American Bobtail cat breed: the charming speciality that will take you to the ends of the earth

Some colours have a fierce look, but this cat is a truly people-loving and charming pet who loves the company of his loved ones.

The American Bobtail is a loving and incredibly intelligent cat with a distinctive appearance. He is a very interactive cat who is very devoted to his human family. He both entertains the owner and provides a warm, soft shoulder when his loved one needs a shoulder to cry on. The American Bobtail is known for his love of toys and can play with them for hours. Often initiates play with its owners and demonstrates his hunting instincts by catching insects flying through the air that have made the fatal mistake of entering his territory.

History

Bobtails are the result of a natural genetic mutation that causes a shortened tail. They have appeared in various places over the centuries, from Japan to the Isle of Man. And sometimes the right people notice them, and voila! A new breed is born. One of these was the American Bobtail, which came from a short-tailed kitten that John and Brenda Sanders acquired on a holiday in Arizona. Named Yodi, he became the founding sire of the breed in the 1960s when he mated with Sanders’ female Mishi after they arrived home to Iowa.

Yodi and Mishi’s kittens also had short tails, suggesting that the trait was caused by a dominant gene. Mindy Shoultz, a friend of the family who has had experience in breeding Persians, teamed up with Charlotte Bentley to develop the unusual cats into a breed. The kittens were mated with other cats with naturally short tails, which have been found in many places in the United States and Canada. The kittens have been selectively bred to be big and strong, with a fierce appearance but a kind nature. None of the specimens used to develop the breed had a pedigree, they were domestic shorthair and longhair. Now, decades later, there is no need for such crossbreeding because the pedigree of cats is longer than their tails.

In 1989, the International Cat Association accepted the American Bobtail as a new breed and gave it full recognition in 2002. The breed is also recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association and the American Cat Fanciers Association.

Breed standard

The American Bobtail can be long or short-haired. All colours and patterns are allowed, but the one that gives the most wild and authentic look is preferred. It matures slowly, reaching its final size at 2-3 years of age. He has a muscular, athletic build with a slightly angular body. The chest is full and broad, the hips are slightly higher and the shoulder blades are prominent. The strong bones and muscular legs give the cat an athletic look. Its paws are rounded. The tail is short, expressive and flexible, and can be straight, slightly curved or curved. The head is broad and wedge-shaped, the whiskers are fleshy and the chin is strong. The shape of the eyes combined with the eyebrows gives the breed a natural hunter look and an expression of intelligence and alertness. The feet are moderately large, with rounded ends. It weighs about 3-7 kg. Life expectancy is 13-18 years.

Character

Let’s say you like the Golden Retriever’s personality, but his size and energy level are a bit more than you can handle. From American Bobtail lovers recommend you take a look at their favourite kitty! He is a sweet-hearted, loving pet who is devoted to his owners, follows them around, loves to play with them, walks nicely on a leash (after a bit of training of course) and greets guests kindly.

He’s a clever cat who loves puzzles, learning tricks and playing fetch. It is not as loud as some breeds, but it conveys its joy with a pleasant meow and the usual purr.

Ideal environment

The American Bobtail is the ideal pet for almost anyone, in any situation. This strong, large cat adapts well to family life: it gets on well with children or other pets, but also bonds well with single people. Because of their open, friendly temperament – even with strangers – American Bobtails are often used as therapy cats. It needs only moderate amounts of exercise, so it can live happily in smaller homes, and it is known to enjoy a mobile lifestyle, making it easy to travel with.

Care

The American Bobtail is a relatively low maintenance cat. Brush his coat once or twice a week to remove shed hair and keep it shiny and healthy. The breed sheds more than twice a year due to seasonal changes and may require more frequent combing during these periods. Claws should be trimmed if they are not sufficiently abraded by the scratching post. The cleanliness of eyes and ears should always be checked. If they look dirty, they should be gently cleaned. It’s worth getting your cat used to it as a kitten to regular grooming so that he won’t have any problems with the process later on.

Common health problems

Cats without tails can develop spinal problems that can lead to faecal incontinence. In addition to spinal disease, American Bobtails can also have polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is the thickening of the heart muscle.