The Japanese Bobtail Cat

The Japanese Bobtail cat is an ancient breed. Images and descriptions of the friendly cat with the powder-puff tail date back to 7th century Japan, and the breed is a national treasure. The Bobtail is medium-sized and muscular with a sleek coat. The hind legs are longer than the front, giving a unique profile, and the tail is about 3 inches in length with lots of fur. Odd-eyes or eyes of different colors occur regularly in the breed and are highly prized. The Japanese Bobtail is very intelligent and trainable and many are used in shows and circuses. They are dog-like and enjoy walking on a leash, fetching and learning more intricate tricks and balancing  routines.

 Cool Cat Facts...
The Japanese Bobtail is the model for the "beckoning cat" a symbol of good luck. Statues of a tailless cat with one raised paw are abundant in Japanese culture, and the "beckoning cat" even adorns temples and palaces.                                                                       

Is A Japanese Bobtail Cat Right For You?

The Japanese Bobtail cat is recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the world's largest cat organization. and is a fairly popular pure-bred or "pedigreed" domestic cat breed. This cat is a symbol of good luck and is a bright and active cat, ready to learn and curious about everything. The Japanese Bobtail comes in any color or pattern except classic tabby, tiger cat or ticked. Calico and parti-color are most common and desirable. The coat is short and sleek, but some organizations permit a longer coat as well. Both are silky to the touch. Shedding is average and regular grooming is desired but not required. These are lean medium-sized cats that have few breed-related health issues. Because it is active and enjoys lots of interaction the Japanese Bobtail cat is a nice family pet that does well with considerate children, but resents teasing. They do fine indoors but greatly enjoy the outdoors and love exploring in harness and lead.

Japanese Bobtail Cat Breed Standards

Head Shape: The head should be shaped like an equilateral triangle from the outer bases of the ears, across the top of the face and down the chin. Attention should be given to the high cheek bones. The nose is long and well defined by two parallel lines from tip to brow and displays a gentle dip at, or just below, eye level when viewed in profile. Muzzle: Gently rounded, with slight whisker break. There should be a strong chin with a straight bite. Ears: Large, tall and expressive. Outer ear margins from two vertical parallel lines set at right angles to the top line of the face. The ears should be penalized if flared or cradle set. The ears when held straight give the impression of being tilted forward. Eyes: Should be large and oval, defined from below by markedly high cheekbones. In profile, the eyes can be seen to have a distinct slanted set and do not protrude beyond the orbit. NOTE: Green, gold and copper eyes are acceptable in all coat colors, and blue and odd eyes are acceptable in all the white and “and white” coat colors.
Body and Tail: Long, straight and slender, neither fragile nor heavy boned. The neck should be long and slender. The body should be medium in size, with good muscle tone. It should be neither tubular nor cobby. Legs: Long, slender and medium boned. The back legs are noticeable longer than the front when extended so the rear slants upward. When flexed and relaxed, the back legs cause the back to appear level. Feet: The paws are oval in shape, with five toes in front and four in back.Length: Short, not extending more than three inches from the body. Boning: Kinked and/or fused vertebrae along the entire length of the tail. The last bone may be gently felt to be pointed, not blunt. Hair: The hair of the tail fans out against the direction of the underlying bones, giving the appearance of a pom-pom, fan or bunny-tail depending on the configuration of the bone structure. NOTE: The tail is to be examined gently, with no pulling, twisting or attempts to straighten.
Coat: Medium in length, fine and silky without a noticeable undercoat. It should be neither short and close lying, nor long enough to display a ruff and pantaloons. A slight fringe on the belly and the britches is allowed. There is a long-haired variant as well, which is not typical.
Pattern: All colors are acceptable  except for ticked tabby and point-restricted markings. In all colors, preference is towards bold, dramatic markings and bright, vivid colors and strong contrasts, rather than specific amounts or proportions of any given color. Nose and paw pad leather is to be appropriate to the indicative coat color.
Overall Appearance: This is a medium sized cat with long clean lines, straight, slender limbs and firm muscle tone. The unique head shape and long nose give a very specific and exotic expression. The Japanese Bobtail cat is a lovely, friendly cat.

Inside Cat or Outside Cat?

Wondering if you should allow your cat to go outside unsupervised? Well there are definitely some pure breeds that should never be outside cats. Hairless breeds like the Sphynx are extremely vulnerable and should always be supervised outdoors. Docile breeds like the Burmese may not be able to defend themselves. All cats allowed outdoors are exposed to diseases and parasites that they would not otherwise encounter. Fred Flintstone put his saber-tooth out every night, but the cat jumped right back in the window - and he was a saber-tooth! Still, most of us feel a little envy when we see our domestic companion out on some high perch, sniffing the breeze of liberty, and there is no doubt that cats love their freedom. So what do YOU think ....Inside Cat or Outside Cat? Comment Here...

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