The Japanese Bobtail cat is perhaps the feline breed with the most obscure origins — we have very little information available to reconstruct its history. Perhaps the truth lies hidden behind one of the many legends surrounding it. Let's discover everything we can about this very special Japanese cat: its origins, the Japanese Bobtail's temperament, and other characteristics of this Japanese lucky-charm cat…
History of the Japanese Bobtail cat
We credit Japan as the home of the Bobtail cat, even though, according to stories passed down from generation to generation, it appears to have first appeared there little more than a thousand years ago, brought by Buddhist monks. It is said that none other than Charles Darwin was the first to notice this most unusual specimen and to realise that it existed exclusively in the Middle East, long before the Bobtail became the Kazoku Neku — that is, the Japanese cat par excellence. The first person to attempt to breed the Japanese Bobtail was the wife of a serviceman stationed in Japan, Judy Crawford, and it was also she who, in 1968, exported it to her home country, the United States.
In 1986, thanks again to Judy, who had chosen to enter it in several cat shows, the Japanese cat was admitted to the Cat Fanciers' Association championship and enjoyed enormous success. One of the judges, the Swiss Rulfh Voheringer, decided to bring it back with him to Europe in the 1980s, and finally, in 1988, the Fédération Internationale Féline officially recognised the Japanese Bobtail breed. To this day it remains extremely rare in Europe.
Japanese Bobtail breed standard | The Japanese lucky-charm cat
The Japanese Bobtail breed standard is fairly tolerant when it comes to the cat's coat, which may be any colour — with the exception of the colour-point Japanese Bobtail — and the breed exists in both a short-haired and a semi-longhaired variety. In Japan, the most sought-after is the three-coloured variety, white, red and black, known as Mi-Ke, meaning "three furs" in Japanese. It is considered a true Japanese lucky-charm cat and is precisely the cat with the raised paw so often depicted in the classic Japanese figurines. Eye colour is also accepted in all shades, including odd eyes, provided they are well spaced and slightly slanted; the cat's ears, meanwhile, are large and wide open.
The muzzle is shaped like an inverted triangle, tapering slightly towards the chin. The build is medium — a male typically weighs around 5 kg — but quite muscular, with slender, long legs, particularly the hind legs. The defining feature of the Japanese Bobtail cat is its tail, or more precisely its little stub of a tail, no more than 10 cm long, which fans out at the end to form a sort of pompom. The Japanese see a resemblance to the chrysanthemum — Japan's national flower and the symbol of the imperial household — and for this reason the Bobtail has become the national Japanese cat.
The Japanese Bobtail is a decidedly sturdy cat that generally enjoys excellent health and is not prone to congenital diseases; the absence of an undercoat means that a weekly brush is all that is needed. The Japanese cat's diet should be simple and balanced — both wet food and dry food work perfectly well, provided that fresh fish, its greatest passion, is served once a week.
Japanese Bobtail temperament
Elegant and refined in its manner, the Japanese Bobtail cat displays an intelligence that far surpasses that of many other feline breeds. It is a playful cat with a sociable and outgoing character — the Bobtail always wants to be doing something. It bonds with extraordinary ease to humans, even strangers, whom it greets immediately with warm enthusiasm, while it quickly enters into competition with other cats, with whom it clearly has no desire to share its space — or, most likely, its affections.
Thanks to its keen intelligence, it adapts equally well to apartment life and to life outdoors, it travels willingly and does not suffer too much from being left alone. Bear in mind, however, that it expects all the affection it gives to be returned with interest. It enjoys pleasing its owner, from whom it learns and mimics movements and follows commands — you will have no trouble at all walking the cat on a lead. This is because the Japanese Bobtail has an intense need to interact with its owners, with whom it is happy to share sofas and beds. Be warned, though: its seemingly laid-back air conceals a mischievous streak — the Bobtail cat loves playing tricks and hiding small objects around the house, and frequently conducts reconnaissance missions in the refrigerator, which it opens on its own without any difficulty, in search of a tasty treat.
Japanese Bobtail breeding | Japanese cats
The Japanese Bobtail kitten is undeniably adorable, with that little tail it wags frequently and eagerly as a sign of joy. Clearly mischievous — you can tell from its expression — it needs cat toys from an early age that stimulate its intelligence. Extremely communicative, it produces a meow that can be sweetly soft or can resemble a siren, depending on what it wants to say. If accustomed to it from the start, it lives happily indoors, but it appreciates an outdoor space in which to play; in the absence of a balcony or a garden, a scratching post becomes essential.
