The American Bobtail is a breed of short-tailed cats. A hunter’s gaze, a rolling walk, and a bunny-like tail make them look like wild cats. Bobtails are smart pets that bond closely with people. What’s more, their intelligence is rated as above average.
Breed History
The American Bobtail comes from North America. These cats lived there for many generations, but the breed’s development is generally considered to have begun in the 1960s.
The official story starts with a cat named Yodie. A married couple, John and Brenda Sanders, found him on an Indian reservation in Arizona. He was a brown tabby with a short tail. That’s how Yodie moved to Iowa. His kittens with a local barn cat inherited their father’s short tail. That’s when the Sanders’ neighbors, Mindy Schultz and Charlotte Bentley, noticed them. By crossing the short-tailed kittens with a longhaired colorpoint cat, they produced the first true American Bobtail. TICA recognized the breed in 1989.
If you like this breed, don’t miss our article on the Norwegian Forest Cat.
American Bobtail Personality and Traits at a Glance
| Affection for family | ★★★★☆ |
| Shedding | ★★★★☆ |
| Health | ★★★★☆ |
| Playfulness | ★★★★☆ |
| Vocality | ★★★☆☆ |
| Good with kids | ★★★★☆ |
| Friendliness toward strangers | ★★★★☆ |
| Ease of grooming | ★★★☆☆ |
| Gets along with other pets | ★★★★☆ |
| Intelligence | ★★★★☆ |
American Bobtail Breed Overview
American Bobtails are medium to larger-than-medium cats. They weigh about 9–15 lb, and males are usually bigger than females.
The TICA breed standard describes these cats in detail:
- Head: a broad modified wedge with gently rounded contours and no noticeable bumps, in proportion to the body; the muzzle is broader than it is long, with full, well-defined cheeks and whisker pads;
- Ears: medium or moderately large with slightly rounded tips, wide at the base, continuing the wedge shape of the head, set equally on the top and sides of the head; ear tufts are desirable;
- Eyes: large, almost almond-shaped, set at a slight angle toward the ears; eye color doesn’t have to match the coat, except in mink, sepia, and colorpoint cats;
- Nose: broad, with a slight curve at the bridge;
- Body: medium length, rectangular, with a broad, full chest and hips, athletic and muscular;
- Legs: strong, of good length in proportion to the body; in longhaired cats, tufts of fur on the paw pads are desirable;
- Tail: flexible and short, at least 1 inch long (kittens may have less) and no longer than the hock, and not more than about 3 inches; it may be straight, curved, or slightly kinked at the end. Every Bobtail’s tail is different, but that’s what sets them apart from other breeds;
- Coat: springy in any weather, with a double layer; longhaired cats are shaggier on the chest, legs, belly, and tail; shorthaired cats have more fur on the belly, and the hairs don’t lie flat against the body.
Longhaired 
Shorthaired
Color
American Bobtails can come in a variety of colors and patterns, but “wild” colors, the tabbies, are preferred. Solid, colorpoint, and tortie are also allowed, along with all shades of black, brown, chocolate, cinnamon, blue, lilac, red, and cream, with or without white.
The photos below show what a typical American Bobtail looks like.
Personality
The American Bobtail is a true family favorite. This cat won’t attach himself to just one person; he can love everyone at once. They love being part of a big group. Reviews of them are the best.
Bobtails are very sensitive souls, gentle and loving. They’re moderately active: not couch potatoes, but not restless either. They’re easy to train to walk outside on a leash.
Bobtails are inventive and can get themselves out of a closed room or a crate on their own. Their hunting instincts show too: they chase insects and play with toys as if they were prey.
Care and Health
The American Bobtail came about through natural selection, built to survive in the wild. That’s why the breed is very healthy and has no tendency toward genetic diseases. The average lifespan is 11–15 years.
Bathe and brush your pet from time to time, and that’s enough to keep him looking good. This is especially true for longhaired Bobtails, although their coat usually doesn’t mat.
To prevent periodontal disease, brush your cat’s teeth or have your vet do professional dental cleanings. Trim the claws every 2 weeks.
When needed, wipe the corners of the eyes with a soft, damp cloth, using a separate corner of the cloth for each eye so you don’t spread an infection. Check your cat’s ears once a week.
Feeding American Bobtails has its own quirks. All kinds of human food and sweets are very bad for them. Unlike dogs, they can’t eat anything and stay healthy. So they should be fed mainly meat (protein) and fat, since carbohydrates are hard for them to digest. Carb-heavy food is often exactly why Bobtails put on extra weight, and that raises the risk of diabetes. So choose a high-quality dry food.
How Much Does an American Bobtail Cost?
How much will an American Bobtail kitten cost you? The breed is mostly bred in the US, where it was developed, but it’s still rare even here. A pet-quality American Bobtail from a reputable US breeder usually costs about $600–$1,500. Show cats and cats for breeding cost more.
Where to Buy an American Bobtail in the US
As we mentioned, the main catteries for this breed are in its home country, the US. But there aren’t many of them, so you may have to travel or have your kitten flown in. Look for kittens at cat shows and through the breeder directories:
- TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/;
- CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
- ACFA American Bobtail breeders’ directory – https://acfacat.com/american_bobtail.htm.
Some US catteries:
- Cattyhills (Valley City, North Dakota);
- Oladymoon (Neenah, Wisconsin).
So the American Bobtail takes some looking for. And be careful not to confuse it with the Kurilian Bobtail or the Japanese Bobtail, which are separate breeds.
