Manx Cats

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Oh that sucks. Try looking up the manx club of america or whatever its called and see if they have any info or if any breeders can give you their wisdom. Try checking for a manx club at CFA website(cat fanciers of america)

Thank you, I've now done that, and I'm awaiting response. If I get none, I'll look up another breeder to contact, to see if they know of anything they can offer. My hubby is on board with me, and if we can give this little kitten some kind of life, we are willing to do that. I don't distrust my vet, he was genuinely sad to give me his honest prognosis. He said a $100 x ray would confirm it, but he was pretty certain that the spine ended at the pelvis, just by his exam. I took her home, and said I'd think about it.

I am not ready to give up on this baby just yet.

I'm like you I'd give the baby a fighting chance. Sorry I'm no help.

Three years ago I came upon a manx kitten on a job site. He has a spinal deformity but not as bad as spina bifida. His spine is missing 3 vertebrae, curled like a pig tail and stops at the pelvis. As a result his pelvis is tilted to the side and one hip sticks way up. When he was a kitten he could not control his bowels and we had project. Nobody wanted to adopt him. He is still with us.

I consulted with manx breeders about the issue and learned that there were surgical options and was referred to a vet with experience in this issue. Vet said to wait until he was 4 mos. to do the x-ray so that we could get a definitive diagnosis after he developed more. We were instructed to give him psyllium and pumpkin to help tone his muscles so he could hold his bowels better. Long story short. He did not have to have surgery. He has compensated and gets around well enough to kill rats and climb trees! As he grew the bowel issues cleared up and now he only has only very occasional issues. The vet said it was one of the most pronounced deformities he had seen.

I don't regret putting in the time and effort. He is a hoot. Plays fetch, does tricks for treats, walks on a leash and is generally a character. I am very grateful to the manx people who advised and gave us hope, and finding a vet with experience in manx problems that helped us. Honestly though, I don't know what we would have done if he had needed the surgery. I hope you are able to get the advice you need to help your kitten. Good luck.

OMG, momma and kittens are adorable. So glad they found you! I hope you get some answers for the little one with Spina Bifida...I never knew cats could get that. I had a manx that was abandoned by her mom in my dad's boat compartment. I bottle raised her and had her until she died of kidney failure around 12 years old. She was a firecracker, very picky about people she liked(umm, pretty much just myself, mom, dad and brother), and very picky about food. But I loved her, and still miss her even though she has been gone for years now.

We had a bulldog with SB. It was very difficult to keep her clean and healthy. She wore diapers, shoes and had her own wheely cart. If you have ever seen a dog in a cart you know that they need rest and occasionally enjoy lounging around without it. If she wasn't in her cart she would get sores from dragging her back legs and feet. We had to change bandages on her legs twice a day with an ointment. The diapers were another issue all together. Very messy and needing changed frequently. We had a lot of creams for her bum and pee pee because she would get infections and sores from not airing out enough. She eventually got an infection in her back legs from the sores that spread to the rest of her body. Poor baby didn't make it. It was A LOT of work and I would never make another animal suffer through what she went through. RIP Lena.

Wow, so much to think about here. I really appreciate the support and information I'm getting from everyone.

I think for right now, I'm going to give her a little more time to grow, and then invest in an xray, to confirm the diagnosis. She doesn't think she's any different than her siblings right now, and is moving around pretty well. I'll watch carefully for the potty issues, and say a little prayer that she doesn't have them.

Eyeheartquail: thank you for sharing Lena's story. I wouldn't want this kitten to suffer either.

I wish you were closer to me. I would love to have one of the kittens. We had an american bobtail that died recently. Bell was 12 years old. He was a great cat and was huge! We also had his sister and she was an excellent mouser. They were both mainly barn cats with cold weather house privilages. They both liked being outside the best though.
So nice of you to take momma in. She was lucky to have found you. Here is a pic of my Bell.

What a sweet picture!!

My friend came over last night, and sexed all the kittens, apparently we have 3 females!!