Cymric (kim-rick) cats are part of the Manx group of cats; they’re a tailless breed with the only difference between the two being the length of their coats. Cymric cats have long coats and Manx cats have short coats. They originated in the Isle of Man, where the relative isolation helped to quickly establish the taillessness as a breed trait.
While the Cymric and Manx are tailless breeds, they aren’t all born completely tailless (rumpies). Some cats have short tails (stumpies) and some have full length tails (longies). Their double coats come in a variety of colors and patterns, including white, blue, black, red, cream, silver, tortoiseshell, bluecream and brown, solid color, bicolor, tricolor (calico), tabby, ticking, smoke and shaded. They can be aloof with strangers and children but they can also bond strongly to their favorite people and be friendly and affectionate.
Cymric cats are quite rare, so if you want a kitten you will have to search for reputable, registered breeders with clean bloodlines. Remember to vet the breeder thoroughly so that you can be sure that you have a strong and healthy member of the breed and that you aren’t supporting unscrupulous breeders who want to cash in on Cymric or Manx rarity.
Cymric Cats Facts & Information
Life expectancy: 8 – 14 years
Size: Weight: 8 – 12 lb.
Temperament: Cymrics tend to be quite placid as nothing much fazes them. In some cases they growl at strangers and can adopt an aloofness if they take a dislike to certain people. However, they can also be friendly and sweet if they decide to make you a favourite. They’re intelligent and playful and can be almost dog-like in nature, as they like to play games (such as fetch), they love to learn tricks and they can even walk on a harness. Familiarise yourself with positive reinforcement reward-based clicker training if you want to train your Cymric. You may need to call in a professional trainer to help you get started.
Exercise: Cymrics have healthy appetites, so their diets need to be managed to ensure they don’t put on excess weight. They like energetic games (fetch), regular sessions of which should be enough to keep them in shape. If your Cymric likes to walk on a harness, you have another method to help Kitty lose or maintain weight.
General care: Cymrics have semi-long, dense coats that require a fair bit of grooming. You need to brush your cat 2 – 3 times per week, and more often in shedding season. You should also check Kitty’s nethers regularly to ensure faeces aren’t stuck to the long coat.
Health concerns: Cymric cats are generally healthy, but there are some breed-specific conditions you should know about. These include arthritis in stumpies and longies, neurological conditions, and Manx syndrome (short spine, urinary tract defects and gastrointestinal problems). It’s important to note that even typically healthy breeds may still get sick or hurt themselves. So get pet cat insurance to cover your Cymric in any eventuality.
Final word
Cymric cats are quite chatty, so expect some one-sided conversations. They are generally people-orientated but are aloof with certain people. They don’t do well if left alone for long periods of time. Only get a Cymric if you spend a lot of time at home and are prepared to make your cat part of your daily life. They are good at problem solving, and will quickly figure out how to open doors and cupboards. Your cymric also likes to climb, so not even high cupboards are safe. They like to hunt, so you’ll often find little ‘gifts’ waiting for you. If you want your Cymric to get on well with young children and other pets, you will have to do proper introductions while Kitty is as young as possible.