A rare tailless breed that combines the rounded, rabbity look of the Manx with a soft, curly rex coat — a distinctive Australasian cat known for being playful, loyal and strongly attached to its family.
- Origin
- Australia & New Zealand
- Category
- shorthair
- Lifespan
- 12–16 yrs
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 3.5–5.5 kg
- Coat
- Short to medium, soft and distinctly curly or wavy
- Colours
- All colours and patterns
😺 Temperament
🏡 Best suited to
📊 Personality ratings
📜 History & origin
The Tasman Manx was developed in Australia and New Zealand from Manx cats that spontaneously produced curly-coated kittens, the result of a rex mutation appearing within Manx lines. Breeders recognised the appeal of a rexed Manx and set about establishing it as a variety in its own right, and it is now acknowledged by Australasian registries. Like all Manx-derived cats it can be born completely tailless (a 'rumpy'), with a small rise ('stumpy') or, occasionally, with a full tail, and it remains uncommon outside the region.
🧼 Care & grooming
The soft, wavy coat is easy to look after, needing only weekly brushing to keep it in condition, and the curl means these cats tend to shed a little less obviously than straight-coated breeds. The Tasman Manx is an outgoing, people-oriented cat that loves interactive play, learns games and fetch readily, and follows its owners about — so plenty of companionship, toys and a good scratching post suit it best. Its friendly, adaptable nature makes it a good fit for busy family homes and households with other pets.
🩺 Health notes
The breed's key health consideration is the same as the Manx: the gene that shortens or removes the tail can, in its most extreme form, cause 'Manx syndrome' — spinal and nerve defects affecting the lower back, bladder and bowel. Careful breeding that avoids pairing two fully tailless cats greatly reduces the risk, and kittens are typically monitored as they grow. The rex coat itself carries no particular health problems, and away from the taillessness issue the Tasman Manx is a hardy, robust cat.
