The American Bobtail is an affectionate, dog-like cat with a distinctive short tail and a playful, devoted nature.
How the American Bobtail coat is built, and what that means when you groom it.
Critical: A American Bobtail should not be shaved.
The undercoat keeps heat out as well as in, and the outer coat shields the skin from sun and insect bites. Clipping the whole coat off removes both. It often grows back patchy, soft or a different colour, and in some animals the guard hairs never return properly. Brush the undercoat out instead of cutting it off.
The American Bobtail is a medium-sized American cat with a short tail and an affectionate, dog-like manner. It is playful and devoted, and gets on well with children.
Recognised for its naturally short tail, the American Bobtail is a medium-sized domestic cat whose tail measures roughly one-third to one-half the length of an ordinary cat's. A natural genetic mutation produces that tail, with no deliberate crossing to wild species involved, and no two bobtails end up with an identical tail. The build is sturdy and muscular, the look faintly wild, the expression alert.
That rugged exterior sits over a friendly, people-oriented cat. Because it tends to shadow the family from room to room, greet callers and, in plenty of cases, learn to fetch or wear a harness, owners frequently describe it as dog-like. It bonds tightly with the household and copes easily with busy family routines.
This is a slow developer. Two to three years can pass before a bobtail reaches full size and its coat finishes coming in. The breed comes in shorthaired and longhaired varieties alike, and both carry a double coat that lends the cat a solid, weatherproof feel.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | United States |
| Size | Medium |
| Lifespan | 13 to 15 years |
| Group / role | Companion cat |
| Good with | Children, families, other pets |
Households looking for an interactive, sociable cat will find the American Bobtail a good match. Families suit it well, respectful children included, and it usually takes to other cats and cat-friendly dogs. The breed leans on steady human contact and grows bored during long spells alone, so people who travel a lot or are away for long hours may find it too dependent on their company.
The American Bobtail began in the United States in the 1960s from a short-tailed feral cat and was shaped into a recognised breed over the decades that followed.
The roots of the American Bobtail lie in 1960s America. Most accounts point to a short-tailed brown tabby male, found near an Arizona reservation by a couple who were travelling through, as the founding cat. Recorded in some records as Yodie, he was bred to a domestic female, and a number of the kittens that followed carried the short tail.
Breeding across the 1960s and 1970s produced inconsistent outcomes, and those original lines proved unstable. A later restart pulled from a wider range of short-tailed domestic cats gathered across North America, rather than resting on a single bloodline. That broader footing did a great deal to firm up the breed's health and its variable, naturally occurring tail.
A dominant genetic mutation within the domestic cat population lies behind the short tail. For all the vaguely wild appearance, no crossing with wild bobcats went into the breed, and the established lines carry no documented wild ancestry.
Championship recognition came through The International Cat Association during the 2000s, with standards that describe both shorthaired and longhaired varieties. Set against the more widespread shorthaired cats, it remains a fairly uncommon breed.
The American Bobtail is a medium to large, muscular cat with a short expressive tail, a wild-looking face and a double coat available short or long in most colours.
A solid, athletic body sits at the heart of the American Bobtail, complete with a broad chest, substantial bone and well-developed muscle. Its hind legs run a touch longer than the front pair, producing a natural stance and a confident gait. The head forms a broad wedge with a slight concave curve, and almond-shaped eyes feed into an alert, faintly wild expression that people often compare to a hunting cat.
Everything centres on the short tail. Flexible and expressive, it usually reaches one-third to one-half the length of a typical tail, and it may run straight, curve slightly or carry a small kink. It should stand clearly visible above the back and is never missing altogether.
| Trait | Standard |
|---|---|
| Height | Approximately 23 to 25 cm (9 to 10 in) at the shoulder |
| Weight | 3 to 7 kg (7 to 16 lb), males larger than females |
| Coat | Double coat in shorthair and longhair varieties |
| Colours | All colours and patterns accepted |
| Eyes | Almond-shaped, colour in keeping with coat |
A double coat runs through both lengths, matching a resilient outer layer with a softer undercoat beneath. The shorthair reads as dense and somewhat shaggy rather than sleek, while the longhair sits medium-long with a slight ruff, tufted ears and feathering along the legs and tail. Acceptance covers essentially all colours and patterns, tabby, solid, tortoiseshell and pointed variations among them, which leaves coat colour outside the list of defining breed features.
The American Bobtail is affectionate, playful and devoted, showing a dog-like attachment to its family and an easygoing attitude towards children and other pets.
Sociability and a firm attachment to its people define the American Bobtail. It goes looking for company, settles in near the family and folds itself into whatever the household is doing. Plenty of owners describe dog-like touches, greeting people at the door among them, along with carrying toys about and coming when called.
Around family the breed stays warm and interactive without turning demanding. A patient, tolerant streak makes it a fair choice for homes with respectful children. Strangers tend to draw curiosity and confidence rather than shyness, though individual cats will differ. It generally sits comfortably with other cats and with dogs that are relaxed around cats, its even temperament smoothing the way.
Intelligence runs through the breed, and it enjoys problem-solving toys, games and learned tricks. Moderately active and playful into adulthood, it is nonetheless no live wire and is happy to trade play for quiet companionship. Most are quiet cats, given to chirps and trills rather than persistent loud meowing.
| Trait | Rating |
|---|---|
| Affection | 5 |
| Energy | 3 |
| Trainability | 4 |
| Vocalness | 2 |
| Shedding | 3 |
The American Bobtail needs regular brushing for its double coat, daily interactive play and a home offering steady company and enrichment.
