The short, plush tail of the Japanese Bobtail is its trademark feature. This breed is known for being child-friendly, affectionate and playful. However, its short tail is also controversial: potential health issues cannot be completely ruled out.
© slowmotiongli / stock.adobe.com
The Japanese Bobtail is one of the more controversial short-tailed cat breeds.
The most striking feature of this cat is its shortened tail, which is usually only five to eight centimetres long.
The breed trait consists of one or more tail vertebrae, which may be fused together to varying degrees. The tail is bent or kinked.
The Japanese Bobtail is bred in both long-haired and short-haired varieties, known respectively as Japanese Bobtail Longhair and Japanese Bobtail Shorthair. In both types, the short tail is covered with dense, long fur.
Did you know? The hair on their fluffy tail sticks out in all directions, resembling flower petals. This earned the breed the nickname “Chrysanthemum Cat”.
The silky, dense coat can come in many colours. According to the breed standard, all coat colours are permitted except lilac, chocolate and colourpoint.
Particularly prized is the tricolour variety of the Japanese Bobtail. In its native Japan, this is called “Mike-neko”, meaning “three-fur cat”, and is considered a symbol of good luck.
The eyes of the Japanese Bobtail are almond-shaped and may be blue, green, gold or of different colours.
© Callalloo Twisty / stock.adobe.com
Like other oriental breeds, the Japanese Bobtail is slender and fine-boned, but has a slightly more muscular build.
As the hind legs are longer than the front legs, its posture appears slightly arched. Its gait is hopping. As with other short-tailed or tailless breeds, the Bobtail lacks the long tail that helps with balance.
Short-tailed breeds are often criticised. The deliberately bred shortening of the tail vertebrae results in a short tail that cannot fully perform the functions of a normal-length cat’s tail.
Affected cats may struggle to walk, jump and climb properly, as they lack the necessary “balancing pole”. Communication with other cats can also be impaired, as breeds like the Japanese Bobtail use their tails to express their mood.
Breeders of this breed should always have their cats checked by a vet and breed only from healthy animals. This is, for example, recommended by the Erna Graff Foundation for Animal Welfare.
Veterinarian Karina Schöll also emphasises this recommendation in her doctoral thesis:
“For the Japanese and Kurilian Bobtail, only an examination for increased pain sensitivity in the tail area and further vertebral fusions is recommended before breeding approval. In addition, the animals should be permanently identified by microchip or tattoo and listed in breeding records.” (Schöll, Welfare-compromising traits in cats, p. 33)
In Japan, this breed is called “Kazoku-neko”, which translates roughly as “family cat”. This sums up its character quite well: it is considered extremely people-oriented, playful and affectionate.
If children live in the household, it will, like most cats, need a short settling-in period. After that, it happily joins in family life, showing itself to be open and loving.
The Japanese Bobtail meows relatively often. With a soft voice, it “chatters” and “sings” in its own way. It has a strong personality and demands plenty of attention from its owner.
Thanks to its curiosity and intelligence, the Japanese Bobtail is keen to learn small tricks such as fetching and giving a paw. Puzzle boards and other interactive toys.
This breed does not have a particularly high need for exercise. This means keeping it indoors is generally possible. However, the Japanese Bobtail still needs plenty of climbing opportunities and places to retreat to feel comfortable.
A secure balcony or a safe garden is something it will greatly appreciate. As it is highly people-oriented, owners should avoid leaving the Japanese Bobtail alone for long periods.
Good to know: The Japanese Bobtail is one of the few cat breeds that is not afraid of water. Many cats of this breed are fascinated by it and enjoy playing with their drinking fountain.
Due to its shortened tail, Japanese Bobtails may have difficulties communicating with other cats, which can make living with other felines more challenging.
Nevertheless, a well-socialised Kazoku-neko should not be kept alone. It is therefore advisable to adopt at least two cats of this breed. It usually gets along well with dogs, although it tends to show little interest in them.
As it is often a little more laid-back than other cats and less active, the Chrysanthemum-tailed cat has a relatively low energy requirement.
It should be fed high-quality cat food with a high meat content. Owners of a Japanese Bobtail should also ensure their pet does not become overweight.
This breed’s coat has no undercoat, making grooming particularly easy. Weekly brushing is usually sufficient.
For long-haired cats or during moulting, it may be necessary to reach for the brush more often. Many cats enjoy this “wellness treatment” from their owner and are happy to be groomed.
Although the Japanese Bobtail is one of the controversial short-tailed breeds, it appears to have more robust health than other cats with this trait. No hereditary diseases are known.
With good care, the Japanese Bobtail can live on average around ten to thirteen years.
