Japanese Bobtail

The Japanese Bobtail is definitely an eye-catcher. Their peculiar bobtail gives them an outspoken appearance. These lively cats have a strong personality that’s hard to miss. They love attention. Their coat doesn’t need a lot of care.

Characteristics

Country of origin: Japan

Also known as:

Body build: slim and long, well-developed muscles without appearing heavy.

Weight: 3 - 6 kg

Height: -

Health risks:

Character

Just like most oriental cats, the Japanese Bobtail has a very outspoken personality. This feline extravert has a lively and independent personality. Japanese Bobtails are very curious cats that aren’t always friendly to their own kind and merely ignore dogs. The playful Japanese Bobtails are good company for children and very attached to their humans. This cat has a very soft voice that it uses to ‘sing’. The Japanese Bobtail can adapt to both a life inside an apartment and outside. Outside, they’ll show their excellent hunting skills and their love of water. Their coat only needs a weekly brushing.

Appearance

Colour

Japanese Bobtails are allowed in all colours, except chocolate, lilac and colourpoint. Bicoloured and tricoloured are preferred, with tricoloured cats (Mi-Ké) being seen as most valued. The markers should be clear and sharp and the colour should be uniform.

Body, legs and tail

The Japanese Bobtail has a slim and long body. Despite their well-developed muscles, they don’t have a heavy appearance. Their legs are long and slim, without being fragile or delicate. The hind legs are longer than the front legs, with oval-shaped paws. Their most notable characteristic is their bobtail, which is allowed to be a maximum of 5 – 8 cm long. When the tail has multiple vertebrae, it’s curled or kinked.

Head, ears and eyes

Japanese Bobtails appear to have a long head that’s shaped like an equilateral triangle. They have prominent, high cheekbones. Intact male cats should have full jaws. The nose is long with a slight dip at the height of or just below the eyes. The snout is fairly wide, not pointy but not flat either. The whisker pads are visible. Japanese Bobtails have big, wide open, oval-shaped eyes. Viewed from the side, the eyes appear to be slanted. The eye colour is in harmony with the colour of the coat. Their big ears stand up straight. They are set wide apart, but never point outwards. When the Japanese Bobtail is relaxed, the ears appear to be slightly tilted forwards.