Japanese bobtail: nature and description of the breed (photo)

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Since ancient times, Japanese Bobtail cats have been known in the Far East. Later, the distribution of these animals reached the Japanese islands, and from there the charming creatures were taken to the United States in 1968. This is where the animals got their name.

The Japanese Bobtail is an unusually agile and agile animal. Cat lovers often confuse Japanese and Kuril Bobtails. In fact, these are representatives of completely different breeds.

From the history of the breed

As we have already said, the Japanese Bobtail is a native of Japan. The first cats came to the country with merchants on ships, but it is not known exactly where. They only found out for certain that the Japanese deified these animals and were even afraid of them.

Domestication of cats occurred when Emperor Ichijo ruled the country. He had somewhat strange feelings for these little predators: he was afraid of their "demonic" essence, but at the same time he believed that a tamed animal would increase his influence on his subjects.

The more attention was paid to four-legged pets, the more interestinglegends about them. The Japanese were sure that there was a deity, or rather, a huge cat named Necromancer. He watches over people and sends them all sorts of troubles. The negative force was believed to lie in the serpentine process located on the back of the animal, more precisely, in the tail.

The legend, like everything that cannot be explained, caused fear. A person behaves quite predictably when he is afraid. The Japanese solved the problem in their own way. To turn the evil cat Necromancer into a kind, fluffy and lucky pet, all that was required was to cut off the tail of the unfortunate animal. At least that's what the Japanese thought.

The new tailless cats have been named maneki-neko. Today, the most common symbol of worship is a black or golden Japanese bobtail, made in the form of a nodding figurine. The Japanese are sure that this figurine brings we alth, prosperity and good luck to the owner.

From the end of the 19th century until the beginning of the 20th century, cats born in Japan fell under the knife of veterinarians: their tails were cut off. Over time, physical abuse, which was repeated from generation to generation, caused a mutation in the genes, and cats began to be born with twisted and shortened tails. The Japanese did not hide their joy - they managed to defeat the Necromancer himself. Together with the victory over the ferocious deity, a bright time came for cats: they began to be revered, protected and idolized.

Images of the Japanese Bobtail, the photo of which is presented in this article, are found in the templeGotokuju (Tokyo), on ancient engravings, canvases of the imperial dynasties. And on the shelves of Japanese stores, figurines of tailless cats raising their front paws are displayed in abundance.

Japanese bobtail cat breed: description

This is a medium-sized animal, harmoniously built, with a short tail. The weight of the bobtail ranges from 3 to 4 kilograms. He has a convex back, long and slender legs, and the hind limbs are slightly longer than the front ones. The head of the bobtail, slightly flattened from the sides, has the shape of a triangle. The neck is strong, located in proportion to the body.

The wide muzzle is characterized by rather high cheekbones. The long nose is slightly bent down. The ears are set high. The eyes are narrow and slightly slanting, widely set. Interestingly, in the Japanese Bobtail breed, more often than others, there are eyes painted in different colors. When purchasing a kitten of this breed, it should be borne in mind that animals with different eye colors are more expensive.

Coat

The coat of the Bobtail is soft and silky without a thick undercoat. She doesn't shed or shed. The length of the coat on different parts of the body is different: on the muzzle, ears and paws - shorter, on the tail - longer.

Color

Representatives of this rare breed are two- or three-colored, with white being predominant. The main requirement of the standard is an intense, saturated shade. The most common are "mi-ke", which combines white, red and black shades, and tortoiseshell.

Tail

And this, without exaggeration, is the most striking feature of the Japanese Bobtail - a twisted, unusual tail. It reaches a length of 10-12 cm and looks like a rabbit's tail. This fact is explained by the presence of a recessive gene in these cats. That is why crossing representatives of this breed with long-tailed animals leads to the birth of long-tailed kittens.

Character

The Japanese Bobtail cat is a loyal, intelligent, intelligent and somewhat phlegmatic animal. Representatives of the breed are quite "talkative", but they never make noise in vain. With its habits, the bobtail resembles a dog: it loves to swim and follow the “fetch” commands. These animals are smart, friendly and infinitely loyal to their owner.

Usually these pets are docile and gentle, but sometimes they show impulsiveness. They quickly find a common language with other pets and communicate well with very young children. They also get along with dogs. Breeders often note that tailless pets adopt the habits of other animals: they bring things, follow commands, walk on a leash, etc.

Japanese bobtail has a developed intellect, which often becomes the cause of his troubles. Owners should always be on the lookout: sometimes even a closed door is not an obstacle for a pet. So that your pet does not get bored and does not begin to seek adventure, he needs to provide active leisure, surround his pet with attention and care.

Features of maintenance and care

Very comfortablethese animals feel both in a private house and in a small apartment. Bobtails do not require complex care. In order for your pet to always look perfect, it is enough to periodically inspect and clean his ears, comb his coat regularly. To do this, use a brush with natural bristles and a comb with rare teeth.

Food

The Japanese Bobtail needs a balanced diet. Some owners pamper their pets with natural food, but breeders and veterinarians believe that all the components necessary for cats are contained in high-quality premium and super-premium dry food. These include:

Hill's. The product contains high quality natural ingredients. The line of these feeds is produced taking into account the age of the pet, its breed, he alth status. You can easily choose a diet for he althy animals and for those with some problems

Royal Canin. Feed manufacturers of this brand regularly improve the recipe, and therefore the products are distinguished by palatability and nutritional value. The range includes breed, age, medical formulations

Pro Plan. These feeds are suitable for animals of different ages and with different he alth conditions. Includes formulations designed for pets with special needs (sick, debilitated, lactating cats, etc.)

If you prefer to feed your pet with natural products, then you need to know that the Bobtail diet should include:

• lean beef;
• sea fish;
• offal;
• fermented milk products.

Furthermore, with natural nutrition, animals need nutritional supplements and vitamins prescribed by a veterinarian.

He alth

The Japanese Bobtail is naturally endowed with good he alth. Representatives of the breed rarely have genetic diseases and other problems. The exception, perhaps, is skeletal defects.

Bobtail has good immunity and rarely gets sick. Those owners who regularly conduct preventive examinations of their pet in a veterinary clinic, get vaccinated, bobtails live a long time (up to 15 years) and quite happily.

Where to buy a kitten?

Buying a Japanese Bobtail kitten is an expensive and serious process. The cost of an animal of this breed depends on the class of the kitten, on how much money was spent by the breeder on the maintenance and cultivation of the bobtail. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the average price for such a baby ranges from $500 to $600.

If you dream of buying a purebred animal, contact a specialized cattery or a well-established breeder.

Reviews

According to the owners of these animals, Japanese bobtails are very loyal and intelligent cats. They can be started by families that already have pets. It is important for parents that Bobtails are very tolerant of children's pranks. All conflicts with babies are resolved very simply: the cat just hides where no one canget.

Bobtails almost never use their claws, their teeth are very peaceful creatures. And the owners also note the cleanliness of these animals: they sharpen their claws on a scratching post, and use a tray for the toilet. Interestingly, the cat-mother teaches these rules of behavior to her offspring.