Your guide to finding and caring for a Manx in Savannah
A Manx fits well in a wood-frame house in the Victorian District or Ardsley Park. These are calm, people-focused cats that follow you from room to room and claim the sunniest window. Expect short bursts of play, too, since those strong hind legs launch a Manx straight onto the bookshelf. Keep it indoors: Savannah's humid summers, busy streets and alligator-filled ponds make outdoor life risky. A tall cat tree by a window will be its favorite spot.
Find your Manx
While we don't have enough cats near Savannah, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 10 y., 1804 miles
Manx, Dilute Tortoiseshell
F, 0-6 mo., 2043 miles
Manx, Domestic Short Hair
F, 1 y., 2075 miles
Manx, Domestic Short Hair
F, 8 mo., 2075 miles
Manx
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 2116 miles
Tonkinese, Manx
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 2121 miles
Manx, Domestic Short Hair
F, 3-7 y., 2129 miles
Tabby, Manx
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 2129 miles
Abyssinian, Manx
M, 5 mo., 2134 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Manx
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 2142 miles
Manx
The Manx comes from the Isle of Man, where a natural mutation produced cats with no tail or a short one, though tail length varies and some Manx have full tails. They're round, solidly built medium cats, usually 8 to 12 pounds, with a short back, long hind legs and a thick double coat in many colors. Many take several years to fully mature.
Most Manx are devoted, gentle companions that play in bursts and often fetch toys. They communicate with soft trills rather than loud meows. The tailless gene can cause spinal, bowel and bladder problems called Manx syndrome, usually apparent in kittenhood, so a veterinary exam soon after adoption is wise. Moderate shedding means weekly brushing is usually enough, with more during seasonal coat changes.
Having a Manx in Savannah
A Manx is a sturdy, medium-sized cat with strong hind legs and a missing or short tail. In Savannah's warm climate and mix of older wood-frame homes and rentals, indoor cooling, climbing space and a good health check are the practical priorities.
Manx cats are typically gentle, devoted and playful, often following a favorite person around the house. Many are patient with respectful children and calm dogs, though some are wary of strangers at first. In a busy Savannah rental, a quiet retreat helps. Each Manx has its own personality, so give a new cat time to settle.
Expect moderate activity: relaxed stretches mixed with bursts of play. Strong hind legs make Manx good jumpers, so tall cat trees, window perches and wand toys work well indoors. Fetch and food puzzles burn energy on rainy summer afternoons, and regular play helps keep this solidly built cat from gaining weight.
The gene behind taillessness can cause Manx syndrome, affecting the spine, hind legs, bladder and bowel, usually before four months of age. Stumpy tails may develop arthritis, and some Manx have constipation or megacolon. A veterinary exam soon after adoption and regular checkups help catch problems early.
A Manx does well in a house or apartment with sturdy climbing furniture and cozy resting spots, which suits Savannah's many renters. Keep it indoors, since ponds and lagoons can hold alligators and traffic adds risk. A cat with mobility or continence issues may need low-sided litter boxes and ramps.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $30 to $60 per month | $360 to $720 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $455 to $1,155 per year | $455 to $1,155 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,265 to $2,825 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, parasite prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys and scratchers, basic brushing supplies for the double coat, and the $5 yearly Chatham County rabies tag.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below currently have Manxes available.
Savannah's rescue community includes a county shelter, a humane society and volunteer-run, foster-based rescues that help cats find homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Savannah area where you can find Manxes and other cats available for adoption.
Yes. Savannah and Chatham County have no known breed-specific rules that affect Manx cats. What applies is the same for every cat: a rabies vaccination by 14 weeks with a county tag, plus spay or neuter for any cat that lives outdoors. Renters should also read their lease for pet deposits, rent and limits.
Yes, a Manx adapts well to apartments when it has vertical space and daily play. Provide a tall cat tree, a window perch and wand-toy sessions to use up its jumping energy. Air conditioning matters in the long, humid summer for a cat with a thick double coat. Cats with Manx syndrome may need low-sided litter boxes and ramps.
Often, yes, for people who are home part of the day and want an affectionate, playful indoor cat. Heat and humidity are manageable with air conditioning, and storm and fireworks noise calls for a quiet hiding spot. A Manx's health needs, including possible Manx syndrome, are worth planning for with a veterinarian.
Yes, indoors with air conditioning. Savannah summers are long and humid, so a Manx's thick double coat is better kept in a cool home. Keep fresh water out, close blinds on sunny windows and brush more often to clear loose fur. Panting, drooling or lethargy can signal heat stress, so see a veterinarian promptly.
Weekly brushing is usually enough for a shorthaired Manx, with extra sessions in spring and fall when the double coat sheds more. Longhaired Manx, known as Cymrics, need more. Professional grooming is rarely necessary, so grooming costs stay small and mostly cover brushing supplies, which are counted in the Other line of the cost chart.
A Manx is a medium-sized cat breed from the Isle of Man, best known for having no tail or a short tail due to a natural genetic mutation. Manx cats are round and sturdy, with longer hind legs, a thick double coat and a gentle, playful personality. Some Manx have full-length tails, since tail length varies even within litters.
Manx cats look round and compact, with a short back, a rounded rump and hind legs longer than the front legs, giving them a rabbit-like stance. They have round heads, big round eyes and a dense double coat in many colors. Most famously, they may be completely tailless, have a stub, or carry a short or full tail.
Manx cats are fairly uncommon compared with domestic shorthairs, but they are a long-established breed recognized by major cat registries. Purebred Manx appear in shelters only occasionally, though many tailless or short-tailed cats in shelters are mixes with Manx ancestry. Breed rescues and cat rescues sometimes have Manx available for adoption.
We have 1 rescue with Manxes available: Humane Society for Greater Savannah. You can see every rescue with Manxes available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the Manxes near Savannah.
Plan on roughly $1,265 to $2,825 a year for a Manx in Savannah. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $30 to $60 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year and other costs of $455 to $1,155 a year, including litter. Emergencies aren't included.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Savannah.
