American BobtailCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

An urban legend says the breed comes from a cross between a cat and an American bobcat. In reality, the short tail comes from a spontaneous mutation in domestic cats, perhaps related to the Manx gene.

In the late 1960s, in Arizona, a stray short-tailed tabby male, Yodie, was mated with a Siamese female. The short-tailed kittens showed that the gene is dominant. Breeders then worked with short-tailed feral cats from all over the USA and Canada, selecting for a slightly wild look. TICA recognised the breed in 1989.

How the breed developed

• Late 1960s – the cat Yodie is found in Arizona.
• The 1970s–1980s – short-tailed cats from all over North America are used.
• 1989 – recognised by TICA.

• Families with children. CFA says it is an excellent companion for children.
• Homes with a dog. It gets on well with dogs too.
• People who travel. It adapts very easily to new places.
• Anyone with time to play. It loves hunting games.

It is a solid cat with a moderately long body, heavy bones and a rectangular stance. The hips are almost as broad as the chest, and the hind legs are longer than the front legs, with large, round paws. It reaches adulthood at 2–3 years.

General appearance

The head is a broad wedge, with a prominent brow, a broad muzzle, full whisker pads and a strong jaw, which give it its “hunter's gaze”. The tail is one third to one half of the usual length.

It can be any colour and pattern, with or without white; at shows the emphasis is on a “wild” tabby look, like a lynx or an ocelot. The coat is shaggy rather than dense or fluffy.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

Although it looks similar, it is not related to the Japanese Bobtail, the Kurilian Bobtail or the Cymric. In the Japanese Bobtail the mutation is recessive; in the American Bobtail it is dominant, as in the Manx.

CFA says that, thanks to ancestors who had to fend for themselves, it is unusually intelligent. It is independent but very affectionate and invents its own games, especially hunting games: it stalks and pounces on a toy, then carries it in its mouth in triumph.

Wikipedia says it is playful and sociable and one of the most “dog-like” breeds: it bravely greets visitors and never misses a chance to play. German Wikipedia adds that it fetches thrown objects.

Socialisation

CFA describes it as easy-going and tolerant, excellent with children and compatible with other pets; Wikipedia says it seeks affection from other cats and from dogs too.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is energetic, especially as a kitten, and climbs very well; it likes to explore and stalk. German Wikipedia says that on an activity scale from 1 to 10 it reaches 7–8.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The coat, short or semi-long, is brushed once or twice a week.

Common health problems

French Wikipedia says it has no particular health problems. German Wikipedia recommends that cats with hip problems and completely tailless cats, with a shortened spine, be removed from breeding, because they have more health problems.

Recommended genetic tests

There is no genetic test required for the breed. Ask the breeder whether the parents have healthy hips and whether they have tails.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, CFA or TICA).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Choose a kitten with a short tail, not a completely tailless one, and a normal gait.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• Not a bobcat hybrid. Legend says it descends from an American bobcat, but its short tail comes from a domestic mutation.
• No single ancestor. Unlike other mutation breeds, it does not descend from a single cat.
• It carries its “prey”. Once it catches a toy, it carries it in its mouth in triumph.
• It grows for 2–3 years. It develops more slowly than many breeds.

Is it a wild cat?

No, it is 100% domestic; only its look recalls a lynx.

Is it related to the Japanese Bobtail?

No; its short tail comes from a different mutation.

Does it get on with dogs?

Yes, it seeks affection from dogs too.

How long does it live?

French Wikipedia gives 11–15 years.