The Japanese Bobtail is a breed of short-tailed cats that are a symbol of good luck in Japan. According to an old Japanese belief, all evil collects in a cat’s tail. So the shorter the tail, the less bad there is in the animal and the more luck its owner has.
Breed History
The breed comes from Japan. The first mentions of short-tailed cats go back a thousand years. Paintings from the 15th century show longhaired bobtails with fluffy pom-pom tails and short-tailed cats beside geishas. In 1602, a decree in Japan ordered all cats to be let out onto the streets to save the country from a plague of rodents. As a result, bobtails essentially became Japan’s street cats.
In 1968, the Japanese Bobtail was brought to North America and bred in order to register the breed officially. Shorthaired bobtails were recognized for CFA championship status in 1976, and longhaired ones only in 1993.
Like bobtails? Read our article on the Kurilian Bobtail.
Japanese 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 | ★★★★☆ |
Japanese Bobtail Breed Overview
Japanese Bobtails are medium-sized: females weigh about 5.5–8 lb, and males up to about 9–11 lb.
Here’s the TICA breed standard and a detailed description:
- Head: may look long, but is actually shaped almost like an equilateral triangle, with gentle curves, high cheekbones, a noticeable whisker break, and a broad muzzle rounded at the bottom;
- Eyes: large, oval, wide, and alert. They’re set at a slant, which is especially noticeable in profile;
- Ears: large, upright, and expressive, set wide apart but angled more toward the head than outward;
- Nose: long and straight, nicely defined by two parallel lines running from the brows to the tip;
- Body: long and slender, with clean lines and a level back; lean but muscular;
- Legs: in proportion to the body, long, slender, and tall. The hind legs are noticeably longer than the front legs but are sharply angled, like the letter Z. The front legs and shoulders form two straight lines;
- Tail: can be straight, curled, kinked, bent, or pom-pom-shaped. A short tail is the Japanese Bobtail’s main distinguishing feature. And each tail is like a fingerprint: you won’t find two the same. When the cat is relaxed, the tail is held upright. The maximum allowed length is about 3 inches;
- Coat: medium length, with no noticeable undercoat; it’s slightly longer and thicker on the tail and grows in all directions, creating a pom-pom effect; there may be fluffy “britches” on the hind legs.
Personality
The Japanese Bobtail is a smart, very active cat. They love friendly company and use their rich “vocabulary,” from soft chirps to loud meows.
The short-tailed bobtail loves all kinds of games: not only with a favorite toy, but also outside on a leash, and even in water. They’re easy to train to do different tricks.
Because of the special build of their hind legs, bobtail kittens are great jumpers. When your pet isn’t busy playing, it’s exploring every corner of its home. These cats definitely won’t sit around in your lap for long. Still, they’re devoted to their owner and get along easily in families with children and other animals.
Read our full list of tips for caring for kittens at home.
Care and Health
The Japanese Bobtail’s short tail is a genetic mutation. But unlike, say, the Manx, this gene doesn’t bring any other skeletal problems with it. These cats are also quite resistant to other diseases.
Japanese Bobtail kittens are born bigger than kittens of other breeds. They develop faster and start walking, running, and exploring the world early. But like all kittens, they go to new homes at 3–4 months of age.
Feed this cat about 36 kcal per pound of body weight a day. Bobtails usually don’t face obesity, since they’re so active.
Care comes down to the basics: weekly brushing, cleaning the ears and eyes as needed, and occasional baths.
Color
The standard allows any Japanese Bobtail color. Bright, contrasting colors and patterns are preferred. The traditional color is the tricolor mi-ke: deep red, rich black, and a clean white background.
The eye color should go with the main coat color. And Japanese Bobtails are more likely than other breeds to have odd-eyed kittens, usually with one blue eye and one yellow eye. This is typical of mostly white kittens, and such kittens cost a lot more.
The photos below show what a Japanese Bobtail looks like:
How Much Does a Japanese Bobtail Kitten Cost?
How much will a Japanese Bobtail kitten cost you? In the US, a Japanese Bobtail kitten from a breeder usually costs about $800–$2,500, and many breeders start their pet kittens at around $1,400. The price depends on sex, the kitten’s traits, its class, and its pedigree. You can find much cheaper kittens in classified ads, but then check reviews of the seller. In any case, without papers from a registered cattery, you can’t be sure of the kitten’s “quality.”
Where to Buy a Japanese Bobtail in the US
Most Japanese Bobtail breeders today are based in North America, with a few in Europe and Japan. Here’s where to start:
- CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
- TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/;
- ACFA Japanese Bobtail breeder list – https://acfacat.com/japanese_bobtail.htm;
- Kurisumasu (Portland, Oregon area; CFA Cattery of Distinction; breeding Japanese Bobtails exclusively since 1989);
- Samiz (ACFA).