Unlike the tailless Manx cat, this breed appears to have fewer health problems resulting from its short tail. In the Manx, severe pelvic pain is common. In addition, incontinence and brain malformations are widespread.
None of these issues have been observed to the same extent in the Japanese Bobtail. The likely reason is that its shortened tail is caused by a different genetic mutation than in the Manx. Unlike the Manx mutation, this one apparently has no effect on the cat’s skeleton.
As the breed is not very widespread, a final assessment of the Japanese Bobtail’s health is still pending. So far, there is no general recommendation to ban breeding of the Japanese Bobtail altogether.
Breeders are, however, urged to pay attention to the health of their breeding cats to avoid welfare-compromising breeding.
Unlike many other short-tailed breeds, the Japanese Bobtail has a long history.
Around 1,000 years ago, the natural genetic mutation responsible for the short tail is thought to have appeared in Asia. Later, the Japanese Bobtail was deliberately bred at the Japanese imperial court.
Cats with shortened tails were highly sought after among nobles at the time. They were not only popular as gifts for royalty – they also served an important purpose.
Short-tailed cats were used as mousers in silkworm farms, where the raw material for precious silk was produced. Cats with normal-length tails were unsuitable for this task, as they would damage the valuable cocoons.
So cats with docked tails were sent into the plantations to protect the silkworms from rodents and birds. Once it was discovered that short-tailed cats could be selectively bred, the Japanese Bobtail was given this role.
In the 17th century, a government decree in Japan ordered short-tailed cats to be released – so that as many cats as possible could rid the plantations of pests.
This turned the Japanese Bobtail into a street cat that bred freely. This may be the reason for the breed’s robust health.
In the 1960s, American soldiers stationed in Japan discovered these unusual cats. The first specimens arrived in the USA at the end of the 1960s and from there spread to the rest of the world.
The American organisation Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) officially recognised the Japanese Bobtail as a distinct breed in 1965. In 1990, it was recognised by the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe).
There is a legend about the origin of the Japanese Bobtail. One day, a cat slept too close to a fire and its tail caught alight. The animal ran through the streets with its burning tail, setting nearby houses ablaze. After the panicked feline had burned down an entire settlement, the Japanese emperor decreed that all cats should have their tails shortened.
Today, of course, we know that the chrysanthemum-shaped short fluffy tail of the Japanese Bobtail is the result of a genetic mutation – a quirk of nature. In Japan, the breed remains very popular, with tricolour specimens in particular regarded as lucky charms.
The famous waving cat, or Maneki-neko in Japanese, which greets customers in shops and restaurants with a raised paw, is modelled on the Japanese Bobtail. Hello Kitty, the famous cartoon cat created by the Japanese company Sanrio, was also designed based on the Japanese Bobtail.
From what is currently known about the Japanese Bobtail, it appears to be more robust than other short-tailed breeds such as the Manx or the Cymric. Its short tail apparently does not cause pain, as the underlying genetic mutation does not alter the cat’s skeleton.
Nevertheless, short-tailed cats like the Japanese Bobtail may have difficulties, for example in their movement or in interacting with other cats. For this reason, responsible pet owners should think carefully before deciding to buy a Japanese Bobtail.
If you have fallen for this charming, affectionate breed, check with animal shelters and rescue organisations. Even pedigree cats like the Japanese Bobtail are sometimes given up, for example due to a house move or illness.
However, the Japanese Bobtail is not very common in this country, so cat lovers should be prepared to be patient when searching for their dream cat.
If you want a kitten from a breeder, you need to be especially careful. To avoid health problems and the high vet bills that come with them, you should only buy a Japanese Bobtail from a reputable breeder.
Such breeders should only use completely healthy animals for breeding. The kitten for sale must have all the necessary paperwork, including an EU pet passport and a detailed pedigree.
Sources:
"A life without a pug is possible, but pointless," Loriot once said. I would unreservedly agree and add: "A life without horse, cat and rabbit as well!" My heart beats for all animals big and small and I have the great fortune to be able to write about my passion as a freelance author. With my articles I would like to raise awareness for animal welfare and give useful tips to animal lovers.
The Maine Coon has become one of the most popular cat breeds in the world. This is probably due to its majestic appearance, robust nature and great character.
Large eyes and attentively upright ears instantly tell you a great deal about this charming breed of cat: Abyssinians are inquisitive and affectionate towards people.
With its long, dense fur, rounded ears, and intense stare, the Pallas Cat, or Manul, looks rather fluffy, yet somewhat dangerous. However, don't be fooled by its appearance—this is no petting zoo resident. The Manul is a wild animal and considered untameable.
