Japanese Bobtail

Life expectancy: 9-13 years
Origin: Japan.
Colors: Silky straight coats available in both short and long fur. Color can differ from calico to red, brown, and blue.
Height: Female: 20-25 cm, Male: 22-27 cm
Temperament: Happy, playful, loves spending time with family.
Weight: male- 8-12 pounds, female– upto 8 pounds

About Japanese Bobtail

Japanese bobtails are the cat breed known for their fun-loving nature. These cats are said to bring good luck to the families they live with. The belief originates from the land of Japan, the same place from where these cats are believed to have originated.

The happy and playful cats make some fun-filled moments with their families and enjoy spending time with their close circles. With both short and long coats that the breed carried, having one of these around is always a pleasure.

More About This Breed

• Characteristics

• History

• Personality

• Common Health Problems

• Feeding / Food / Diet

• Coat Color and Grooming

• Exercise

Characteristics

These medium-sized cats have both long and short hair. The males of this breed are bigger than the females. The slender cats have naturally long bodies, and the muscle build helps them leap upto great heights. They can jump from one corner to the other in no time.
As the name suggests, the cat’s main and most attractive feature is its bobtail. The tails are short, resembling the tail of a rabbit. They do not have the tail structure of a typical regular cat. The tail is usually three inches long and is curled like a tuft at one side.
The coats are of various colors such as white, brown, red, and mixed with other shades. These cats are one of the low-maintenance breeds that are always on the run for some fun.

History

The Japanese bobtail cat has been known since the 6th century in japan. The Japanese tribes hold this cat very dear to themselves as they are very loveable. Temples such as the Gotokuji and the Niko have these cat sculptures on display. They were considered the naturally occurring breed that was not created for any specific purpose.

They were later used widely to control rodents over the city and were kept mainly by silkworm barn owners to keep the pests and insects away from the barns. These cats were also part of royalty because of their loveable nature. They have been owned by the royal households of Japan and were loved dearly by everyone.

In the folk stories of ancient Japan that a king residing in the country was so fond of the cat, he passed a word across the land that it would only be him who held the right to breed these adorable cats.

Personality

The active, happy, and fun-loving cats are among the most intelligent breeds in the cat family.
They love to play with people and can enjoy some playful company endlessly.
Because they are so intelligent, they can remember their names and can respond to them immediately.
They love toys and would play fetch with you all day. They do pick a favorite toy and play with that for hours.
They fairly gel well with other cats. The social cats also respond to people and are not intimidated by them.
They love the company of other bobtails, and having a dog around can make them bossy.
They make friends with pets and believe in long-lasting friendships.

Common Health Problems

The Japanese bobtail cat is a naturally healthy breed. They do not face any significant health problems other than obesity. Keeping their weight in check and food in moderate proportion, you can protect the cat from being obese.

Diet

It is essential to cover 41 different nutrients for these cats. They must have a proportion based on their lifestyle. Because these cats tend to become obese, you must keep a strict check on their ratios.

They always need high-quality food to prevent them from getting obese. Monitor their food intake, and they’ll function just fine.

Coat Color and Grooming

Taking good care of these Japanese bobtails is not rocket science. They are easy to groom. All you would need is to brush their fur twice a week. A word of caution, make sure to brush these cats often during the spring season as they tend to shed a lot during that season.

They need regular nail trimming and cleaning of ears, use some mild cleanser for the ears and take them for a timely doctor’s visit. Also, brush their teeth frequently to maintain their hygiene.

Exercise

They are an intelligent breed and hence should be kept in the habit of training. Teaching these cats to litter into the box and scratching posts will not be complicated.

They work on reward-based training and love when their owners pat them and let them with love. There are various training tools for their exercises.

Japanese Bobtail