The Kurilian Bobtail is a natural Russian breed of short-tailed cats. It looks like a lynx, jumps like a hare, is as devoted as a dog, and as gentle as a purring cat. Bobtails can have long or short hair, but their pom-pom tails are their main distinguishing feature.
History of the Kurilian Bobtail
As the name suggests, the breed comes from the Kuril Islands. Just as Russia and Japan have long disputed the islands themselves, there were debates about the new cat breed too. Today the Kurilian Bobtail is generally regarded as a Russian breed, since the islands are under Russian control.
According to cat experts, short-tailed cats have lived on the islands for at least 200 years. In the mid-20th century, visitors began to notice them and gradually brought them to mainland Russia.
Professional breeders became seriously interested in the breed only in the early 1990s. In particular, cat experts Tatiana Bocharova and Lilia Ivanova visited the Kuril Islands and brought bobtails back. Since then, the breed has been recognized by international organizations; TICA granted it championship status in 2012. The breed has a lot in common with the Siberian cat.
Kurilian 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 | ★★★★☆ |
Kurilian Bobtail Breed Description
Kurilian Bobtails are medium-sized but sturdily built and low-set, with a semi-cobby body type. Adult males are noticeably larger than females. Males can weigh up to 16.5 lb, while females weigh 9–11 lb on average.
The TICA breed standard describes the Kurilian Bobtail as follows:
- Head: large, a modified wedge with rounded contours; the muzzle is broad at the cheekbones, with well-defined full whisker pads; a broad chin, slightly rounded in profile;
- Eyes: walnut-shaped, fairly large, oval on top and rounded on the bottom, set wide apart along a line from the base of the ear to the tip of the nose. The color is clear and bright and doesn’t have to match the coat. Yellow and green are preferred. Van, harlequin, and white cats should have blue or odd eyes;
- Ears: broad, triangular, medium-sized, tilted slightly forward, with rounded tips. The distance between the ears equals the width of one ear at the base. Small or medium ear tufts;
- Nose: medium length, broad and straight;
- Body: medium to large but compact. A broad chest; the hip line may be slightly raised;
- Legs: medium length and powerful; the hind legs are longer than the front legs; round paws;
- Coat: can be short or semi-long. In shorthaired bobtails, the fur on the tail is just as short. Semi-longhaired bobtails have fluffy “britches,” “socks,” and a ruff, and a plumed, fluffy tail.
- Tail: has one or more kinks (at least 2 vertebrae, by touch) and looks like a fluffy brush or pom-pom. The visible length of the tail with fur is 0.5–3 in in shorthaired cats and up to 5 in in semi-longhaired cats. Depending on length, experts distinguish several types of bobtail:
- “stump”: 2 to 8 vertebrae, strongly deformed and fused together. This tail is usually straight or curved slightly downward;
- “spiral”: 5 to 10 vertebrae forming a spiral or hook. This is the most common tail shape;
- “whisk”: 5 to 10 vertebrae, straight, about 2/3 the length of a normal tail;
- “extended bobtail”: 5 to 7 vertebrae that run straight at first and curl into a loop at the end. This tail type is considered a fault.
Colors
Kurilian Bobtails come in all traditional colors. Red, gray, and tabby cats are the most common.
The standards of almost all organizations allow any amount of white on the belly, chest, legs, and other parts of the body, regardless of the main color.
In the next photo, you can see what a Kurilian Bobtail looks like:
Personality
How can you tell if the Kurilian Bobtail’s personality suits you? This is a born mouser, with the hunting instinct in its blood. In the wild, these cats catch not only mice and rats but also squirrels, snakes, and even hares. They’re also excellent fishers, which is probably why Kurilian Bobtails love playing in water.
According to owners, the Kurilian Bobtail is for you if:
- you live in a house,
- you love spending time outdoors or going fishing,
- you enjoy grooming cats.
Kurilian Bobtail kittens are curious, sociable, very smart, and easy to train. They’re very active and always trying to climb somewhere higher.
It’s been noticed that bobtail males are very devoted not only to people but also to their mate. They’re also very responsible parents, and males and females care for their kittens equally.
Care and Health
Because this breed developed in the wild, the Kurilian Bobtail lives a long life of 15–20 years. These cats are also very healthy. The gene that causes the tail mutation doesn’t come with any diseases.
With age, bobtails may develop eye problems, urinary tract disease, and diarrhea. So caring for them mostly comes down to regular vaccinations and vet visits.
The Kurilian Bobtail can cause allergies, so long-haired cats need brushing, especially during shedding. Professional grooming can be done once or twice a year.
Feeding
These cats should be fed a natural diet, although high-quality dry food is also fine. The food should ideally be firm: bones, cartilage, and chicken gizzards.
Remember that the Kurilian Bobtail is essentially a hunting breed, and its diet at home should be as close to natural as possible. However, feeding it nothing but meat, such as beef, is dangerous and can lead to protein poisoning.
The best diet is chicken, fish, and dry food. The cat should always have access to water.
How Much Does a Kurilian Bobtail Cost?
The Kurilian Bobtail is very rare in the US; fewer than 100 are registered with TICA here. A kitten from one of the few US breeders typically costs $1,000 to $3,000. As usual, the price depends on sex, pedigree, and class. Importing a kitten from Russia or Europe adds shipping and paperwork costs.
Interestingly, besides the pet, breed, and show classes, this breed has a “novice” class. It includes kittens that weren’t bred on the Russian mainland but were exported directly from the Kuril Islands. Their pedigree is usually unknown, but they match the breed in appearance.
Where to Buy a Kurilian Bobtail in the US
A kitten from a cattery will, of course, cost more. But you’ll be sure the kitten is vaccinated and has a pedigree. You can also hear from happy bobtail owners there.
We also recommend taking a look at Maine Coons.
The breed is registered by TICA (the CFA doesn’t recognize it), so the best place to start is TICA’s breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/. Because there are only a few US breeders, be ready for a long waiting list or for importing a kitten from a cattery in Russia or Europe, where the breed is much more widespread.
What do you think of the Kurilian Bobtail? Share your thoughts about this breed in the comments.
