<P> Some partial tails are prone to a form of arthritis that causes the cat severe pain, and in rare cases Manx - bred kittens are born with kinked short tails because of incomplete growth of the tail during development . Stumpy to long tails are sometimes docked at birth as a preventative measure . </P> <P> "Manx syndrome" or "Manxness" is a colloquial name given to the condition which results when the tailless gene shortens the spine too much . It can seriously damage the spinal cord and the nerves, causing a form of spina bifida, as well as problems with the bowels, bladder, and digestion . Very small bladders are indicative of the disease, and it is often difficult to diagnose . Death can occur quite suddenly, and some live for only 3--4 years; the oldest recorded was 5 years when affected with the disease . In one report, it was shown to affect about 30% of Manx cats studied, but nearly all of those cases were rumpies, which exhibit the most extreme phenotype . Such problems can be avoided by breeding rumpy Manx cats with stumpy specimens, and this breeding practice is responsible for a decline in spinal problems among modern, professionally bred Manx cats today . Most pedigreed cats are not placed until four months of age (to make sure that they are properly socialised) and this usually also gives adequate time for any such health problems to be identified . Feline expert Roger Tabor has stated: "Only the fact that the Manx is a historic breed stops us being as critical of this dangerous gene as of other more recent selected abnormalities ." </P> <P> The breed is also predisposed to rump fold intertrigo, and to corneal dystrophy . </P> <P> Some tailless cats such as the Manx cats may develop megacolon, which is a recurring condition causing constipation that can be life - threatening to the cat if not properly monitored . It is a condition in which, due to absence of a tail, the smooth muscle that normally contracts to push stools toward the rectum loses its ability to do so . </P>

What is the average lifespan of a manx cat