Description: American Bobtail
The American Bobtail is a distinctive and playful cat breed known for its wild appearance and characteristic short, bobbed tail. Originating in the United States in the late 1960s, the breed was naturally developed through random mating, resulting in a robust, muscular feline with a loving and affectionate temperament. American Bobtails are medium to large-sized cats that have a powerful, athletic build and a shaggy coat that can come in both short and long variations. They are highly intelligent and social, forming strong bonds with their families and generally getting along well with children and other pets. This breed is admired for its dog-like personality, which includes an eagerness to play fetch and follow its owners around the house. Despite their somewhat wild look, American Bobtails are gentle, adaptable, and thrive both in active households and quiet homes alike.
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Properties
The American Bobtail is a domestic cat breed known for its distinctive short, bobbed tail, which is the result of a natural genetic mutation. Developed in the United States during the late 1960s, the breed has gained popularity for both its wild appearance and its affectionate, intelligent nature. American Bobtails are medium to large cats with a substantial, athletic build that gives them a rugged look. Their body is muscular and well-proportioned, with slightly longer hind legs, contributing to their agile and active demeanor.
The hallmark of the breed, the tail, is typically one-third to half the length of a normal cat’s tail and often slightly curved or kinked, adding to its striking appearance. Each American Bobtail's tail is unique, and no two tails are exactly alike. Their coat can be either short or long, and both varieties display a dense, double-layered, water-resistant texture. The breed standard accepts a wide range of coat colors and patterns, making each cat visually unique.
American Bobtails are well-known for their playful, friendly, and loyal personalities. They form strong bonds with their families and tend to be people-oriented, often following their owners around the house. This breed gets along well with children, other pets, and even dogs, making them ideal companions for multi-pet households. They are intelligent and easily trainable; many American Bobtails enjoy fetching toys or walking on a leash. Despite their playful side, they are generally not overly demanding and are content to lounge with their family members for hours on end.
Healthwise, American Bobtails are generally robust and healthy due to their diverse gene pool and slow maturation rate (they may take up to three years to reach full adulthood). However, like all breeds, they are susceptible to some hereditary issues, especially those related to their unique tail structure, such as spinal or skeletal abnormalities in rare cases.
American Bobtails adapt well to various environments, from bustling families to quiet households, and their affectionate nature and striking appearance have made them a favorite among cat enthusiasts. If you’re seeking a playful, people-loving, and visually unique feline companion, the American Bobtail is an excellent choice.
Appearance
The American Bobtail is a unique and striking cat breed best known for its distinctive short tail, which is only about one third to one half the length of a typical cat’s tail. This Bobtail is not only remarkable for its tail but also for its powerful, athletic body and wild appearance, reminiscent of a small wild bobcat, though it is entirely domestic.
The body of the American Bobtail is medium to large, muscular, and rectangular. These cats possess prominent shoulder blades, a broad chest, and well-developed hips, giving them a sturdy, robust silhouette. Their legs are substantial, with the hind legs noticeably longer than the front legs, which enhances their resemblance to bobcats. The paws are large, round, and often tufted, further contributing to their rugged appearance.
The hallmark of the breed is, of course, the tail. Each American Bobtail has a unique tail that varies in curvature, thickness, and length, but it is always visibly shorter than that of most domestic cats. The tail can be straight or slightly curved, with a kink or bump, and is thick and expressive, often carried upright.
The head of the American Bobtail is broad with a slightly concave curve from the nose bridge to the brow, giving it a distinctive profile. The eyes are large, almond-shaped, and set deep under a pronounced brow, giving the breed a hunting gaze. Eye color can vary widely and is not strictly linked to coat color, providing a range of striking and beautiful combinations. The ears are medium-sized, relatively broad at the base, and may feature tufts of fur at the tips, reminiscent of wild cats.
The breed is accepted in both shorthaired and longhaired varieties. American Bobtail fur is double-layered and dense, with a shaggy rather than plush texture, providing excellent protection against the elements. Coat colors and patterns are diverse, with all colors, including solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, colorpoint, and more, being accepted. The overall impression of the American Bobtail is that of a healthy, powerful, and wild-looking yet affectionate feline—a captivating blend of ruggedness and domestic grace.
History
The American Bobtail is a relatively recent addition to the world of domestic cat breeds, with its origins tracing back to the late 1960s in the United States. The breed is known for its distinctively short, bobbed tail, which arises from a natural genetic mutation, and it is entirely unrelated to the Japanese Bobtail or Manx breeds. The story of the American Bobtail begins when John and Brenda Sanders, a couple from Iowa, discovered a brown tabby kitten with a unique ‘bobbed’ tail on an American Indian reservation in Arizona. They named the kitten Yodie, and when he later bred with the couple’s female domestic cat, several of their kittens inherited his unusual tail feature.
This event sparked interest among feline enthusiasts who recognized the potential for a new breed. Breeders set out to establish a consistent line through selective breeding, prioritizing health, temperament, and the characteristic bobbed tail. Unlike some breeds that rely heavily on a closed gene pool, American Bobtail breeders introduced various domestic cats into the program to maintain genetic diversity and promote robust health.
Despite initial confusion regarding its relation to the Japanese Bobtail, it became clear that the American Bobtail’s genetics were unique. The tail is typically about one-third to one-half the length of an average domestic cat's tail, and its appearance can range from slightly kinked to nearly straight, often with a tufted tip. Importantly, early American Bobtails exhibited no signs of the spinal problems occasionally seen in other short-tailed breeds, such as the Manx.
The breed was officially recognized in the 1980s by major cat registries such as The International Cat Association (TICA) and later by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA). Since then, American Bobtails have achieved popularity across North America and globally, cherished for their wild appearance—often likened to bobcats—as well as their affectionate, social, and intelligent nature. Their history exemplifies a successful blend of natural mutation and purposeful breeding, resulting in a healthy, robust, and distinctively American feline breed.