Karelian Bobtail Shorthair

Karelian Bobtail Shorthair is a kind and affectionate cat with a balanced character. It quickly becomes attached to its owner and perfectly understands its moods. The pet is not obtrusive, respects the peace, and will not follow you everywhere. Since time immemorial, people loved the Karelian Bobtail and believed that it brings good luck. The cat treats children well and will gladly take part in games. If she doesn’t like something, she will not show her temper and will quietly leave.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The Karelian Bobtail is an ancient cat from Russia. The breed was not artificially bred but descended from wild cats. They lived on the Karelian Isthmus and near Lake Ladoga. It is believed that the ancestor of the tailless pet may be the Norwegian forest cat.

The felinologists of the Leningrad cattery “Kotofey” were first engaged in the standard of the breed in 1987. The official standard appeared in Russia in 1992. Two years later, the bobtail was recognized by the World Cat Organization. To this day, the breed is considered quite rare. In the territory of Russia, there are only two catteries where Karelian Bobtail is kept.

Appearance

The Karelian Bobtail Shorthair is a strong and muscular medium-sized cat. The pet’s head is triangular. Cheeks and forehead are flat; cheekbones are high. The muzzle is narrow with a long and straight nose. The eyes of the bobtail are medium-sized, standing askew. Their color is usually yellow or green. Large ears are set high and straight.

The cat’s legs are strong and well-proportioned, with round paws at the end. The front limbs are shorter than the hind limbs. A distinctive feature is a very short tail, similar to a pompon. Its maximum possible length is 13 cm. The bobtail fur is short, but it is elongated on the tail. Color can be any, except for chocolate and colorpoint.

Character

Karelian Bobtail Shorthair is a kind and affectionate cat with a balanced character. It quickly becomes attached to its owner and perfectly understands its moods. The pet is not obtrusive, respects the peace, and will not follow you everywhere. Since time immemorial, people loved the Karelian Bobtail and believed that it brings good luck. The cat treats children well and will gladly take part in games. If she doesn’t like something, she will not show her temper and will quietly leave.

With other animals, the pet gets along without problems. The strong hunting instinct inherited from ancestors will not be a hindrance. An intelligent cat can easily distinguish pets from rodent pests. Bobtails are not too talkative; they prefer tactile contact to meowing.

Care

A mobile cat likes to walk a lot in the fresh air. Therefore, it would be a good idea to keep a bobtail in a country house. If you live in an apartment, try to walk your cat regularly.

A short-haired version of bobtails is undemanding in care. It is enough to comb the cat’s hair once a week using a massage mitten. You should bathe your beauty once every two or three months, more often if necessary. Do not forget to constantly monitor the condition of the cat’s eyes and ears. The first one should be wiped daily from secretions with cotton disks. The latter should be cleaned every week. Once every ten days, trim the cat’s claws. Teeth should be brushed several times a week.

Education

The Karelian Bobtail Shorthair is an intelligent and shrewd cat. It is particularly obedient, so there are certainly no problems with upbringing. Early socialization is important for the cat. So the chances of teaching the cat the right manners significantly increase.

The clever bobtail cat grabs everything on the fly. You can easily train him to the litter box and the scratching post. If you want to get serious about cat training, you’ll have to get the cat interested. Make training more fun by playing the various games that the cat loves so much. Praise and treat your cat with food.

Common Diseases

The Karelian Bobtail Shorthair is considered one of the healthiest breeds. The cat has a strong immune system. It does not tend to genetic diseases. Because of the cold climate in their homeland, bobtails are well adapted to low temperatures. So they also have no predisposition to colds.

With regular exercise and proper nutrition, a cat will easily live about 15 years. Don’t forget to take your cat to the veterinarian several times a year. Also, give regular preventive vaccinations.

Nutrition

Karelian Bobtails are unpretentious when it comes to nutrition. The basis of the cat’s diet should be raw lean meat. Beef, chicken, or lean pork will do. Also, do not forget about cereals: rice, oatmeal, buckwheat. It is a source of carbohydrates for the proper growth of the pet.

Dairy and fermented dairy products would be a great addition. It is useful to feed the cat with fruits and vegetables. It is possible to feed ready-made dry food. They usually include all the necessary substances. It is not only tasty but also useful.