HISTORY AND GENERAL BREED INFORMATION

History

     The earliest written evidence of cats in Japan indicates that they arrived from China or Korea at least 1,000 years ago. For hundreds of years, bobtailed cats were highly valued and guarded. In 1602, Japanese authorities decreed that all cats should be set free to cope with vermin threatening the silk-worms. Buying or selling cats was forbidden, and from that time forward, bobtailed cats lived on farms and in the streets. Thus, the Japanese Bobtails are the "street cats" of Japan. Even today, if you visit Japan, you can see some of these cats wandering the streets.

     Japanese Bobtails were first brought to the U.S. by American servicemen who had acquired them as pets overseas. The Bobtails attracted the attention of American cat breeders, including Mrs. Elizabeth Freret, who imported the first breeding stock to the United States from Japan in the 1960’s. Japanese Bobtails were granted Provisional Breed Status (CFA) in 1971 and achieved Championship Status in 1976.

     The Longhair Japanese Bobtail was accepted by CFA for Championship competition in 1993 following much hard work on the part of the members of the Longhair Japanese Bobtail Breeders’ Club, whose members included Marilyn Knopp, Gena Garton, and Lynn Berge.

     When visiting Japanese homes and shops, you will often find a tri-colored ceramic cat with raised paw near the front door. This is the Maneki Neko, the traditional good luck cat of Japan, and represents the Mi-ke (calico) Japanese Bobtail.

General Breed Information

     The Japanese Bobtail (JBT) has a unique and delightful personality. They are playful and active, even as adults. This is a breed that likes to be involved in every aspect of your life … from reading the paper to painting the walls to sleeping. Many Japanese Bobtails like to play in water and most enjoy a good game of fetch with their favorite toy … a game they will be more than happy to teach you. If you’re looking for a couch potato, this is not the breed for you! On the other hand, the Japanese Bobtail is also an extremely loving and affectionate breed.

     Japanese Bobtails can be very vocal, although they are considered to have soft voices (especially when compared to such breeds as the Siamese). Some JBT’s are more talkative than others. They are capable of a wide range of sounds; some humans even say they sing! Since JBT’s adore human companionship, don’t be surprised if they talk back when spoken to!

     Japanese Bobtails are also highly intelligent. They quickly learn their name (and other words as well). My cats almost always come when they are called, each cat knowing his/her own name. They are also quite adaptable, adjusting readily to life with dogs and other cats. At my house, they live with a Doberman and a Collie. All in all, the Japanese Bobtail is an excellent addition to any family.

Appearance

Click HERE for Breed Standard.

     The Japanese Bobtail is a medium sized, well-muscled cat. The head forms an equilateral triangle with high cheekbones and a unique eye set. The ears are large and perpendicular to the sides of the head. The hind legs are longer than the forelegs, but deeply angulated so that when standing, the cat's back appears level.

     JBT's come in most colors and color patterns, including solid, tabby, van, and bi-color patterns. However, the Siamese pattern (pointed) and the Abyssinian type "ticking" is not allowed. The color most in demand is the tri-color mi-ke (pronounced "mee-kay"). Mi-ke is the Japanese term meaning three-furred and thus refers to what we call calico.

     All eye colors are acceptable, so green, gold, copper, blue, and odd-eyes (one gold/green and one blue) are seen. I prefer blue and odd-eyes, as do many breeders, and emphasize this in my lines.

     Both the Shorthair and the Longhair Japanese Bobtails have a single coat with little or no undercoat; thus minimal grooming is necessary. The coat on a Longhair JBT is NOT at all similar to a Persian's . Again, there is no undercoat nor is it as long. Rather it is a silky, flowing coat that does not mat.

The Distinctive Tail

     The tail, for which the breed is named, is different from all other breeds. Please note that the tails are NOT docked: this is how the kittens are born. Some tails are rigid, some are not. Some tails can be wiggled, some cannot. The kinks, angles, and curves that make up the tail are unique to each individual cat, just like our fingerprints (no two are the same). Although the tail could be as long as four inches if it were straightened out, it is most often tightly curved or kinked, and the hair is longer on the tail than on the rest of the body, creating a variety of appearances, from a shaving brush look to a pom-pom.

Health

     A natural breed, the Japanese Bobtail is a strong, healthy, sturdy cat. Compared to other breeds, kittens are active earlier, walk earlier, and start investigating earlier. This breed has a low kitten mortality rate and a high natural disease resistance.

     JBT's breed true. Kittens are never born tailless nor are they born with full tails. They are a natural breed and do, indeed, come from Japan. Due to limited gene pools and to maintain the health of the breed, we have bred some cats to those imported directly from Japan.

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