Japanese BobtailCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

Cats with short, kinked tails have long been seen in Southeast Asia and southern China, where they were called “qilin-tailed”, after a mythical creature, and were symbols of good luck. Charles Darwin wrote in 1868 that in the Malay Archipelago, Siam and Burma all cats have short tails, often with a knot at the end.

A 2016 study showed that these tails come from a mutation of the HES7 gene, the same as in the Japanese Bobtail. The breed was officially registered in the 1960s; the first pair reached the USA in 1968, and the breed was recognised there two years later.

How the breed developed

• Centuries ago – it appears in Japanese folklore and art.
• 1868 – Charles Darwin describes the short-tailed cats of Asia.
• 1968 – the first pair reaches the USA.
• 1989 – recognised by FIFe.
• 2016 – the HES7 gene mutation is identified.

• Active families. It is active and likes learning tricks.
• People who want a cat that “talks”. It interacts a lot through sounds.
• People who want to walk it on a harness. It learns more easily than other breeds to walk on a lead and to fetch toys.
• Watch its weight. It puts on weight easily.

It is medium-sized, usually 2.7–4 kg, with the males larger. The body is long, slender and elegant, but muscular. The legs are long and slim, the hind legs longer than the front ones. Wikipedia says it has five toes on its front feet and four on its hind feet.

General appearance

The head forms an equilateral triangle, not counting the ears. The ears are large, upright and set wide apart, giving an alert look. The eyes are large and oval rather than round. The tail must be clearly visible; it is short, kinked and different from one cat to another.

It can have almost any colour and pattern. The Japanese and breeders especially prefer tricolour cats with a lot of white (“mi-ke”), which also appear in folklore. FIFe recognises the variety with a short, soft, silky coat.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Kurilian Bobtail also has a short tail, but a sturdier body. In the Manx and the Cymric, the short tail comes from a different mutation, linked to spine problems; in the Japanese Bobtail it is not.

Wikipedia says it is an active, intelligent cat, very people-oriented, that learns tricks more easily than most breeds. It enjoys walks on a harness and playing fetch. It is very alert and notices everything. It is unusually “talkative”: its soft voice has many tones, hence the popular belief that it can “sing”.

Socialisation

French Wikipedia describes it as friendly and sociable, a loyal cat that follows its owner everywhere.

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 active and likes to climb; it needs high places and play, especially as it puts on weight easily.

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 short, silky coat is easy to look after: brushing once a week. The tail needs no special care, but it must not be pulled or straightened.

Common health problems

Wikipedia says it is generally healthy and one of the most genetically diverse pedigree breeds. The gene for the short tail is not linked to spine or bone problems. Litters are smaller, but the kittens are bigger at birth, and their mortality is low. Average life expectancy is 9–15 years.

Recommended genetic tests

There is no genetic test required for the breed. Ask for the parents' health records.

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.

Wikipedia says it puts on weight easily, so its portions should be measured.

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, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• 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.

• A tail like a fingerprint. Every cat's tail is kinked differently.
• The cat that “sings”. Its voice has so many tones that it is said to be able to sing.
• An old mutation. Darwin was already describing the short-tailed cats of Asia in 1868.
• One of the most genetically diverse. It has high genetic diversity for a pedigree breed.

Maneki-neko, the lucky cat

The Maneki-neko (“beckoning cat”) is a figurine of a seated bobtail cat with one paw raised. The Japanese keep it in front of shops or homes as a good-luck charm.

Folklore

In some Japanese tales, the short tail brings good luck, while long-tailed cats may be suspected of being nekomata, a kind of evil spirit.

Cartoons and games

The character Hello Kitty looks like a Japanese Bobtail, and the cat Muta in the Studio Ghibli film “The Cat Returns” was inspired by a stray Japanese Bobtail that often came to the studio.

Does the short tail harm it?

No. In the Japanese Bobtail, the gene for the short tail is not linked to spine problems.

Does it meow a lot?

Yes, it is a “talkative” breed, with a soft voice and many tones.

How much does it weigh?

Usually 2.7–4 kg.

How long does it live?

9–15 years on average.