Japanese Bobtail: A Unique Creatureby Marjorie Dorfman | More from this Blogger 05 Jun 2006 05:28 AM
The first Japanese Bobtails were brought to America through the effort of the late Elizabeth Freret, and in 1976 the Cat Fanciers Association accepted them for championship status. All registered cats can be traced back to these original imports. Any color except the Siamese pattern of Abyssinian type agouti is permitted for show. The most popular colors are white, black, red, black and white and tortoiseshell. In the case of bi-colored cats, contrasting and bold markings are preferred. The tail is unique, not only to the breed but also to each individual cat. Like human fingerprints, no two bobtails are ever alike. The genetic factor, which causes the bobtail, is unlike that of other tailless breeds such as the Manx and the Cymric. Unlike the Manx and the Cymric, which are naturally tailless breeds, in the case of the Bobtail, the trait is due to recessive genes and breeds true every time. These breeds share no other commonality, and the Bobtail stands unique in the feline world. Japanese Bobtails are strong and healthy and compared to other breeds, they are active earlier in life, walking and getting into trouble earlier than most other breeds. They are intelligent and talkative, and some owners claim that they sing rather than speak. They love to play and pounce and ride on the shoulders of their owners whom they adore. They love to carry things in their mouths and to play fetch. They get along very well with other cats, dogs and children, making them wonderful companions for any household. Do YOU own such a special cat? Please share your experiences. Related Articles: "The Manx Cat: A Cat of No Tails" http://pets.families.com/blog/the-manx-cat-a-tale-of-no-tails "The Cymric Cat: Another Tale of No Tail" http://blogs.families.com/admin/b2browse.php?blog=28&p=6008 Learn more about Marjorie Dorfman  Marjorie Dorfman is a freelance writer and former teacher originally from Brooklyn, New York. Relevantpets tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags cat breeds, cat facts, felines, Japanese Bobtail Cat, pets Discuss this article
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The Japanese Bobtail is a very old breed, and has been the favored cat of Japan for almost a thousand years. Scholars believe they arrived there from China and Korea. Images of this cat are often depicted on ancient prints and paintings. A 15th century painting that hangs in the Freer Galley of Art at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, depicts two lovely longhaired Japanese Bobtails. Both varieties are equally old and apart from hair length, both variants retain the same characteristics.
