a short and round body with an arched back and even a rounded rump (accentuated by taillessness). When picked up, the well-muscled Cymric feels heavy for its size.

In the ideal specimen, the lack of tail appears to be absolute, although some cats may have a slight rise of bone at the end of the spine. Some kittens are born with stubby tails and even full-length tails, although this is a disqualification in the show ring.

The Cymric's medium-length, dense, double coat is longer on the shoulders, chest, neck, belly, and back of the legs. The full, plush coat feels soft and silky to the touch.

Diet and Nutrition

With cat obesity at an all-time high. and the Cymric's already round build, it’s important not to overfeed your cat. Staying lean will help prevent weight-related health issues like diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. Feed measured amounts of cat food at regular meal times two to three times a day.

Leaving food out all day (free feeding) might be easy, but it can lead to continuous snacking, which can contribute to an overweight cat. Ask your veterinarian or breeder about the best food to feed your Cymric.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Cymric

If you’re thinking about buying a Cymric kitten, a great place to meet local breeders is a cat show. Cat shows are a fun place to see many different cat breeds all under one roof. To find a cat show in your area, do an internet search for “cat show near me” or visit http://www.catshows.us.  

Make sure to investigate breeders and request a guarantee of spinal health. Irresponsible breeders are more like to use unhealthy cats in their operations, increasing the likelihood of spinal problems.

Some Cymric or Cymric-mix cats, usually adults, might end up in rescues. Check with local cat-specific rescue groups or even local shelters.

Cymric Overview

The cute, rounded Cymric is a slow-growing Welsh cat with an endearing kittenish personality. This long-haired Manx variety is tailless due to a natural genetic mutation that occurred early in its history, but the trait is linked to spinal problems that are most prevalent in irresponsibly bred cats.

Cymrics enjoy company and adapt well to households with kids and other pets. They don't like much alone time, though, and love playtime with their companions.

More Cat Breeds and Further Research

If you’re interested in similar breeds, check out:

• American Bobtail
• Pixie-Bob Cat
• Scottish Fold Cat

Otherwise, check out all of our other cat breed profiles.