Mekong Bobtail

The Mekong Bobtail is a medium-sized domestic cat with a naturally short, kinked tail and a colourpoint coat. Its origins lie in Russia, where the breed was formally developed from short-tailed cats that had long been present across mainland South-East Asia and neighbouring areas. People sometimes mistake it for the sturdier Japanese Bobtail, yet the two are quite separate breeds, differing in build and in the make-up of the tail.

By nature the Mekong Bobtail is affectionate, playful, inquisitive, clever and outgoing. Cats of this breed like to trail their owners from room to room, keep an eye on whatever is happening at home, and remain interested in people well into adulthood. Owners often speak of a dog-like devotion, with many cats happy to learn simple games and to answer to their name.

The coat is short and lies close to the body, carrying very little undercoat, so grooming stays undemanding. The frame is even and moderate rather than exaggerated in any one respect, and the bobbed tail remains the trait that sets the breed apart.

Who this breed suits

The Mekong Bobtail belongs in a home that wants an interactive, people-focused cat and can offer it attention every day. It settles well into family life, including households with children and other animals, thanks to its sociable temperament. Anyone who travels constantly or is out for long stretches may find this cat wants more company than they can realistically give.

Naturally short-tailed cats have lived for centuries across mainland South-East Asia, in the lands watered by the Mekong River that lends the breed its name. These cats gathered around temples and homes and were prized as companions long before any organised breeding programme took shape.

Colourpoint cats of this kind arrived in Russia through trade and diplomatic ties between Russia and the countries of South-East Asia. For a good many years they were kept and bred informally alongside other imported colourpoint cats, without any separate standing as a breed of their own.

Russian breeders later set about drawing these short-tailed colourpoint cats into a dedicated programme, selecting for the natural bobtail and a settled type. The breed took the name Mekong Bobtail to mark it apart from the Thai and Siamese cats it had once been lumped in with.

Formal recognition came through the World Cat Federation, which laid down a written standard for type, coat and tail. That recognition set the Mekong Bobtail up as a distinct breed rather than a regional offshoot, and breeding today works to hold the moderate build and short kinked tail described in the standard.

The Mekong Bobtail carries an even, medium-sized body that is neither cobby nor especially fine. The legs are slim with small oval paws, and the back lifts a little towards the rear. The head forms a rounded wedge with a firm chin and medium-large ears set fairly high. Its hallmark is the short tail, built from several kinked or curved vertebrae and always shorter than that of an ordinary cat.

Coat and colours

The coat is short, smooth and sits flat against the body with barely any undercoat. Colour is confined to the points: the face mask, ears, legs and tail run darker than the paler body, in the colourpoint pattern shared with Siamese-type cats. Recognised point colours take in seal, blue, chocolate and lilac, along with red and tortie variations. Body colour deepens as the cat ages and tends to stay lighter in cats kept in warm surroundings.

The Mekong Bobtail is an affectionate, people-minded cat that forms firm bonds with its household. Cats of this breed like to stay close to their owners, join in the day's goings-on, and seek out laps and attention. Their curiosity and intelligence show in the way they inspect new objects, work open cupboards and learn the household routine in short order.

With family the breed is gentle and involved, and it generally takes handling in its stride, which makes it a fair match for homes with children. Around strangers most Mekong Bobtails are self-assured rather than timid, coming round after a brief settling-in period. That sociability carries over to other animals: introduced with care, these cats usually live happily with other cats and with dogs.

The breed stays playful into adulthood and thrives on interactive toys and games. It is moderately chatty, holding conversations in soft sounds rather than loud, constant calls. Left on its own for long spells without company or occupation, a Mekong Bobtail can grow bored, so steady interaction suits it best.

Grooming

• Brush the short coat once a week to lift loose hair and spread the skin's natural oils.
• Check and gently clean the ears every one to two weeks.
• Trim the claws every two to three weeks.
• Brush the teeth several times a week to keep dental disease at bay.
• Bathing is seldom needed, as the close coat keeps itself clean.

