Cymric - Welsh cat breed, photos, standards, recommendations for care and nutrition

Cymric (also called the Welsh cat) is an animal that combines the features of a cat, a dog and a rabbit. From the front the pet looks like an ordinary stocky domestic cat, and from the back it looks like something between a bulldog and a hare. A representative of the Cymrik breed is an affectionate, playful cat with the habits of an intelligent watchdog. Such cats are excellent rat catchers and home guards. In their free time, they behave calmly and peacefully. The balanced islander will be a wonderful addition to any family.

Origin story

The birthplace of Cymric is the small Isle of Mans near Great Britain.
The first mention in sources dates back to 1750. Close relatives of the Cymrics, the Manx, also appeared on the same island. However, despite the external similarity, these are different breeds, and it is a mistake to believe that the fluffy Cymric is a long-haired Manx. Local residents jokingly call Cymrics a cross between cats and rabbits due to the complete absence of a tail. But this is the result of a complex genetic mutation that appeared a long time ago (more than four hundred years ago).

The tailless cats that were born did not correspond with anyone and continued to mate with each other (since the island was considered closed for a long time, representatives of other cat breeds were not brought there).

This type of mutation is called the “bottleneck effect” by geneticists, but the length of the appendage in kittens from the same litter may be different. Currently, this feature is supported by the works of breeding breeders.

In 1960, amazing tailless babies came to Canada, and that’s where they began to gain popularity. However, they were recognized as an independent breed only in 1967, and even then, some authoritative organizations still refuse to recognize them and still believe that the Cymric is just a type of Manx.

There are few nurseries engaged in breeding Cymrics. In Russia and neighboring countries there are none at all, so purchasing a kitten is an extremely expensive and troublesome matter.

Health

Unfortunately, the gene responsible for the absence of a tail can also be fatal. Kittens that inherit copies of the gene from both parents die before birth and dissolve in the womb.

Since the number of such kittens is up to 25% of the litter, usually few of them are born, two to three kittens.

But even those Cymrics who have inherited one copy can suffer from a disease called Manx Syndrome.

The fact is that the gene affects not only the tail, but also the spine, making it shorter, affecting nerves and internal organs. These lesions are so severe that kittens with this syndrome are euthanized.

Standards

Despite the fact that the popularization of the breed has not happened so far, the standards for the Cymric were still prescribed by the American TICA system.

Standard	Description
Head	Wedge-shaped, with clearly defined cheeks, cheekbones and whisker pads. The forehead is slightly rounded, with smooth lines. The chin is neat, there is a slight “stop” on the bridge of the nose, and the nose is medium. The neck is powerful and short.
Eyes	Large, round, widely spaced, the outer corner clearly raised. The color of the eyes corresponds to the color of the coat: they can be blue, green, yellow. Rarely, heterochromia occurs.
Ears	Small, spaced, with a wide base and rounded tips. Both the outer and inner edges are covered with dense pubescence. Sometimes miniature tassels are observed at the tips of the ears.
Torso	Strongly built (cobby type), strong bones. The belly line is low, the back is short.
Paws	Muscular, the front ones are shorter than the rear ones (thanks to this, Cymrics are excellent jumpers). The pads are elastic and medium in size. Tufts of fur grow between the fingers.
Wool	Long, soft and silky to the touch. The undercoat is thick and elastic, making the coat appear double. There are “pants” on the hind legs, and a “collar” on the neck.
Weight	The average weight of a male is 5-6 kg, a female is 3.5-4 kg. Prone to dimorphism.

Photo of a cat of the Cymrik breed

Breeding Features

Due to the fact that the breed is very rare, breeders have difficulty finding worthy candidates for breeding. Cat owners often have to travel many kilometers to meet a potential groom. In the Cymrik breed, there are cases when the breeder even has to fly to another country.

Another problem of the breed is frequent cases of inbreeding. There are very few individuals, so breeders have to somehow get out of the situation. Sometimes moderate inbreeding is even desirable to consolidate the desired traits. But if you often cross relatives with each other, the breed may degenerate.

Cymriks are expensive, partly due to the fact that cats most often give birth to 2-3 cubs. If a baby in the womb inherits mutation genes from both mom and dad, then he dies. Usually, in the early stages of pregnancy, the fetus simply dissolves without a trace, so cat owners may not even suspect that there were more cubs.

