History of the Japanese Bobtail Cat
The Japanese Bobtail is one of the oldest naturally occurring breeds of cat and is native to the islands of Japan. From written records it seems certain that the domestic cat first arrived in Japan from China or Korea at least one thousand years ago. It is believed that the original domestic cats came with the Buddhist monks in 600-700 A.D. and were brought to keep the rats out of the rice paper scrolls in the temples. In the 1600s, the silk trade found itself in jeopardy due to rats, and the Japanese Bobtail was pressed into service and thus became the street cat that it is today in Japan.
The Japanese Bobtail has certainly existed in Japan for many centuries; it is featured in many ancient prints and paintings.
The Maneki Neko 'Beckoning Cat' and Hello Kitty are Japanese Bobtail Cats
The Japanese Bobtail has certainly existed in Japan for many centuries; it is featured in many ancient prints and paintings.
The Maneki Neko 'Beckoning Cat' and Hello Kitty are Japanese Bobtail Cats
Breed Standard For The Japanese Bobtail Cat
GENERAL:
the Japanese Bobtail should present the overall
impression of a medium sized cat with clean lines and bone
structure, well-muscled but straight and slender rather than massive
in build. The unique set of its eyes, combined with high
cheek bones and a long parallel nose, lend a distinctive
Japanese cast to the face, especially in profile, quite different
from the other oriental breeds. Its short tail should resemble a
bunny tail with the hair fanning out to create a pom-pom appearance
which effectively camouflages the underlying bone structure
of the tail. Overall type, composed of balance, elegance and
refinement, is the essence of the Japanese Bobtail breed. Taking
all of the parts of the standard into account as a cohesive whole,
the balance, elegance and refinement of the Japanese Bobtail
creates an overall picture of the total cat, where all aspects of the
standard come together in a harmonious whole, with neither too
much nor too little consideration given to any one feature.
the Japanese Bobtail should present the overall
impression of a medium sized cat with clean lines and bone
structure, well-muscled but straight and slender rather than massive
in build. The unique set of its eyes, combined with high
cheek bones and a long parallel nose, lend a distinctive
Japanese cast to the face, especially in profile, quite different
from the other oriental breeds. Its short tail should resemble a
bunny tail with the hair fanning out to create a pom-pom appearance
which effectively camouflages the underlying bone structure
of the tail. Overall type, composed of balance, elegance and
refinement, is the essence of the Japanese Bobtail breed. Taking
all of the parts of the standard into account as a cohesive whole,
the balance, elegance and refinement of the Japanese Bobtail
creates an overall picture of the total cat, where all aspects of the
standard come together in a harmonious whole, with neither too
much nor too little consideration given to any one feature.
HEAD:
although the head appears long and finely chiseled, it
forms almost a perfect equilateral triangle (the triangle does not
include the ears) with gentle curving lines, high cheekbones, and
a noticeable whisker break, the nose long and well-defined by
two parallel lines from tip to brow with a gentle dip at, or just
below, eye level. Allowance must be made for jowls in the stud
cat.
EARS:
large, upright, and expressive, set wide apart but at right
angles to the head rather than flaring outward, and giving the
impression of being tilted forward in repose.
MUZZLE:
fairly broad and rounding into the whisker break;
neither pointed nor blunt. CHIN: should be full, neither undershot
nor overshot.
EYES:
large, oval rather than round, but wide and alert; set into
the skull at a rather pronounced slant when viewed in profile. The
eyeball shows a shallow curvature and should not bulge out
beyond the cheekbone or the forehead
BODY:
medium in size, males proportionately larger than
females. Torso long, lean and elegant, not tubular, showing well
developed muscular strength without coarseness. No inclination
toward flabbiness or cobbiness. General balance of utmost
importance.
NECK:
neither too long nor too short, in proportion to
the length of the body.
LEGS:
in keeping with the body, long, slender, and high, but not
dainty or fragile in appearance. The hind legs noticeably longer
than the forelegs, but deeply angulated to bend when the cat is
standing relaxed so that the torso remains nearly level rather than
rising toward the rear. When standing, the cat’s forelegs and
shoulders form two continuous straight lines, close together.
PAWS:
oval. Toes: five in front and four behind.
COAT (SHORTHAIR):
medium length, soft and silky, but without
a noticeable undercoat.
