Cymric.

Cymric. Cymric, breed of tailless cat, the longhaired version of the Manx cat. The cymric probably first appeared on the Isle of Man off the coast of England as the result of the native Manx breeding with longhaired cats brought to the island by Vikings. The most distinctive feature of the cymric is its lack of a tail. The roundish, medium-sized body is compact, with short, sturdy front legs. The round, muscular back legs are longer than the front, so the cat's hind end is higher than its shoulders and the short back arches upward. The chest is broad and deep. A short, thick neck supports the round head. The cheeks are full, and large, round eyes tilt slightly upward at the outer corners. Medium-sized, wide-set ears are rounded and turn outward slightly. The cymric's eye color harmonizes with the color of its fur. Coat colors include black, blue, cream, red, and white, which may appear in solid, bicolored, shaded, smoke, or multicolored patterns. Its long, glossy fur is silky, and softer than that of the Manx. The coat is thickest at the collar and the back legs. The cymric became common in the 1930s when the breed was improved by crossing Manx with Persian cats. After longhaired kittens began appearing in litters of Manx in Canada in the mid-1960s, breeders decided the cymric should be recognized as a separate breed. The Cat Fanciers' Association and the Canadian Cat Association recognize the cymric as a separate breed. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.