Cymric Cat

Identical in all but coat length to the Manx, the Cymric and Manx have been combined into one category by some feline associations. A study in circles, the Cymric resembles a bowling ball that is medium in size. The Cymric takes up to five years to reach full maturity. Once maturity is reached, the males will weigh between ten and twelve pounds and the females between eight and ten. They lack a tail and ideally have a rounded rump with a small dimple in place of the tail. The hind legs should be longer than the front with rounded, medium sized feet. Ears are wide at the base and set wide on a rounded head. Eyes should be rounded, large angled and slightly lifted at the outer edge. Coat should be silky, well- padded and thick. The Cymric is allowed to come in any color just like the lovable Manx. There should be tufts of fur between the toes, britches should be easily visible and the ears should be fully furnished in the Cymric but not in the Manx.

Gentle giants and extremely playful, these excellent jumpers are highly intelligent and wonderful family pets. They are very curious and will use their excellent jumping ability to propel themselves to the highest of corners to investigate something that may have attracted their attention. They have been known to use door handles, fetch toys and even bury a toy that they find themselves particularly attached to. Though soft voiced they can be quite talkative and have an enchanting trilling way of speaking. Very people oriented, the Manx will bond hard and fast to those they call their own making re-homing difficult. When introduced properly they will get along easily with other pets and children.

Because this is a tailless breed, there is an absence of vertebrae and with this absence there is always the concern of injury. Owners should always be sure to support the hind quarters of a Cymric or Manx when carrying their cat to prevent placing extra strain on the shortened spine. In addition, children and adults should both be careful not to poke or prod the missing tail area as this can cause extreme pain- the nerve endings in the spines of these animals are not only present, they are exposed and unprotected. Owners should be careful to discuss any genetic spinal disorders with the breeder and be sure to have their kitten examined by a vet before purchase. Other care for the Cymric is fairly easy, they enjoy a careful brushing to help keep mats under control and do not have any dietary requirements.

The Cymric and the Manx share a long and colorful history, with tales of their missing tails even including a story that Noah shut the door of the Ark on their tails and cut them off. They were first discovered on the Isle of Man in a feline population that was believed to have descended from cats aboard ships from nearby England and Wales. Eventually, a genetic mutation occurred within the population and the kittens began to be born without tails. Because the Isle of Man is fairly small and isolated, in-breeding led to this becoming a common trait amongst the cats and by 1750 they were known as 'stubbins'. The first painting of a tail-less cat was created in 1810 and by the late 1800's they were ready to be seen at the begin of the cat fancy era. The short hair versions were the first to be shown and to gain success, with the long-haired Cymric receiving recognition in later years.

CA top humane state in nation

 The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, has released its second annual “Humane State Ranking,” a comprehensive report rating all 50 states on a wide range of animal protection laws dealing with pets, animal cruelty and fighting, wildlife, animals in research, horses and farm animals.

Last year, California topped the list, followed by New Jersey, Colorado, Maine and Massachusetts. This year, Illinois moved into third place, due to passage of a raft of important animal protection measures during the 2010 legislative session, including bills to prohibit the keeping of primates as pets and to protect animals from antifreeze poisoning.

Also making great strides were Louisiana, Oklahoma and Alaska. Oklahoma—one of the top three puppy-producing states in the country—gained major points for passing a comprehensive puppy mill bill in 2010, and also passed legislation protecting pets in domestic violence situations and for allowing the creation of pet trusts. Louisiana, which was the last state to ban cockfighting in 2006, strengthened its laws for spectators of cockfights. And Alaska gained points for making egregious acts of cruelty a felony on the first offense and for closing a loophole that allowed the possession of chimpanzees as pets.

“Our Humane State Ranking provides a big-picture look at how states are faring on animal-protection policies, and how they rank in the nation,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “There are some states that are adopting innovative and strong policies to protect animals, while others are lagging badly.”

In 2010, The HSUS helped pass 97 new laws and regulations to protect animals and helped to defeat dozens of other harmful measures.

At the bottom of the list, the states with the weakest animal protection laws are Alabama, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, Ohio and South Dakota, with South Dakota ranking last with a score of eight out of 65. Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota and South Dakota got low marks in part because they are the only four states in the country with no felony penalty for egregious acts of animal cruelty. Alabama, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, Ohio and South Dakota are also among the 11 states that do not have felony-level penalties for cockfighting. Ohio is expected to move up in the ranking if the state follows through with a series of eight reforms advanced by The HSUS and agricultural groups in the state to deal with cockfighting, puppy mills, exotic pets, and factory farming issues.

The ranking was based on 65 different animal protection issues in 10 major animal protection categories including: animal fighting; animal cruelty; puppy mills; use of animals in research; equine protection; wildlife abuse; factory farming; fur and trapping; exotic animals; and companion animal laws.

Dogs may help reduce allergies in children

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center may have found a new way for families to prevent eczema in their children: Adopt a dog.

The researchers studied 636 newborns at risk for developing asthma, allergies, or eczema, and found that children with dog allergies who lived in a house with dogs were far less likely to develop eczema than were allergic children who lived with no dogs. Conversely, children with dog allergies who did not own dogs were four times more likely to develop eczema.

On the other hand, children with cat allergies who lived with cats were more likely to develop eczema than were allergic children who lived in a cat-free house.

While researchers are still looking for a cause of the recent rise in childhood eczema, the study proves that dogs may be an ideal pet for families with allergy-ridden children.

“The number of children with allergic eczema is rising, but the reasons for this are unclear,” says Tolly Epstein, MD, corresponding author of the study and assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. “Our research suggests that exposure to dog allergens early in life may actually have a protective effect against developing future allergies among a high-risk population.”