How To Identify a Japanese Bobtail Cat

As the same suggests, a Japanese Bobtail cat comes from Japan. However, its actual origins begin in China or Korea at least a thousand years ago. It first arrived in Japan hundreds of years ago, and was the first domestic cat there. These are the cats most often seen in Japanese art dating back centuries. It is also known as the “Temple Cat.” Here’s how to identify a Japanese Bobtail cat:

1. Fur texture. The coat of a Japanese Bobtail cat is short and soft. There are also varieties of this breed with medium or semi-long fur that is very silky and which may be shiny. There is no undercoat, and the Japanese Bobtail is known for shedding very little. The Japanese Bobtail often has a rough patch of fur around its neck.
2. Fur color. There are many different colors of Japanese Bobtails. These range from red to white to tortoiseshell. Most commonly the Japanese Bobtail is white with dark-colored spots. A few are Siamese in coloration, but this is not an accepted breed characteristic, and most breeding organizations do not accept Siamese-patterned Japanese Bobtails. In shows and when breeding, those with two or three colors are preferred. The favored color variation is known as the Mi-ke pattern, with red, white, and black in a tortoiseshell pattern. A cat with these colors is considered lucky. The Japanese Bobtail may be called the “Kimono Cat” when it is all white with a dark “ink spot” on its back. In fact, cats born with such a mark may be considered sacred.
3. Tail. The tail of a Japanese Bobtail is its distinguishing characteristic. The partial tail on these cats is also known as a stub or a bob. They usually do not exceed 3 inches in length, yet can still be very expressive. The exact length and shape of the tail depends on the cat, and it may have one or more bends or kinks.
4. Size. Although adult Japanese Bobtails are average-sized cats, newborn kittens often seem extremely large for their age.

The Japanese Bobtail is known for being strong and healthy, with a high resistance to disease. These social creatures are not easily frightened by strange environments. Japanese Bobtail cats enjoy human interaction and can be trained to play fetch and other games. They may “speak” when being spoken to, and have a surprising range of tones. Because they are so social, they enjoy households with children where they will receive lots of attention.