The standout feature of the Japanese Bobtail is of course its tail. Like fingerprints are different for every human so too is every Japanese Bobtail born with its own unique variant of tail. The Japanese Bobtail is further characterised by a triangular head, oval shaped eyes and alert upright ears.
Another distinguishing feature of the bobtail is the hind legs, which are slightly longer than the front. As a result the back legs appear to be quite muscular. Males generally end up bigger than females, but overall the species is one of a medium sized cat. There are also varying levels of hair length within the species, and they are available in a range of colors such as tabby patterns, calico, classic, and spotted.
Japanese Bobtail Cat Personality
If you enjoy a pet that has boundless energy and loves to play all the time then the Japanese Bobtail may just be the cat for you. Very much a people cat, the Japanese Bobtail will never tire of trying to be the center of attention. So you can expect your feline friend to always help you answer the door and greet whoever has come calling.
You’ll never be forced to endure solitary entertainment with a bobtail in the house, as they also love to read whatever your reading, be it a book or newspaper, and will enjoy curling up with you on the couch to watch the weekend movie almost as much as you will.
Be careful where you store things as the Japanese Bobtail also enjoys carrying small objects in their mouth. Whenever you have a spare moment your bobtail will take great delight in the odd game of fetch or soccer – even more so if they have another feline friend about.
Did You Know?
The Japanese Bobtail is one of the oldest known breeds of naturally occurring cats. Native to the Islands of Japan, the first domesticated animals were believed to have been owned by Buddhist monks in 600-700 A.D., in an effort to protect their sacred rice paper scrolls from the ravenous mouths of mice and rats.
Caring for Your Japanese Bobtail Cat
Japanese Bobtails are very easy to care for as they are a strong and healthy breed. Litters are usually limited to 3 or 4 kittens (which are larger than the average kitten of other breeds). Expect them to be walking, talking, and getting into mischief much earlier than other breeds of kitten.
As with most species of cat make sure there are plenty of toys and scratching posts available to keep your Japanese Bobtail occupied when you are not around.
Have you ever met a Japanese Bobtail cat? Please share your experiences in the comments below.
Image: via Wikimedia Commons.
