Thank you for taking him in.

I had a manx cat when I was a teenager. We adopted her when on vacation at my great uncles. She was sterile and only lived a few years. I do not think it was related to the MS but I cannot remember.

Anyway, I've heard two theories as to why some manx develop MS and some do not.

1) The manx cat has to alternate breeding with non-manx cats every other generation. So if two manx breed, their offspring must breed with non-manx. If the manx-to-manx breeding continues unto the third generation, the litters are born with many problems including sterility and spina bifida, and do not live long. I don't remember what problems are with the second generation breeding.

2) A manx can have no tail, a stub tail, or a long tail. The tail does not define the manx, as the manx also have longer hind legs, and probably a few other characteristics I've forgotten. A no-tail or stub-tail manx must breed with a long-tail every other generation to reduce the possibility of genetic problems such as spina bifida.

Of course, people can get awfully hot when you introduce a theory they do not like, but I have heard both of those theories.

I suspect that both are true. People who are stuck on pure-manx would not like breeding with a non-manx. I also suspect that on the Isle of Man many of the long-tail cats that were assumed to be non-manx and were actually long-tail manx.

I also assume that breeding every other generation with a non-manx would not breed out the characteristics.

I hope I remembered everything as I am doing this from memory.

Bless you again.

Remember to get your bites looked at and keep them clean.

Anne