American Bobtail

The American Bobtail is a medium-sized domestic cat recognised for its naturally short tail, which is roughly one-third to one-half the length of an ordinary cat's tail. The tail is the result of a natural genetic mutation rather than deliberate crossing with wild species, and no two bobtails carry exactly the same tail. The breed has a sturdy, muscular build, a slightly wild appearance, and an alert expression.

Despite its rugged look, the American Bobtail is friendly and people-oriented. Owners often describe it as dog-like because it tends to follow family members from room to room, greets visitors, and in many cases learns to play fetch or walk on a harness. It bonds closely with its household and adapts well to busy family life.

The breed matures slowly, often taking two to three years to reach full size and coat development. American Bobtails come in both shorthaired and longhaired varieties, and both have a double coat that gives them a substantial, weatherproof feel.

Who it suits

The American Bobtail fits households that want an interactive, sociable cat. It does well with families, including those with respectful children, and it usually accepts other cats and cat-friendly dogs. People who travel often or are away for long hours may find the breed too dependent on company, since it prefers steady human contact and can become bored when left alone for extended periods.

The American Bobtail traces back to the 1960s in the United States. The most commonly cited founding cat was a short-tailed brown tabby male found near an Arizona reservation by a couple travelling through the area. This cat, sometimes recorded under the name Yodie, was bred to a domestic female, and some of the resulting kittens carried the short tail.

Early breeding efforts in the 1960s and 1970s produced inconsistent results, and the original lines were not stable. Breeders later restarted the programme using a wider range of short-tailed domestic cats from across North America rather than relying on a single bloodline. This broader foundation helped establish the breed's health and its variable, naturally occurring tail.

The short tail comes from a dominant genetic mutation within the domestic cat population. The breed was not created by crossing with wild bobcats, despite its somewhat wild appearance, and there is no documented wild ancestry in the established lines.

The American Bobtail gained championship recognition with The International Cat Association in the 2000s, and standards describe both shorthaired and longhaired varieties. It remains a relatively uncommon breed compared with more widespread shorthaired cats.

The American Bobtail has a solid, athletic body with a broad chest, substantial bone, and well-developed muscle. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front legs, which gives the cat a natural stance and a confident gait. The head is a broad wedge with a slight concave curve, and the eyes are almond-shaped, contributing to an alert, somewhat wild expression often compared to that of a hunting cat.

The defining feature is the short tail. It is flexible and expressive, usually one-third to one-half the length of a typical tail, and may be straight, slightly curved, or have a small kink. The tail should be clearly visible above the back and is never absent.

Coat and colours

Both coat lengths are double, with a resilient outer layer and a softer undercoat. The shorthair is dense and somewhat shaggy rather than sleek, while the longhair is medium-long with a slight ruff, tufted ears, and feathering on the legs and tail. The breed is accepted in essentially all colours and patterns, including tabby, solid, tortoiseshell, and pointed variations, so coat colour is not a defining characteristic of the breed.

The American Bobtail is sociable and strongly attached to its people. It tends to seek out company, settle near family members, and involve itself in household activity. Many owners note dog-like behaviours such as greeting people at the door, carrying toys, and coming when called.

With family the breed is warm and interactive without being overly demanding. It is generally patient and tolerant, which makes it a reasonable choice for homes with respectful children. Toward strangers the American Bobtail is usually curious and confident rather than shy, though individual cats vary. It tends to get along with other cats and with dogs that are comfortable around cats, helped by its even temperament.

The breed is intelligent and enjoys problem-solving toys, games, and learned tricks. It is moderately active and playful into adulthood, but it is not hyperactive and is content to alternate play with quiet companionship. It is typically a quiet cat that communicates through chirps and trills rather than persistent loud meowing.

Grooming

• Brush the shorthair variety once or twice a week to remove loose hair from the double coat.
• Brush the longhair variety two to three times a week to prevent mats, with extra attention behind the ears, under the legs, and around the ruff.
• Expect heavier shedding during seasonal coat changes and increase brushing during those periods.
• Trim nails every two to three weeks and check ears for wax or debris.
• Introduce dental brushing or veterinary dental care to limit tartar buildup.

