Short Tailed Manx Kitten

Question

Una Mica  

Una Mica   Hello,

I got tailed manx kitten about 2 weeks ago, I think she's about 6 to 7 months old since she just lost her baby teeth.  Her mother was a feral fully tailed cat that carries the Manx gene, as for the father  it's hard to say but must have been the same.  I was told they had a feral male Manx years before that passed the gene on.  The kitten came from a friends farm so she was next to untouchable when I got her but thats very much changed.  They did have a couple Manx without any tails but said they were spayed since those kittens often didn't make it and they hated seeing that.  My boyfriend and I picked up two kittens from different litters there (planned on one) but this one is much much stockier and has extra long back legs.  She hasn't had her vaccinations yet but will be getting them soon as well as spayed and maybe declawed too.
My question is should I ask about docking or removing her tail, maybe at the same time?  I ask because I've read about breeders docking the tails of newborn kittens to prevent health problems like arthritis that may become so bad that the tail has to be removed once they are about 5 years old.  She's still growing now so I believe it would be easier to on her now but I still she's not a newborn with soft bones.  Is it necessary or may she not even get arthritis so young?   Her tail is about 2-3 inches long, thick but not kinked.  I must admit I just love her little tail and how when she's happy she wags it like a dog would.  Any ideas or thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks for reading.

Answer
Stephanie,

I would leave the tail alone.  Why have a surgery unless it is necessary.  Longer back legs is a Manx trait along with various degrees of taillessness.  I have not heard of prevention of  arthritic tails as a reason to dock, and we used to breed Manx.  Some breeders dock the long tailed Manx to stumpy tailed (like Una Mica) to make the kittens more saleable as Manx.

Enjoy her for many more years.  I would think twice about declawing and not declaw unless absolutely necessary!

Best regards... Norm.