Manx - Cat Breed Spotlight
The Manx cat is a very adaptable, affectionate, high-energy breed that is known to get along well with children and other pets.
History of the Manx
The Manx cat is a domesticated breed that derived from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. This breed has a dominant gene that is responsible for a natural mutation of its tail. Because the gene is dominant, it was easily spread amongst the cats on the island. The original cats on the island were shorthaired, but when the Vikings came and took over the Isle of Man, they brought longhaired forest cats that integrated with the native Manx, therefore introducing the longhaired gene. The Manx was one of the founding breeds in the Cat Fancier's Association in 1906 and one of the first show cat breeds in Great Britain.
The Manx cat is a broad, stocky, and solid body-typed cat. They typically have a dense coat, whether they are long or short haired. Their bones are larger than the average domestic cat and tend to have broad jowls.
Males usually weigh around 10-12 pounds and the females 8-10 pounds. Their hind legs are longer than the front, making their back end slightly more predominant and allowing them to rapidly accelerate. There are numerous colors of the Manx coat, but these colors typically exclude chocolate and lavender. Pointed, ticked tabby, or any combination of these colors with white are most common.
All Manx contain a gene for a full tail – even the one's lacking a tail altogether. The four common terms used to describe their tail length are, "Rumpy," "Rrumpy-Riser," "Stumpy," and "Longy."
Australian Cattle - Dog Breed Spotlight
The Australian cattle dog is the American Kennel Club's 54th most popular breed and was first recognized in 1980. This breed was first briefly categorized as part of the miscellaneous class before being considered a working group breed. The cattle dog is a highly intelligent, alert, and agile breed that greatly aided in the development of the Australian beef cattle industry.
In 1840 in Queensland, Australia, the breed started as a cross between a dingo and a blue-merle collie mix. The breed was then crossed with a Dalmatian in Sydney, Australia, and this is when the red and blue speckles became more apparent.
Also known as the "Queensland heeler" or "Blue heeler," this breed is very high-energy and these dogs typically need a job to ensure that they are mentally and physically working. They are also good with children, other pets, and are usually easy to train.
The acceptable colors for this breed are blue, blue mottled, blue speckled, red mottled, and red speckled. The acceptable markings include black and tan, red, and tan. The breed standards are very specific and require the cattle dog to generally convey a strong and sturdy appearance.