Exercise

• Provide at least two play sessions a day using wand toys, balls, or puzzle feeders.
• Offer climbing structures such as a cat tree or shelves to use the breed's athletic build.
• Many American Bobtails accept harness and leash training for supervised outdoor time.
• Rotate toys to keep the cat mentally engaged, since boredom can lead to mischief.

Environment

The American Bobtail does best as an indoor cat with enough space to climb, explore, and play. Because it is people-oriented, it suits homes where someone is around for much of the day or where a second compatible pet provides company. Provide scratching posts, resting spots near family areas, and a quiet retreat for downtime.

The American Bobtail is an obligate carnivore and needs a diet built around animal protein. Choose a complete and balanced commercial cat food appropriate to the cat's life stage, with named meat sources high on the ingredient list. The breed's muscular frame benefits from adequate protein, and portions should be matched to body condition rather than fed free-choice, since the breed can gain weight if overfed.

Feed measured meals on a routine rather than leaving food out all day. Adjust amounts based on weight, age, and how active the individual cat is, and reduce calories for cats that are spayed, neutered, or less active.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about ten percent of daily calories and account for them in the overall ration. A cat eating a complete commercial diet usually does not need supplements; introduce any supplement only on veterinary advice. Provide clean fresh water at all times, and consider a portion of wet food to support hydration.

The American Bobtail is generally considered a robust breed, helped by its broad genetic foundation. With good care, most cats live between 13 and 15 years. As with any cat, individual health depends on genetics, diet, weight management, and routine veterinary attention. Responsible breeders screen breeding cats and avoid pairings that could produce tail or spinal problems.

Preventive care

• Schedule annual wellness exams, and twice-yearly visits for senior cats.
• Keep core vaccinations and parasite prevention up to date.
• Maintain a healthy body condition through portion control and daily activity.
• Provide routine dental care to limit tartar and gum disease.
• Ask your breeder about health screening of the parent cats.

The American Bobtail is one of the more trainable cat breeds. Its intelligence and desire to interact mean it often picks up cues quickly and enjoys the mental work. Many individuals learn to come when called, fetch toys, and walk on a harness. Training works best in short sessions of a few minutes, repeated regularly, using food rewards or play as motivation.

Basics

1. Start with litter training, which the breed usually adopts readily; keep boxes clean and accessible.
2. Use a clicker or a consistent marker word paired with a treat to mark correct behaviour.
3. Teach simple cues such as come and sit before moving to tricks like fetch.
4. Introduce a harness indoors first, letting the cat wear it briefly before attaching a leash.
5. End every session on a success and keep the experience positive.

The American Bobtail matures more slowly than many breeds, often reaching full physical and coat development between two and three years of age. Sexual maturity arrives earlier, but reputable breeders wait until cats are well grown and health-checked before breeding. Females typically come into season seasonally, and queens are generally attentive, capable mothers.

Gestation lasts roughly nine weeks, after which the queen delivers a litter that is usually small to average in size. Kittens are born with their short tails already present, and tail length and shape vary even within a single litter because of the natural variability of the trait. Kittens stay with the mother and littermates through weaning and early socialisation, and responsible breeders keep them until around twelve weeks so they are well socialised before going to new homes.

The short tail is inherited as a dominant trait. Breeders avoid mating two cats in ways that risk spinal or tail defects, and they select for sound, healthy tails. Because the breed relies on a broad outcross base, careful pairing helps maintain genetic diversity and overall health.

Registering an American Bobtail and its microchip in Canada

Montreal already requires pet cats to be chipped and licensed under its animal bylaw, and shelters across the country see escaped indoor cats daily. Wherever you live, a free United Pet Club profile puts a live phone number behind your American Bobtail. Registering your cat takes minutes and carries no fee, ever.

Where a bylaw like Montreal's requires the chip, the record behind it still falls to you. United Pet Club keeps that record free for life: any manufacturer, unlimited updates, searchable from any clinic in the country. Microchip registration plus a free account covers cat and chip in one sitting.