Personality:
- Active, intelligent cats that love human companionship.
- Curious, bold, and alert.
- Soft voices with a wide range in pitch.
History:
Imported from China or Korea into Japan at least 1,000 years ago. Featured in Japan’s ancient prints and paintings. Imported to the United States in 1968 with all registered Japanese Bobtails able to trace their ancestry back to the original imports. Accepted for championship in the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in 1976.
Body Type:
- Medium-sized, well-muscled cat that is slender rather than massive.
- Long, finely-chiseled head with high cheekbones and large, wide-set ears.
- Corkscrew tail is no longer than three to four inches, with the hair fanning out to form a pom pom.
- Eyes are large, oval, set at a pronounced slant, and complement coat color.
Coat:
- Coat is medium short in length, soft, and silky.
- Preferred color is the mi-ke (mee-kay) which is white, black, and red and is customarily found only in females.
- Contrasting colors and bold markings are preferred.
- All colors are accepted with the exception of a Siamese point pattern and agouti.
Health and Wellness:
- Genetically linked defects have not been reported in this breed.
What you should know:
- The unique tails of Japanese Bobtails are somewhat delicate and must not be handled roughly.
- Usually have litters of four kittens that are extremely large at birth.
- Low kitten mortality and high disease resistance.
