Japanese Bobtail | Cat Breed Information & Facts – Pictures

Japanese bobtail belongs to one of the oldest breeds of cats, descriptions of these cats are found in ancient manuscripts, which are several centuries old. In Japan, these cats are deified; numerous legends and signs are associated with them.

Japanese bobtail cats are outwardly quite ordinary, except for one characteristic detail – they have a short tail. But cats do not complex about the lack of a long tail. They are very mobile and curious animals. They are suitable for anyone who wants to have an active pet that remains playful even in old age.

Cats sheet Japanese Bobtail

Japanese Bobtail photos

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Physical characteristics

The Japanese bobtail is a beautiful muscular cat with long legs with an oriental muzzle and a funny pompom instead of the usual tail. From an aesthetic point of view, the males seem the most advantageous: they are generally larger and heavier than females.

The weight of Japanese bobtals should be 3 to 5 kg for males and 2 to 4 kg for females.

Cats-characteristics-Japanese-Bobtail

Distinctive features

  • Head: the shape of the head looks like a triangle in equal parts. His curves are treated. The animal has protruding cheekbones. The muzzle is rounded down and wide.
  • Eyes: The eyes are oval and large in shape. Slightly inclined, this can be seen in the animal profile.
  • Ears: Large expressive headsets, they are wide. The ears are erected, but slightly turned back.
  • Nose: the nose is regular and long, with straight lines of the eyebrows to its end.
  • Body: the body of the animal is long and lean. Its lines are straight and clear. The animal can be called both thin and muscular.
  • Legs: the legs are high and fine. They are proportionate to the whole body. The hind legs are higher than the anterior. In their normal position, they look like zigzag lines. The legs and the shoulders form 2 straight lines.
  • Tail: The tail can have a straight, curved, twisted, broken shape. Sometimes it looks like a pompom. Each Japanese has its own size and tail shape. Even in a range, all animals differ in their tail. The maximum length of this part of the animal’s body is 12 cm. The tail is in a raised shortcut, even when the animal is relaxed.
  • Backle: the animal’s coat is of medium length. The sub-point is practically absent. On the tail, the hairs are a little longer and larger than throughout the animal’s body. The hind legs often have fluffy “pants” legs.

Color

Japanese bobtail coat can be of any color. However, the most common cats are those with white basic color and tanned, cream and/or black spots.

Character and behavior

The Japanese Bobtail cat breed is playful and friendly. These pets show their love and affection for each of the members of their family, because historically it has been such that for many hundreds of years they lived together with people, enjoying respect and kindness.

We can say that they have a harmonious relationship with people genetically, which is why they are very attached to their family, and will really be sad if you go on vacation and do not take your pet with you.

The sharp and flexible mind of Japanese bobtail can sometimes surprise you – they easily open doors, turn door handles and even latches, and sometimes it’s not even clear how. Their playful disposition and great love for their family are manifested literally in everything, including their “talkativeness.” Also, they love children and play with them with joy, but we must make sure that children do not twist their tail and do not squeeze the animal too much.

These cats do not like to be alone, and if any of the owners is at home, with a probability of 99%, the bobtail will spend time with the person. On the other hand, when you go to work, the cat will not be uncomfortable, since he knows that you will be back.

They sometimes remember seemingly insignificant everyday moments. For example, it is worth feeding the cat at night and he will wake you up for this constantly. Therefore, one must be careful with what to teach Japanese Bobtail. Also, they have a deep hunter instinct, because for hundreds of years they hunted rodents to help people.

Health

There is no hereditary predisposition to any disease in Japanese Bobtail cats. They are distinguished by good health and good endurance.

Japanese bobtals are quite robust. They have strong immunity. With appropriate care, pets can live a long and carefree life.

However, the love of cats for hunting is often accompanied by various disorders. They can easily pick up on the street:

  • Fleas ;
  • Lichen;
  • Ticks;
  • Towards.

Consequently, it is very important to examine animals after walking, to periodically carry out antihelmintic prophylaxis, to treat wounds on the body with antimicrobial agents and to periodically bathe the animal.

Life expectancy

The average lifespan of these cats is 13 to 15 years.

Care

The Japanese bobtail has no thick underwear, and this applies to long-haired and short-haired individuals. As a result, weekly combing is enough to remove dead hairs. The wool of these animals in its structure is not inclined to form lumps, which simplifies care.

The brushing of the teeth should be done three times a week, and preferably every day. The ears should be cleaned at least once a week and the litter tray should be kept clean. The coat of these cats is resistant to humidity, so a bath every two weeks is enough.

Fun facts

  • A feature of the Japanese bobtail breed is that it develops rapidly, and is also born rather large.
  • The “pour and go” ad is most likely targeted at cat owners as well. After all, Japanese bobtail cats love to feast on food when no one is watching them, and ideally, when no one is around.
  • The Japanese bobtail was officially recognized 20 years later than the short-haired.
  • The breed can cost roughly $ 500.

History of the breed

The Japanese Bobtail is a very old breed dating back at least 1000 years. According to legend, these cats were brought from China as a gift from the Chinese emperor to the Japanese.

Another story has it that the Japanese Bobtail has been a companion of Korean and Chinese traders since the 6th century, protecting hold contents (especially silkworms) from rats. So, over time, Japanese traders also appreciated these animals, and later rumors reached the emperor.

In fact, the two legends do not contradict each other and can exist simultaneously. Japanese legends and folklore in general contain many references to short-tailed cats, and tricolor bobtails are depicted in prints from the Edo period (1603-1867).

For many centuries, the Japanese Bobtail cat was the exclusive domain of the Imperial family and high officials. However, in the 15th century, there was an urgent need to protect grain and silkworm warehouses from rodents. After all, with the growth of industry and the increase in population, the number of rodents has increased exponentially.

The emperor issued a special decree in which “mere mortals” were also allowed to have these cats. As a result, they began to perform an important function, protecting grain warehouses and the most valuable silkworms from rodents. A black-red color on a white background was considered a symbol of good luck – they were called “Mi-Ke”, which means “Three furs”. In Japan, this is still true today.

Three individuals were brought to the United States in 1968, and in 1976 the short-haired variety was recognized by the Association of Cat Fanciers. But the long-haired Japanese Bobtail didn’t receive CFA recognition until 1993.