Tails

There are 4 types of tail:

Name	Description
Rumpy	Ideal for show rings and exhibitions, complete absence of tail. In its place there is often a depression.
Rumpy-riser	There is a tail, but it is short (1-3 vertebrae). Exhibition events are allowed in one case: if the judge’s hand, when stroking the cat, does not touch the tail in a vertical position.
Stumpie	The tail is longer than that of ramp risers; it may have knots and creases. Simple domestic cats are not allowed for breeding.
Longi	The tails of individuals are the same as those of other breeds, but some breeders dock them a week after birth. This is done for purely commercial purposes: those who want to buy a Cymric want to get a cat without a tail.

Breed faults: eyes that are close together or deformities; graceful physique; short hind legs; color hybridization; extra fingers; cryptomorphism; weak hind legs.

Colors

Colors are varied.

Torti;
Bi (tabby with milk spots, harlequin);
Tabby (mackerel, brown, silver, red, bluish);
Smoke (blue, silver or silver-black);
Silver chinchilla;
Red, red;
Cream;
Black (with amber or emerald eyes);
Blue color with topaz or green eyes;
Completely white with topaz colored eyes, green or different.

Himalayan, chocolate and lavender colors are not allowed!

Character and behavior

You can't find more intellectuals like the Cymrics. They are easy to train: they can remember up to a dozen commands, learn to close and open doors, and carry light objects (rolled newspaper, their toys). If you start to accustom your baby to a harness, he will be happy to walk in full gear with his owner down the street. If you give a Cymric a tasty piece, he will never refuse it, even if he is full, but will hide the delicacy in a secret place, away from prying eyes.

Cymriki are not afraid of water, unlike most cats, which is why they love water treatments. This will be a great help for the owner: you won’t have to restrain a cat that is trying to get out of your hands: just lay a diaper on the bottom of the bath and turn on the water warmer.

Individuals of this breed are the best hunters. They are not afraid of mice, rats, or birds, which is a bit of a problem: having parrots or small rodents in the same apartment is risky. If you don't care, you'll have one less pet. And it will definitely not be a Welsh cat!

The speed of the Cymric's reaction is amazing: he can instantly assess the situation and, if something happens, attack an object that seems suspicious to him. Especially if he notices the owner’s concern about this. Therefore, in the same company as him, you should not raise your voice, behave emotionally or show aggression.

What breeds do you prefer?

ShorthairLonghair

But if the cat feels the owner’s calmness, then he himself remains calm and unperturbed. His favorite pastime is being next to his adored owner. It is worth noting that the Cymrik is devoted like a dog: it follows its loved one from room to room, sits on the shoulder or purrs on the lap. Doesn't like noisy companies or loud sounds. Doesn't cry in vain. The Cymric's voice is very pleasant: soft and thin, with an interesting set of sounds and intonations. Extremely curious.

He doesn’t mind playing with a ball or a toy mouse, he’s bouncy and will climb onto any closet and any shelf in the apartment. Therefore, if renovation is important to you: place a large and high cat corner in the room, where the cat can throw out excess energy.

He is attentive and friendly towards children, ready to run around the rooms with them. She cannot stand separation: she becomes very sad, refuses to eat, and may even become seriously ill. Accustom your pet to travel by car or other transport: if you do this from an early age, your cat will be pleasant company for you on your travels.

Expert opinion

Dusheba Vera Ivanovna

In 2010, she graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Scriabin with honors, specializing in veterinary medicine. I regularly attend veterinary conferences, congresses, and webinars.

The cost of a show kitten is approximately a thousand dollars; if a defect is detected, the price is slightly reduced. When choosing a baby, adhere to several criteria: appearance, behavior, availability of documents (passports with information about vaccinations and pedigree) and the health of the kitten. The toddler should have clean mucous membranes, skin without rashes and irritation, ears and eyes without discharge. Bad breath is a sign of stomach problems.

Breed characteristics

Attachment to family

Love for meowing

Attitude towards children

Relationships with strangers

Gets along with others

These are very gentle and playful cats. Thanks to their powerful hind legs, they jump well and therefore can climb to any height in the house.

Cymric is a smart cat who quickly figures out how to open a door and get what he wants. Manx also have one habit that is more typical of dogs: they like to hide or bury toys. Often these cats love to swim.

The Cymric does not have a loud voice, but it loves to talk and can make interesting purring sounds. These cats become attached to people and get along easily with children and other animals. They are balanced, calm and prefer to be in company than alone.

Care instructions

The cat must have its own personal belongings: a bed or house, a scratching post, grooming products, bowls, a harness and leash, a play set, toys, a litter tray. The tray is placed in a secluded corner, where, however, the cat will have access at any time, and the bed is placed in the room where the owner most often visits.

Wool

The dense double coat of the Welsh cat requires careful and thorough grooming. During molting, Cymriks are combed every day, the rest of the time - 2 times a week.

