Content
- Origin of Japanese bobtail
- Japanese Bobtail Legends
- Japanese bobtail characteristics
- Japanese bobtail colors
- Japanese bobtail personality
- Japanese bobtail care
- Japanese bobtail health
Although it tends to be confused with the American Bobtail, the Japanese Bobtail cat is a different breed whose only similarity is the short pompom-shaped tail. Thus, this is one of the main characteristics of the feline breed that we will present below, a breed with an incredibly positive temperament, cheerful, active and very playful.
The Japanese Bobtail is one of the most popular cats in Asian culture. In fact, it's considered the "good luck cat", and in this article you'll find out why. Keep reading and learn about all the characteristics of the Japanese Bobtail, its most popular cares and legends.
Source- Asia
- Japan
- Category IV
- thick tail
- Big ears
- Strong
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- 3-5
- 5-6
- 6-8
- 8-10
- 10-14
- 8-10
- 10-15
- 15-18
- 18-20
- Active
- Affectionate
- Intelligent
- Curious
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Medium
- Long
Origin of Japanese bobtail
As incredible as it may sound, the Japanese bobtail cat came naturally. Its short tail is due to a mutation caused by a recessive gene. However, until today it is not known exactly when the Japanese bobtail appeared, precisely because it was born as a product of natural crossings. It is also not known exactly whether it was born in Japan, China or Korea, although studies indicate that it could have arrived in Japan from China, due to the fact that there are documents that record the arrival of this cat from China as early as the 6th century, more than 1,000 years ago !
The Japanese bobtail is so present in Japan that you can see it in many places. For example, at the Gotokuji temple in Tokyo, we see frescoes on the walls in which these cats appear.
Japanese Bobtail Legends
What we know are the legends that have emerged around this breed, and that the Japanese Bobtail is one of the most appreciated cats in Japanese culture. The Japanese Bobtail is related to good luck and therefore existing legends revolve around it. The name "Maneki-Neko" looks familiar to you? Well, it's a Japanese Bobtail! Nowadays we associate it with the typical Japanese puppet in the shape of a seated cat, with a raised paw that constantly moves. Of course, this comes from a legend that says that, in the 17th century, a very humble monk lived with his cat in a temple in Tokyo, which was in terrible condition. On a stormy day, Naotaka Ti, a feudal lord with great power, was arrested and decided to hide under a tree. he saw the monk's cat with a raised paw and believed that this indicated that he should go to where he was, so he decided to leave his shelter to head towards the temple. At that exact moment, lightning struck the tree. Precious short-tailed kitten saved his life, and repaired his temple.Thus came the so-called "lucky cat".
There is also, of course, a legend in Japanese culture that explains why the tail of the Japanese Bobtail is so short. Well, this legend explains that a cat's tail caught fire in the flames of a brazier. Imprisoned by fear, he ran and set fire to every house he found on his way through the city, as they were built of wood. The flames spread so quickly that the entire city was burned to the ground. Therefore, the emperor made the decision to cut off the tails of all cats to prevent such an accident from happening again.
Japanese bobtail characteristics
The Japanese bobtail is a cat of average size, whose weight varies from 3 to 5 kg, with females generally being smaller than males. The body of this breed of cat is generally longer than it is tall, lean, with developed muscles and a strong build. It is not a stylized cat, but it is elegant and slender due to its muscular bearing. The hind legs are usually slightly longer than the front legs, yet they are proportionate to the rest of the body so that the cat does not appear bent when standing. Thus, it is a very agile cat.
Continuing with the characteristics of the Japanese bobtail, its face forms an equilateral triangle, in which prominent and prominent cheekbones are observed, in addition to very expressive and oval eyes. In this breed, all eye colors are allowed, although they are generally similar to the coat color. The muzzle is neither pointed nor flat, it is quite broad and rounded in the area of the whiskers. The nose, on the other hand, is slightly long and defined. Ears are medium in size, erect and well apart, although proportional to the lines of the head. Overall, the facial features of the Japanese bobtail suggest that it is a breed originating in Japan, but totally different from other oriental cats.
Now, if there's one thing that characterizes the Japanese bobtail even more than its other characteristics, it's its particular pompom tail. Thus, this feline breed has a short tail of about 10 cm, completely covered by hair and similar to a rabbit's tail. The body coat, on the other hand, is shorter, though equally soft and silky. The Japanese bobtail has no undercoat of fur and is not one of the cats that sheds the most, on the contrary, it loses very little. Although it is more common to see the Japanese short-haired bobtail, the truth is that we also find the Japanese long-haired Bobtail variety. In this case, the cat is still considered to have a short fur, but it has a slightly longer coat and a much more voluminous tail.
Japanese bobtail colors
In this feline breed, All colors are accepted and patterns, except silver, gold, brindle (tabby) and dotted (pointed). Both the color of the nose and the eyes are usually in harmony with the hair tone, so they are all accepted as well.
Japanese bobtail personality
The Japanese bobtail cat is characterized by having a personality friendly, affectionate and sweet. Also, it's a cat very sociable who even approaches unknown people. It also tends to get along with other animals, although this depends largely on the other animal's personality and whether both have been properly socialized.
On the other hand, the Japanese bobtail is an active, curious and intelligent cat, so it loves to play, investigate and learn new tricks. Of course, like many feline breeds, it's a cat. very territorial, especially when other animals arrive at your home. Likewise, it is very familiar and he very much enjoys the company of those he considers part of his family, both humans and other cats or dogs. However, this does not mean that he does not need to spend some time alone, as he also has a certain degree of independence.
Finally, the Japanese bobtail's personality highlights its enormous desire to express and communicate, especially with its human companions. It is a cat that tends to meow a lot and has, in fact, more variations and vocalizations than other feline breeds, so much so that many caregivers claim that the cat appears to be singing.
Japanese bobtail care
The main care with the Japanese Bobtail is in its need for exercise, in addition to satisfying your curious instincts. Therefore, it is essential to offer him an adequate environmental enrichment, with different toys, scratchers with different heights and shelves. It is also recommended to prepare a place where he can play and exercise. Likewise, it is recommended to spend a few hours a day playing with the cat, both to keep it physically and mentally stimulated. At this time, it is advisable to play games that encourage the cat to seek and run, as well as intelligence games.
Since the Japanese Bobtail's fur is short, it doesn't need more than one or two brushings a week. As for the bath, as in all feline breeds, it is preferable to leave it only for when the animal is really dirty.
Finally, we must remember that the Japanese Bobtail is an active and intelligent cat, so it is highly recommended to teach him new tricks whenever possible. For example, you can teach him to paw, sit, pick up the ball, etc. The possibilities are endless and the two of you are going to have a lot of fun. Of course, sessions shouldn't be too long or the cat will be stressed and bored. In this article we explain how to raise a cat.
Japanese bobtail health
Japanese Bobtail life expectancy is about 16 years. This is a very resistant feline breed, which does not tend to suffer any specific illness other than the most common cat illnesses. So, with proper care and proper visits to the veterinary clinic, the Japanese Bobtail can remain healthy and happy. Of course, you also need to have your ears, nails, skin, and mouth checked for any abnormalities as quickly as possible.
We give special emphasis to food, because if it is not of quality or not correctly rationed, the Japanese Bobtail can develop obesity, especially if you don't do the exercises you need.