As an indoor cat with room to climb, explore and play, the American Bobtail does best. Its people-oriented nature suits homes where someone is around for much of the day, or where a second compatible pet supplies company. Lay on scratching posts, resting spots near the family areas and a quiet retreat for downtime.
Feed the American Bobtail a complete, high-protein cat food in measured portions, tuned to life stage and activity, with fresh water always available.
As an obligate carnivore, the American Bobtail needs a diet built around animal protein. Reach for a complete and balanced commercial cat food matched to the cat's life stage, with named meat sources sitting 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 when overfed.
Serve measured meals on a routine instead of leaving food down all day. Set the amount by weight, age and how active the individual cat is, and trim calories for cats that are desexed or less active.
| Life stage | Amount per day | Meals |
|---|---|---|
| Kitten (up to 12 months) | Per package, fed to appetite | 3 to 4 |
| Adult (1 to 7 years) | Approximately 50 to 70 kcal per kg body weight | 2 |
| Senior (7+ years) | Adjusted for weight and activity | 2 |
Hold treats to no more than about ten percent of daily calories and factor them into the overall ration. A cat on a complete commercial diet usually calls for no supplements; bring one in only on veterinary advice. Keep clean fresh water on hand at all times, and think about a share of wet food to support hydration.
The American Bobtail is generally a hardy breed with a 13 to 15 year lifespan, though tail-related and common feline conditions warrant routine veterinary care.
Its broad genetic foundation helps mark the American Bobtail out as a robust breed. Given good care, most cats live between 13 and 15 years. As with any cat, individual health turns on genetics, diet, weight management and routine veterinary attention. Responsible breeders screen their breeding cats and keep away from pairings liable to throw up tail or spinal problems.
| Condition | Signs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hip dysplasia | Stiffness, reluctance to jump, altered gait | More likely in larger, heavier individuals |
| Tail or spinal sensitivity | Discomfort near the tail base, sensitivity to handling | Linked to the short-tail trait in some lines |
| Obesity | Weight gain, reduced activity | Manage with measured feeding and play |
| Dental disease | Bad breath, drooling, difficulty eating | Common in cats; prevent with dental care |
The American Bobtail is intelligent and trainable, frequently learning tricks, fetch and harness walking through short, reward-based sessions.
Among cat breeds, the American Bobtail ranks as one of the more trainable. Its intelligence and appetite for interaction mean it often picks up cues quickly and takes to the mental work. A good many learn to come when called, fetch toys and walk in a harness. Short sessions of a few minutes, repeated regularly and driven by food rewards or play, get the best out of the breed.
The American Bobtail matures slowly and produces small to average litters, with the short tail inherited as a dominant trait that requires careful breeding to protect health.
Compared with many breeds, the American Bobtail matures slowly, often reaching full physical and coat development between two and three years of age. Sexual maturity turns up earlier, but reputable breeders hold off until cats are well grown and health-checked before breeding. Females typically come into season seasonally, and queens are generally attentive, capable mothers.
Gestation runs to roughly nine weeks, after which the queen delivers a litter that tends to be small to average in size. Kittens arrive with their short tails already present, 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 they go to new homes.
The short tail passes on as a dominant trait. Breeders steer clear of 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 up genetic diversity and overall health.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Age at maturity | Full development at 2 to 3 years |
| Gestation | Approximately 63 to 65 days |
| Average litter size | Small to average, commonly 2 to 5 kittens |
| Tail inheritance | Dominant genetic trait, variable expression |
| Weaning / rehoming | Weaned by 8 weeks, rehomed around 12 weeks |
Cats sit outside the National Dog Database, so a free United Pet Club record is what stands behind your American Bobtail's chip.
With no national database covering cats, the record behind your American Bobtail's chip is entirely yours to provide. A free United Pet Club profile does it: your number, her photo, her details, one scan away. Registering your cat is free for life and done in minutes.
Pop the fifteen digit number from the vet paperwork into your free United Pet Club account, check your phone number is current, and your American Bobtail's chip finally points somewhere. Every brand is accepted, every update free, and the record answers scans at any hour. Microchip registration is the link in the middle.
It's a matter of creating a free United Pet Club account, adding her name, colouring, and a photo, and saving. The record is free for her whole life, indoors or out.
Adding the fifteen digit number to your free account with your current details is the whole job. The lifetime plan never charges for the record or its updates, whatever the chip brand.
There's no national requirement the way the dog database works, though some councils encourage it and shelters chip on rehoming. Requirement or not, a registered chip is what turns a found American Bobtail into a phone call.
Nothing at all. Profile, chip registration, and every later update are free under the lifetime plan.
Common questions about the American Bobtail's size, temperament, care needs, lifespan, suitability and availability.
It is a medium to large cat. Most weigh between 3 and 7 kg (7 to 16 lb), with males noticeably larger than females, and they stand around 23 to 25 cm at the shoulder.
It is affectionate, playful, devoted and intelligent. The breed is often called dog-like because it follows its family around, greets visitors and can learn tricks and fetch. It is also good with children.
Care is moderate. The double coat needs brushing once or twice a week for shorthairs and a few times a week for longhairs, plus daily play. Its main need is company, since it does not like long stretches alone.
With good care, most live 13 to 15 years. Routine veterinary visits, a balanced diet and a healthy weight support a long life.
Yes. It is patient and sociable, generally does well with respectful children, and usually gets on with other cats and cat-friendly dogs.
The short tail comes from a natural dominant genetic mutation in domestic cats, not from crossing with wild bobcats. Tail length and shape vary from cat to cat.
They are relatively uncommon beside widespread shorthaired breeds. Kittens usually come through dedicated breeders, and waiting lists are not unusual.