Exercise

• Set up two or more play sessions a day with wand toys, balls or puzzle feeders.
• Provide a scratching post and a tall perch or cat tree for climbing.
• Rotate the toys to keep that curious, clever mind occupied.
• Think about teaching simple games of fetch, which many cats of this breed take to.

Environment

The Mekong Bobtail adapts happily to flats and houses alike, so long as it has company and things to do. Because the breed is so people-focused, it fares best where someone is home for part of the day or where a second pet offers company. Secure windows and a safe indoor space suit this inquisitive cat, which will explore wherever it can get to.

The Mekong Bobtail needs a complete and balanced cat food built around animal protein as the main ingredient. As an obligate carnivore, the cat relies on nutrients such as taurine that come from meat. Both wet and dry foods suit it, and many owners feed a mix to help with hydration while keeping the diet handy. Fresh water should always be on offer, and portions are best measured rather than left down all day, which helps head off weight gain in this moderately active breed.

Treats and supplements

Hold treats to no more than about ten percent of daily calories and trim the meal portions to match. A cat on a complete commercial diet usually needs no extra supplements; add vitamins or joint products only on the advice of a vet. Puzzle feeders are a tidy way to hand out treats while giving the cat a mental workout.

The Mekong Bobtail counts as a robust, naturally developed breed with few faults tied to the breed itself. Given good care it commonly reaches 15 to 20 years. The natural bobtail is a stable trait and is not bound up with the spinal troubles seen in some other tailless breeds. As with every cat, routine veterinary care and a healthy weight remain the surest markers of a long life.

Preventive care

• Book annual veterinary exams, with twice-yearly checks for senior cats.
• Keep core vaccinations and parasite prevention up to date.
• Keep up dental hygiene through brushing and professional cleaning as advised.
• Check weight and body condition every few weeks.
• Buy from breeders who screen their breeding cats for inherited eye and heart conditions.

The Mekong Bobtail ranks among the more trainable cat breeds, owing to its intelligence and firm bond with people. Cats of this breed can learn their name, come when called, and take on simple tricks such as sitting or fetching. Short, frequent sessions do more than long ones, and food rewards or a favourite toy keep the cat keen. Because the breed pays such close mind to its owners, it responds well to a calm, consistent hand.

Basics

1. Start with litter training, which most kittens pick up quickly when the tray is clean and easy to reach.
2. Teach the cat to respond to its name by pairing the name with a treat.
3. Bring in a scratching post early and reward its use to spare the furniture.
4. Work up to simple cues such as sit or come, one at a time.
5. Add games like fetch once the basics are reliable.

Mekong Bobtails reach sexual maturity at around eight to twelve months, though responsible breeders usually hold off until the queen is fully grown before her first litter. The bobtail is a naturally inherited trait, so two short-tailed parents reliably produce short-tailed kittens without the health risks tied to some other tail mutations.

Gestation runs about 63 to 67 days, and litters usually hold three to five kittens. Queens of this breed tend to be attentive mothers. Kittens arrive with pale coats that take on their point colour over the following weeks. They open their eyes at about one to two weeks and begin weaning at around four to five weeks.

Kittens should stay with the mother and littermates until at least twelve weeks of age, so they are properly socialised, weaned and given their early vaccinations. Handling by people from an early age supports the sociable, self-assured temperament the breed is known for. Breeders should health-screen the parent cats and register litters with a recognised cat organisation such as the New Zealand Cat Association (NZCA).

Registering a Mekong Bobtail and its chip in New Zealand

Giving your Mekong Bobtail a record takes less time than choosing her food: name, colouring, photo, phone number, save. The profile holds for life, free, with a chip number slot waiting whenever the vet's done. Registering your cat starts it.

Pop the fifteen digit number from the vet paperwork into your free United Pet Club account, check your phone number is current, and your Mekong 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.