American Bobtail Cat Breed

The American Bobtail cat is a wonderful breed to have as a pet. They are affectionate and fit well in the family. Many owners claim their bobtail acts more like a dog than a cat. Some will play fetch just like a dog. All owners say that these cats give them many hours of entertainment.

These cats didn't come on the scene until the late 1960s. The story that these cats are part domestic cat and part wild bobcat hasn't been proven and isn't probable. No genetic testing has proven it. What is known is that a brown short tailed domestic tabby cat without a tail was bred with a seal point Siamese cat and the new breed was born.

A breeder soon mixed a Birman cat, then a Himalayan and next a Himalayan/Siamese to the breed. By the 1980s they had given up on the original line. The breeders before that time were tying to keep the cats looking the same with white feet, white faces and long hair with the bobtail.

The original bobtail line no longer exists. Breeders have since bred with other blood lines, because the cats were being inbred too much. Now bobtails without long hair are accepted. They don't need to have white feet and faces either as was originally desired.

The short tail is caused by a genetic mutation in the tail. It is a dominant trait, so continues to appear in the line. The bobtail is still a rare breed to find. I liked the traits of this cat and looked through the cat rescues for one. Only one was available. You can pay $500 and up to get one.

In 1989 the breed became accepted by the International Cat Association. Not until March of 2013 did the breed become accepted byThe Cat Fanciers Association.

We had one of these cats in the early 1970s and didn't realize what we had. Searching for a cat for a pet we found a beautiful cat for free in the local paper. I was naïve enough to think the cat had its tail cut off accidentally. We name the cat Melissa and she was a good pet.

An average male weighs between 7- 15 pounds. Average females weigh between 7-12 pounds. They have the appearance of other domestic cats except its tail is only one third to one half the size, The breeds hind legs are longer than the front legs. Their feet are large.

The breed can have either a short dense coat or a shaggy long haired one. Bobtails are considered a medium shedder.

Maturity isn't reached until 2 to 3 years, which is longer than average cats. This may be because they are so muscular.

The breed can have different eye colors and different coat colors. The wild tabby appearance is preferred for cats that participate in shows.

Most of these cats are playful and very affectionate. They are also friendly and easily adapt to new environments. Like any breed, a few are born with a shy personality and aren't as friendly or as playful.

This breed can be demanding of your attention and can be vocal when they want it. If this is something that you don't like, this isn't the breed for you.

This is an intelligent breed that can learn things that will surprise you. They enjoy being walked on a leash and enjoy playing fetch.

These cats have no problem getting along with other cats and dogs. They make an excellent pet for the entire family. Young children should be watched, so they don't hurt the cat.

Bobtails with no tail can have problems with their spines due to a shortened spine length. Otherwise the cat doesn't have any special problems other than what other cat breeds have.