COAT (LONGHAIR):
length medium-long to long, texture soft and
silky, with no noticeable undercoat in the mature adult. Frontal
ruff desirable. Coat may be shorter and close lying over the
shoulders, gradually lengthening toward the rump, with noticeable
longer hair on the tail and rear britches. Ear and toe tufts desirable.
Coat should lie so as to accent the lines of the body.
TAIL:
the tail is unique not only to the breed, but to each individual
cat. This is to be used as a guideline, rather than promoting
one specific type of tail out of the many that occur within the
breed.
The tail must be clearly visible and is composed of one or more
curves, angles, or kinks or any combination thereof. The furthest
extension of the tail bone from the body should be no longer than
three inches. The direction in which the tail is carried is not important.
The tail may be flexible or rigid and should be of a size and
shape that harmonizes with the rest of the cat.
although the head appears long and finely chiseled, it
forms almost a perfect equilateral triangle (the triangle does not
include the ears) with gentle curving lines, high cheekbones, and
a noticeable whisker break, the nose long and well-defined by
two parallel lines from tip to brow with a gentle dip at, or just
below, eye level. Allowance must be made for jowls in the stud
cat.
EARS:
large, upright, and expressive, set wide apart but at right
angles to the head rather than flaring outward, and giving the
impression of being tilted forward in repose.
MUZZLE:
fairly broad and rounding into the whisker break;
neither pointed nor blunt. CHIN: should be full, neither undershot
nor overshot.
EYES:
large, oval rather than round, but wide and alert; set into
the skull at a rather pronounced slant when viewed in profile. The
eyeball shows a shallow curvature and should not bulge out
beyond the cheekbone or the forehead
BODY:
medium in size, males proportionately larger than
females. Torso long, lean and elegant, not tubular, showing well
developed muscular strength without coarseness. No inclination
toward flabbiness or cobbiness. General balance of utmost
importance.
NECK:
neither too long nor too short, in proportion to
the length of the body.
LEGS:
in keeping with the body, long, slender, and high, but not
dainty or fragile in appearance. The hind legs noticeably longer
than the forelegs, but deeply angulated to bend when the cat is
standing relaxed so that the torso remains nearly level rather than
rising toward the rear. When standing, the cat’s forelegs and
shoulders form two continuous straight lines, close together.
PAWS:
oval. Toes: five in front and four behind.
COAT (SHORTHAIR):
medium length, soft and silky, but without
a noticeable undercoat.
COAT (LONGHAIR):
length medium-long to long, texture soft and
silky, with no noticeable undercoat in the mature adult. Frontal
ruff desirable. Coat may be shorter and close lying over the
shoulders, gradually lengthening toward the rump, with noticeable
longer hair on the tail and rear britches. Ear and toe tufts desirable.
Coat should lie so as to accent the lines of the body.
TAIL:
the tail is unique not only to the breed, but to each individual
cat. This is to be used as a guideline, rather than promoting
one specific type of tail out of the many that occur within the
breed.
The tail must be clearly visible and is composed of one or more
curves, angles, or kinks or any combination thereof. The furthest
extension of the tail bone from the body should be no longer than
three inches. The direction in which the tail is carried is not important.
The tail may be flexible or rigid and should be of a size and
shape that harmonizes with the rest of the cat.
COLOR:
No color or pattern is preferred over any other. In the
dominant colored bi-colors and tri-colors (Ml-KE) any color may
predominate with preference given to bold, dramatic markings
and vividly contrasting colors. In the dilute colored bi-colors and
tri-colors (MI-KE), any color may predominate, with preference
given to soft, muted markings and gently contrasting colors. In
the solid color cat the coat color should be of uniform density and
color from the tip to the root of each hair and from the nose of the
cat to the tail. Nose leather, paw pads, and eye color should harmonize
generally with coat color. Blue eyes and odd eyes are
allowed.
No color or pattern is preferred over any other. In the
dominant colored bi-colors and tri-colors (Ml-KE) any color may
predominate with preference given to bold, dramatic markings
and vividly contrasting colors. In the dilute colored bi-colors and
tri-colors (MI-KE), any color may predominate, with preference
given to soft, muted markings and gently contrasting colors. In
the solid color cat the coat color should be of uniform density and
color from the tip to the root of each hair and from the nose of the
cat to the tail. Nose leather, paw pads, and eye color should harmonize
generally with coat color. Blue eyes and odd eyes are
allowed.