American Bobtail

The American Bobtail is a medium-sized domestic cat known for a naturally short tail that comes to about one-third or one-half the length of an ordinary cat's. That tail owes itself to a natural genetic mutation and not to any deliberate crossing with wild species, and no two bobtails carry precisely the same one. The breed is built sturdy and muscular, looks a little wild and wears an alert expression.

Underneath the rugged appearance is a friendly, people-oriented cat. Owners tend to call it dog-like: it will follow the family from room to room, greet callers at the door and, quite often, learn to play fetch or walk on a harness. It forms a close bond with its household and settles happily into a busy family home.

The breed is slow to mature, and two to three years may pass before a bobtail reaches full size and a finished coat. American Bobtails are found in both shorthaired and longhaired varieties, and each carries a double coat that gives the cat a solid, weatherproof feel.

Who it suits

The American Bobtail suits a household after an interactive, sociable cat. It settles well into family life, respectful children included, and it usually accepts other cats and cat-friendly dogs. Anyone who travels a good deal or is away for long hours may find the breed too dependent on company, since it prefers steady human contact and grows bored when left alone for lengthy periods.

The American Bobtail dates to the 1960s in the United States. The founding cat most often named was a short-tailed brown tabby male, found near an Arizona reservation by a couple who were travelling through. Recorded in places under the name Yodie, he was bred to a domestic female, and a number of the resulting kittens carried the short tail.

Early breeding across the 1960s and 1970s gave uneven results, and the original lines never settled. Breeders later began again, working from a wider range of short-tailed domestic cats gathered across North America rather than depending on one bloodline. That broader base did much to secure the breed's health and its variable, naturally occurring tail.

The short tail comes of a dominant genetic mutation within the domestic cat population. For all the faintly wild appearance, the breed was not made by crossing with wild bobcats, and no wild ancestry has been documented in the established lines.

Championship recognition followed with The International Cat Association in the 2000s, and the standards set out both shorthaired and longhaired varieties. Alongside the more widespread shorthaired cats, it stays a fairly uncommon breed.

The American Bobtail has a solid, athletic body, a broad chest, substantial bone and well-developed muscle. Its hind legs are a shade longer than the front, which lends the cat a natural stance and a confident walk. The head is a broad wedge with a slight concave curve, and the almond-shaped eyes add to an alert, faintly wild expression that people often liken to a hunting cat.

The short tail is what sets the breed apart. It is flexible and expressive, generally one-third to one-half the length of a typical tail, and it may be straight, slightly curved or carry a small kink. The tail should sit clearly above the back, and it is never absent.

Coat and colours

Both lengths carry a double coat, a resilient outer layer over a softer undercoat. The shorthair is dense and rather shaggy instead of 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, tabby, solid, tortoiseshell and pointed variations among them, so coat colour is not a defining trait of the breed.

The American Bobtail is sociable and closely attached to its people. It seeks out company, settles near the family and takes part in whatever is going on about the house. Many owners note dog-like habits, greeting people at the door among them, along with carrying toys around and coming when called.

With family the breed is warm and interactive without being demanding. It is generally patient and tolerant, which makes it a sound choice for homes with respectful children. Towards strangers it is usually curious and confident rather than shy, though individuals vary. It tends to get on with other cats and with dogs that are easy around cats, its even temperament helping matters along.

The breed is clever and enjoys problem-solving toys, games and learned tricks. It stays moderately active and playful into adulthood, yet it is no bundle of nerves and is content to swap play for quiet companionship. It is typically a quiet cat, given to chirps and trills rather than persistent loud meowing.

Grooming

• Brush the shorthair variety once or twice a week to lift loose hair from the double coat.
• Brush the longhair variety two to three times a week to keep mats from forming, with extra care behind the ears, under the legs and around the ruff.
• Expect heavier shedding through seasonal coat changes and raise the brushing rate over those weeks.
• Trim nails every two to three weeks and check the ears for wax or debris.
• Bring in tooth brushing or veterinary dental care to keep tartar down.

Exercise

• Give at least two play sessions a day with wand toys, balls or puzzle feeders.
• Set out climbing structures such as a cat tree or shelves so the breed can use its athletic build.
• Many American Bobtails take to harness and lead training for supervised time outdoors.
• Rotate the toys to keep the cat mentally engaged, since boredom can turn into mischief.

Environment

The American Bobtail does best as an indoor cat with enough room to climb, explore and play. Being people-oriented, it suits homes where someone is about for much of the day, or where a second compatible pet keeps it company. Set out scratching posts, resting spots near the 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 suited to the cat's life stage, with named meat sources high on the ingredient list. Ample protein suits the muscular frame, and portions should follow body condition rather than being fed free-choice, since the breed can gain weight if overfed.

Feed measured meals on a routine rather than leaving food down all day. Set the amount by weight, age and how active the individual cat is, and reduce calories for cats that are neutered or less active.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about ten percent of daily calories and count them in the overall ration. A cat on a complete commercial diet usually needs no supplements; add any supplement only on veterinary advice. Keep clean fresh water available at all times, and consider a portion of wet food to support hydration.

The American Bobtail is generally taken to be a robust breed, its broad genetic foundation working in its favour. With good care, most cats live between 13 and 15 years. As with any cat, individual health rests on genetics, diet, weight management and routine veterinary attention. Responsible breeders screen their breeding cats and avoid pairings that could bring on tail or spinal problems.

Preventive care

• Book annual wellness exams, and twice-yearly visits for senior cats.
• Keep core vaccinations and parasite prevention up to date.
• Hold 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 wish 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 goes best in short sessions of a few minutes, repeated regularly, with food rewards or play for motivation.

Basics

1. Start with litter training, which the breed usually takes to readily; keep trays 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 on to tricks like fetch.
4. Introduce a harness indoors first, letting the cat wear it briefly before you attach a lead.
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 in place, and tail length and shape vary even within one litter because the trait is so naturally variable. Kittens stay with the mother and littermates through weaning and early socialisation, and responsible breeders hold 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 rests on a broad outcross base, careful pairing helps keep genetic diversity and overall health.

Registering an American Bobtail in Ireland

Cats sit outside the 2015 chipping law, so whatever record your American Bobtail has is the one you make yourself. Make it a free one: the United Pet Club profile carries your details, her photo, and her chip number for the whole of her life. Registering your cat costs nothing, now or ever.

The fifteen digits on your American Bobtail's vet paperwork want a registry. United Pet Club lodges them free, keeps them current through every move, and leaves the record findable whenever a scanner asks. Microchip registration plus a free account: both sorted in one cup of tea.