American Bobtail

The American Bobtail is a substantial, shaggy-coated cat with a naturally short tail, bred to look somewhat wild and to behave nothing like it.

History

It began in the United States in the 1960s with a short-tailed kitten found in the American southwest, and was developed from domestic stock — despite a persistent story about bobcat ancestry, which the breed does not have. Its short tail comes from a dominant mutation distinct from the Manx gene.

Temperament

The breed is known for being friendly, adaptable and unusually dog-like: it plays fetch, walks on a harness, and takes disruption in its stride, which is why it turns up as a therapy cat.

Care

Both coat lengths need only regular brushing. It is a slow-maturing cat that stays playful for years and appreciates being included rather than accommodated.

Health

Built on a broad domestic base it is generally sound, and its bobtail mutation is not associated with the spinal defects seen in the Manx. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one cat; the measured facts and trait ratings are in the panels.