American Bobtail Shorthair

The modern American Bobtail Shorthair has exactly adopted the best character traits from its ancestors. It is important to say that the short-haired does not affect the cat’s activity, energy, and behavior. American Bobtail – balanced, obedient, and mischievous cat. He loves to play, jump, and gets along well with children of all ages. Quickly becomes attached to family members.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The American Bobtail is considered a relatively new and rather rare breed of cat. The first mention of the breed dates back to 1960. The history of the origin of cats is very common. Traveling through the state of Iowa, an American couple John and Brenda Sanders, noticed an unusual kitten abandoned.

The couple’s attention was drawn to the almost complete absence of the kitten’s tail. Moreover, it looked very natural and did not look like the tail was damaged. They decided to take the kitten away. A little later, the couple gave him the name Yodi. Thus, the stray cat Yodi became the first representative of the American Bobtail breed. The felinologists Mindy Schultz and Charlotte Bentley took over the further propagation of the breed.

Researchers and fans of the breed have never found out who the American Bobtail Shorthair’s ancestor was. It is possible that it was a lynx or a Japanese Bobtail. Kittens with the same short tails are found in the litters of all these cats. The breed’s short tail is due to a certain type of natural mutation, a change in the dominant gene responsible for the tail. Because of this, cross-breeding of American Bobtails with other breeds has been prohibited since 1999.

The first standard for the breed was in 1970, when a short-haired version of the American Bobtail was recognized. The recognition of the International felinological organization, TICA American Shorthair Bobtail, was received in 1989. This organization allowed the breed to spread throughout the world. At home in the United States, the American Shorthair Bobtail is popular and is loved by many American breeders.

Appearance

The American Bobtail Shorthair breed’s typical representative is a harmonious and strong cat with a very athletic build. The body format is rectangular. Cats are usually slightly larger than cats. The chest is well developed. The back of the American Bobtail is straight, with the shoulder blades slightly convex. The hips are proportional, as wide as the shoulders. Limbs with developed musculature, heavy.

The hind legs are usually slightly longer than the front. It has a confident gait. The paws are rounded and necessarily with tufts of hair between the toes. The tail, though very short (2.5-7 cm), is quite mobile. Also, the tail is necessarily covered with fur in the form of a brush. In a state of excitement, the tail is positioned vertically.

The head is wide with a smooth transition to the forehead. The forehead is slightly convex. The muzzle is square. Wide and snub nose. Large almond-shaped eyes set high and look slightly slanted. The American Bobtail gaze is very focused. The ears are medium-sized, wide, and high on the head; the ends are slightly rounded. The neck is strong.

The coat is short and thick. The fur is elastic to the touch, double in texture. Allowed colors: absolutely all combinations of colors are possible. The preferred color of the breed is considered a “wild” color with a pattern – it is called “tabby”.

Character

The modern American Bobtail Shorthair has exactly adopted the best character traits from its ancestors. It is important to say that the short-haired does not affect the cat’s activity, energy, and behavior. American Bobtail – balanced, obedient, and mischievous cat. He loves to play, jump, and gets along well with children of all ages. Quickly becomes attached to family members. Patient and attentive, and does not like to be alone.

He treats strangers calmly. The same situation with other cats and dogs. The American Bobtail Shorthair is kind-hearted and responsive and can even foster other people’s kittens.

It is also brilliant and will not “stir” under your feet or meow all the time for no reason. In its homeland, the breed is famous because its representatives like to travel in the car with the owner, even for long distances. For this peculiarity, the American Bobtail Shorthair has nicknamed the darling of long-haul truckers.

Care

American Bobtail Shorthairs require less care than long-haired representatives. Frequent water procedures are not necessary to not harm natural hair growth and not cause allergic reactions. It is necessary to comb out the hair during the molting period to eliminate unnecessary dead hairs.

The eyes should be cleaned and the ears checked every few days. Teeth brushing and claw trimming, preferably once every two weeks. If you don’t want to or are afraid to do these procedures yourself, ask your veterinarian for help.

Education

Owners of the American Bobtail Shorthair note its good teachability. It is intelligent and resourceful. The breed, just like a dog, is often taught to pick up objects or walk on a leash. The breed develops its full character and maturity by about three years of age.

Common Diseases

There will be no problems with the cat’s health with proper care for the American Bobtail Shorthair. Severe genetic diseases have not been found in years of research on the breed. However, the risk of some diseases does exist:

• obesity;
• depression;
• intestinal disorders.

Nutrition

Because of American Bobtails’ propensity to gain excess weight, you need to monitor the diet of the pet more carefully. It must be nutritious and balanced, without fatty foods. Also, representatives of the breed have a poor tolerance of cow’s milk, leading to stomach upsets.