Cymric Cat Cymric
Cat Texanna copyright Helmi Flick
Introduction The second thing is the name of the cat. Some websites say that this breed is named after the Gaelic word for Wales. This seems to be incorrect. But it is said that the name comes from the word, "Cymru", which is the Welsh word for Wales1.  It is also thought that
the
Cymric Cat was named after Wales
because this long
haired version of the Manx was seen there some time ago. This seems
likely as the north coast of Wales in about 50-70 miles south of the
Isle of Man, the original home of the Manx Cat (see map).Cymraeg (Cymric) is spoken in what the English call Wales. It's part of the Brythonic branch of insular Celtic, along with Cornish and Breton. Cymric is used quite extensively in Wales still and the language is being kept alive. The English say that the people of Wales speak Welsh, but the word "Welsh" in Gaelic is Cymric. It would seem the name was made up on the basis of its ancestory and the various factors referred to. Interestingly when you do a Google search for "Cymric" none of the listings (at least the early ones) refer to the language of Wales but to the cat.
History I am not going to recite the history of the Cymric Cat as it will be the same as the Manx Cat except for the introduction of the medium-long double coat, which is where its history parts from the Manx. This is a North American cat of Welsh ancestory1 that originates from the 1960s.How did this breed acquire the medium-long coat? One theory is that the Cymric was mated with a Norwegian Forest Cat that was imported into the Isle of Man by the King of Norway. This has the air of legend or myth to me and the history of domestic cat breeds is littered with myths and legends. It seems that manx cats "have always produced the ocassional longhaired kittens.."1 The long coat was developed, therefore, through deliberate selective breeding. The story is that the Cymric Cat breed was started in Canada in the 1960s (implying human intervention). This view is supported by the authors of Robinson's Genetics for Cat Breeders and Veterinarians. Click on the following link to see how the creation of this breed fits in with cat history presented as a time line.
Appearance/Character/Rarity The Cymric can be shown in all colors, all categories and all divisons, which results in a very large number of colors and patterns - more than 700.Once again I refer you to the Manx Cat for character and appearance except for the longer hair which you can see on this page. This is a rare cat breed, which on my scale of rarity ranks 8 out of 10 (10 being the rarest). As to size and weight this is perhaps slightly above average at about 3.5 - 5.5 kg (8 - 12 lbs) You can see a really nice collage of four wonderful photographs by Helmi Flick plus some more information on appearance on this page: Cymric Cat Collage. Slide show + Appearance If you click on this link it will take you to a bumper slide show with reference to a breed standard. Cymric cat -
Julep
- photo copyright
Helmi Flick
Registration This breed is not registered by the CFA (the No.1 cat association in the US) nor the GCCF (the UK No.1 association). The CFA register this cat as a long-haired Manx.It is registered by TICA, however. The TICA is more "progressive". This cat breed is also registered by the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) and it is their breed standard that I use accompanying the slide show.
Breeders & Breed Standards Based on my own criteria for selecting a list of breeders there is only one listing (the top one below). My rule is to select the breeders listed on the first three pages of a Google search for independent (non directory) websites (as at 2008 - things change).I have made a short selection from the directories as well: Karello Manx Manx and Cymric cattery based in Pennsylvania United States. CFA and TICA registered cattery. Antelope Manx Cattery Located in Central Kansas USA. CFA registered cattery specializing in the Cymric. Kabelkim Manx & Cymrics This cattery has been in business for 31 years (as at 2007) according to the website. Located in Hudsonville, Michigan, USA. I have not contacted them but this business may not be running.
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