Claws

The claws are shortened as necessary: in representatives of this breed they grow back instantly. After cutting off the excess, file the ends with a nail file.

Ears

The ears are cleaned with a regular cotton swab dipped in chamomile decoction or pharmacy lotion (Bars, Euracon Pharma GmbH OTOKLIN, VETOQUINOL Otifri) once a week. Eyes are wiped only when dirty.

Teeth

Photo of a cat of the Cymrik breed.
Teeth are brushed every week: buy your pet a silicone toothbrush and a special paste for cats. The Cymric is not threatened with caries, but tartar forms on the teeth quite often. They begin to get used to brushing at 8-12 weeks (1-2 brushings per month). For an adult animal, cleaning a week is enough. Take your cat to a specialist once a year.

Toothpastes: Trixie (Germany), Beaphar Toothpaste (Netherlands), Hartz (USA). In addition to pastes, there are special sprays (Sentry Petrodex Dental Spray, Api-San Zubastik, Beaphar Fresh Breath Spray), gels (TropiClean), water additives (TropiClean Water Additive Original) and snacks (Beaphar Cat-a-Dent Bits, GimCat "Denta-Kiss", "Mnyams Healthy Teeth").

Contact with the administration: c

Catering

Cymrics are not picky when it comes to food. You can choose what to feed them: industrial feed or natural food.

Natural products

Kittens usually come home at the age of 2-3 months, and they already know how to eat on their own. Their diet should be rich in protein and vitamins. You can give your baby lean beef and minced chicken, boiled vegetables, porridge (liquid semolina, oatmeal), low-fat cottage cheese, kefir, quail egg. Diet: 6 feedings per day. Food – only warm! Hot will burn the gastric mucosa, cold will not allow food to be properly absorbed.

Photo of a kitten of the Cymrik breed

At 4 months, kittens are slowly transferred to more adult food. The menu includes tripe, kidneys, liver, boiled or raw vegetables (turnips, carrots, cauliflower). Number of feedings – 5.

Adult cats have a more extensive diet. It includes cheese, low-fat sour cream, bio-yogurt, lamb and rabbit meat, sea fish, cucumbers, and asparagus. Number of feedings – 2: morning and evening.

It is forbidden to give Cymrics:

Salted, fried, smoked, canned, fatty;
Sweet;
Flour;
Bones;
Freshwater fish;
Alcohol, tea, coffee, soda, mineral water,
Tomatoes, potatoes;
Pea, chickpea, bean porridge;
Pork, duck;
Dishes from the human table (soups, borscht, pickles and tomatoes, pasta).

You cannot feed your cat alternately natural food and food. Choose one thing, otherwise he will have an upset digestive system. When buying industrial feed, if possible, choose manufacturers of super-premium and holistic class feed. Economy class food negatively affects the health of the animal, and the composition of premium food leaves much to be desired. Make sure your diet is balanced with calcium, protein, and taurine.

A Cymric should always have clean and warm water freely available. Change it morning and evening.

Buy special cat grass for germination at a veterinary pharmacy. The cat will feast on it as needed.

Pregnant and sick animals need more nutrients, so the diet is revised. Choose the feeding frequency yourself, based on the cat’s condition.

Recommended food

Below are recommended super premium foods, links with food names are clickable. Using them, you can, within our website, read descriptions of food and read reviews from owners of the Cymrik cat breed.

Super premium	Holistic	Premium
Sanabelle	Savarra	Royal Canin

Diseases

I would like to write that Cymrics are healthy animals that can live for many years to the delight of their owner, but... The mutated M gene causes many developmental defects. First of all, the death and mummification of embryos in the mother’s womb (in cats with a pair of dominant genes of the MM type). Unfortunately, kittens in this case are completely unviable.

Offspring with mixed heredity survive - according to the Mm type. This is why it is difficult to get a healthy Welsh cat and why they are so rare and expensive.

Breeders do not allow mating of two standard Manxes or Cymrics. The second partner is a stumpy cat (with a regular tail) or a British shorthair.

Kittens that receive one gene survive and are at risk of developing Manx syndrome. It is characterized by bifida and other defects of the spine, pathologies of the bladder, stomach and intestines. All these ailments appear in the first 4-6 months after the baby is born (that is why decent breeders do not sell kittens before this period).

The Kymrik should not be patted or roughly stroked in the place where the tail is supposed to be: nerve endings are present there, they are not protected by anything and cause discomfort and even pain to the animal.

Expert opinion

Dusheba Vera Ivanovna

To avoid additional stress on the spine, when you lift the Cymric in your arms, support its hind legs.