Japanese Bobtail Cat
As evident from the name, the Japanese Bobtail is a domestic cat breed with its origin traced back to Japan. You might notice Japanese figurines of a white cat with a raised paw in many stores. It is the Japanese Bobtail, often called the ‘Beckoning Cat’.
These furry friends of yours are agreeable and highly social. They are mainly indoor pets and love human companionship. They also get along well with other pets in the home. Quick learners, the Japanese Bobtail cat breed is highly adaptive.
The playful nature of Japanese Bobtail feline furries makes them a favourite with kids. They enjoy various kinds of games but are not very high in energy levels. Curling up for a comfortable nap is what they love most.
Key Pointers
- Weight – 8 to 12 pounds
- Height – 12 to 14 inches
- Lifespan – 9 to 15 years
- Coat – Short as well as long hair. Coat patterns include bicolour, solid, tricolour and tabby. Coat colours might be black, cream, white, chocolate, lilac, red, etc.
Ratings:
- Friendliness – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ability to adapt – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Behaviour towards other pets – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Playfulness – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Tendency to obesity – ⭐⭐
- Overall health – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Life expectancy – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Easy to train – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Advisable for first-time owners – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
One star = Low/Bad
Five stars = High/Good
Physical Appearance
A Japanese Bobtail cat has distinctive features and physical appearance. This cat breed is medium-sized and has a muscular but lean frame. If you look carefully, you will notice that the front legs of this feline friend are shorter than the hind legs. These cats are great jumpers and move with great grace and elegance.
A Japanese Bobtail has a triangular, finely chiselled head. These cats have bright and big eyes and an inquisitive face. Interestingly, many of these cats have different eye colours for the two eyes. While one eye might be silvery blue, the other might be amber gold.
The ears are slightly large and pointed and remain upright most of the time. Special mention needs to be made of the Japanese Bobtail cat breed’s tail. The bobbed tail of this breed looks like that of a rabbit and is often referred to as ‘pom-pom’. Sometimes the tail curls into the shape of a corkscrew and appears extremely short.
Fur coats of Japanese Bobtail kittens can be short hair or long hair. The coats come in different colours but calico and bicolour are most commonly seen. Even the short hair variants have a soft and silky coat.
Health
One of the best things about this Japanese Bobtail cat breed is that they are extremely healthy and robust. A Japanese Bobtail cat is highly disease-resistant. There are practically no genetic health disorders in this cat variant. It also has a long lifespan of almost 15 years.
However, it is always recommended to get the vet check-ups done at regular intervals to ensure there are no underlying problems in the furry ball.
Grooming
Japanese Bobtail kittens and cats score low on the grooming factor. They need minimal grooming, whether they have a long coat or a short one. As there is no undercoat, the fur of these cute munchkins is easy to maintain. Use a wide-toothed comb to brush the fur of a Japanese Bobtail cat breed to remove dirt or loose hair. Brushing also helps in better blood circulation and imparts shine to the fur coat.
Dental problems are common in the majority of cat species. Though a Japanese Bobtail cat does not have such problems, it is always good to follow dental hygiene and care. Brush your furry friend’s teeth with cat-friendly toothpaste and soft toothbrush or use vet-recommended oral rinse. Train them for these brushing sessions right from the beginning.
Keep a check on the claws of your Japanese Bobtail. Trim the claws every two to three weeks.
Take special care of the food and nutrition that the Japanese Bobtail needs. Talk to your vet and make a food chart. Give wet food and dry food as recommended by the vet for a perfectly balanced meal. The Japanese Bobtail cat breed loves snacking and dry foods are the best option. Ensure that your cat has access to fresh and clean drinking water always.
Playing
While understanding Japanese Bobtail personality, you will see that these feline creatures are sweet and loving along with being highly active and intelligent at the same time.
A study of Japanese Bobtail temperament reveals that these sweet animals love their play and activity items much more than other cat breeds. Ensure that you have made enough arrangements in your home to keep your furry munchkins busy and engaged.
A Japanese Bobtail cat loves fetching toys, climbing and jumping, hunting toys, learning various tricks, exploring the nooks and crannies in the home or garden, etc. An interesting part of Japanese Bobtail temperament is that they love playing in the water.
A great Japanese Bobtail personality trait of this breed is that they love exercising to maintain their weight. Because of their ability to jump high, they love perches for their exercise. Give them interactive toys like feather teasers and see how they jump high to catch them.