Family-friendly:5/5Playfulness:5/5Intelligence:4/5Tendency to Vocalise: 1/5Likes Other Pets:5/5Grooming needs:2/5Shedding:3/5

Japanese Bobtail (Short Hair)

The Japanese Bobtail is an average build cat with a finely chiselled head and strong, upright ears framing a large eyed, inquisitive face. The tail for which this cat is named, is a short-curled tail, which may or may not have some fused joints and whilst the length and mobility will vary from cat to cat to some degree, it will resemble a pom-pom.

Bobtails come in both long and short haired varieties, but in either the coat is soft and silky without any undercoat which means this cat sheds surprisingly little.

Lifespan

9 - 15 years

Weight

2.7 - 4.5kg

Colours

Wide variety of colours and patterns, with the traditional colour being the tri-coloured ‘mi-ke’, that combines a rich red, deep black and crisp, pristine white.

The need-to-know

Great for first-time cat owners
Enjoys playing games and is active at home
Playful and curious cat
Sociable and dependent cat

Slightly talkative cat
Average build cat breed
Requires grooming once a week
A bit of both indoor and outdoor space

Great family cat
Can be regularly left for a few hours
Great for a relaxed home

This breed may encounter health problems

The Japanese Bobtail cat breed does not have the same gene mutation as other tailless breeds such as the Manx cat. However the lack of tail in the Japanese Bobtail is still associated with spinal deformities, although further research is required to assess if this causes health problems in the Bobtail breed¹.

¹R. E. Pollard and A. L. Koehne, 'Japanese Bobtail: vertebral morphology and genetic characterization of an established cat breed', Dec 2014, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

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Personality

Playful and fun, curious and bold, the Japanese Bobtail is an engaging cat to spend time with. They love fuss and cuddles, but also like to climb and play and are lean and athletically built. They want to be around people, but are also gregarious and friendly with their own kind and can be introduced to other pets if this is done carefully.

Vet Rating

Family-friendly:	5/5
Playfulness:	5/5
Intelligence:	4/5
Tendency to Vocalise:	1/5
Likes Other Pets:	5/5
Grooming needs:	2/5
Shedding:	3/5

History and Origins

The Japanese Bobtail can be traced back to 8th century Japan, but wasn’t seen outside of Japan until the 1960’s when they caught the attention of American breeders.

Said to be lucky, and depicted very frequently in traditional Japanese art, the Bobtail is most commonly seen rendered in statue form as the paw waving ‘lucky cat’ icon. This association with luck is possibly down to their use in protecting the silk production process from damage by rodents.

Whilst they are now a recognised breed in the USA, they are still very rare in the UK.

Outdoors or Indoors

Japanese Bobtails will enjoy time spent outdoors, but as this cat has no undercoat, they are not suited to living outdoors full time. Provide a fully secure garden or a heated cat-run or free access between a secure cat run and the heated house. They’ll love to climb logs and rest on shelves in the sun, but won’t enjoy strong, cold winds or wet weather!

Enrichment and Specific Needs

The Bobtail is an active and curious cat, with excellent climbing skills and a head for heights, they will be into everything – it’s best to supply a variety of cat climbing trees and platforms and avoid precious ornaments on open shelves as the Bobtail is a big fan of the classic cat sport ‘Push Things Over the Edge’.

To reduce drama and chaos, provide your Bobtail with lots of games and ideally, food dispensing toys that recreate hunting activity, and puzzles that test their skill and ingenuity.

Nutrition and Feeding

Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes.

Grooming Japanese Bobtail Short Hair

The shorthaired version of the Bobtail will only need a quick brush through once a day unlike their longhaired cousins. They are capable of doing most of their own grooming but you should see grooming time as the opportunity to bond with your cat and check them over for injury or parasites.

A greasy coat is a sign your cat is not self-grooming at all and this may indicate poor health.

As with all cats, regular vaccination and parasite control is recommended.

Suitability for Family Life

Great for the family home with children old enough to understand a cat’s needs and give them space. The Bobtail is a busy and curious cat and this may not be a desirable trait in a home with very tiny children, or for people who are absent from the house for long periods each day.