Cat
Breed Description:
The Japanese Bobtail breed of cat has an unusual 'bobbed' tail. The short tail is a cat body type genetic mutation caused by the expression of a recessive gene. As long as both parents are bobtails, all kittens born to a litter will have bobtails as well. The Japanese Bobtail breed of cat is a small domestic cat native to Japan and Southeast Asia, though it is now found throughout the world. Japanese Bobtails breed of cats may have almost any color, but calicoes are especially favored.
Temperament:
The Japanese Bobtail breed of cats are active earlier, and walk earlier than other cats. The Japanese Bobtail breed of cats are affectionate and sweet-tempered; these cats enjoy watching their owners. Active, intelligent and talkative, the Japanese Bobtail breed of cats have soft voices. The Japanese Bobtail breed of cats are easy to teach tricks and enjoy learning things like walking on a harness and lead, and playing fetch.
Health Problems:
The shortened tail does not pose the serious health problems that it does in other breeds such as the Manx
Origin:
The earliest written evidence of cats in Japan indicates that they arrived from China at least 1,000 years ago. In 1602, Japanese authorities decreed that all cats should be set free to help deal with rodents threatening the silk-worms. Buying or selling cats was illegal, and from then on, bobtailed cats lived on farms and in the streets. Japanese Bobtails thus became the "street cats" of Japan.
The Japanese Bobtail is mentioned in Kaempfer's Japan. First published in London in 1701/02, it is the first book written by a Westerner about the flora, fauna, and landscape of Japan.
The Maneki Neko ("beckoning cat"), a Japanese Bobtail seated with one paw raised, is considered a good-luck charm. A maneki-neko statue is often found in the front of stores or homes. In 1968 the late Elizabeth Freret imported the first three Japanese Bobtails to the United States from Japan. Japanese Bobtails were accepted for Championship status in Cat Fanciers' Association in 1976. In 2001 the first registered litter of Japanese Bobtails was born in the UK under the Solstans prefix. 