Description, nature, feeding and breeding of cats Japanese Bobtail

Cats are rightfully considered the most beloved pets that people prefer to bring in their homes. Today there are a huge number of breeds of such animals, many of which attract attention due to their exotic appearance. Japanese bobtail cats belong to such pets, in light of which they are in demand among breeders around the world.

Animals are famous for their centuries-old history, since their images are found on fragments of cave painting, which dates back to the first century AD. Bobtails in their homeland are subject to admiration and adoration, since Japanese believe that the animal is able to bring good luck and success to its owner.

The birthplace of cats with a tail in the form of a pompom is considered East Asia, from where the breed gradually spread throughout the world. According to Asian beliefs, a negative force was enclosed in the tail of the animal, and in order for the animals to become harmless, this source of evil was simply cut off from them.

Externally, Japanese Bobtail cats are not impressive in size. Animals have a medium-sized non-muscular physique, individuals are not inclined to gain weight too much, therefore they do not suffer from fullness and obesity. The main feature of the breed is the tail, which also consists of a standard number of vertebrae, but only a smaller size. The vertebrae in the tail are able to bend, so visually the tail is, as it were, located on the back of the animal.

The tail length of the bobtails in a straightened state does not exceed 15 centimeters, in the usual curved form it will be half of this length. It may seem to the average layman that the tail is chopped off, since the bends of the vertebrae can be felt only when palpating.

It is generally accepted that a breed is the result of a natural mutation in which a person did not participate.

It is worth noting that for each individual of this breed, the tail will be unique in its structure, type of curl of the vertebrae and fluffiness. However, experts divide animals into 2 categories:

• animals with a chrysanthemum tail;

• cats with a tail-spiral.

In the first case, it is located in cats in the form of a ring, while the hair on the tail will be fluffy, which gives the twisted tail the outline of a bud or pompom. The spiral tail tails of the bobtail close in a circle, the tail may have several bends-rings. As a rule, it is denser to the back of the animal, which visually reduces its size.

The breed has distinctive signs that confirm the thoroughbredness of the animal.

• Cats and cats stand out for their slender and toned body. The average weight of Japanese bobtail is 3-4 kilograms.
• The head will have a triangular shape, while sharp angles and bends should not be present on it. The muzzle is slightly elongated forward, with brightly defined cheekbones, rounded but tucked cheeks and a slightly elongated nose.
• The ears of the Asian cat breed will be large. At the base, they expand, rounded at the ends, planted widely.
• Bobtail eyes are considered no less expressive. They will be oval, but not convex. Any color of the pupils is allowed.
• The limbs are long, while the legs will be oval.
• Wool without dense undercoat, mostly short. Cats can be of different colors.

It should be noted that the breed of Japanese Bobtail is characterized by heterochromia, which is manifested by pupils of different colors in one individual. Very often you can meet cats with one yellow eye, while the other will be blue.

The lifespan of Asian cats varies between 12-15 years, but this indicator largely depends on the conditions of the animal.

Before acquiring cats of any breed, it is imperative to study the characteristics of the habits and customs of the animal you like. As for the Japanese bobtail, such a pet will not be able to get along with a sedentary owner who prefers a passive rest.

Owners of such animals should consider the active and playful lifestyle and nature of cats, so for them It is recommended to provide maximum free space for movement, as well as purchase toys, ladders and descents for the cat.

In addition to a pronounced interest in birds, fish and small rodents, which can become prey for a cat, an Asian cat stands out with such a character trait as housekeeping, therefore, it should have several personal beds in the house from which the animal will open a good overview of the entire room for control. In addition, cats and cats need a private space for privacy, where no one will disturb the pet.

Another feature of the character of Japanese bobtail is a rather zealous attitude to other pets in the house.If the breeder is not limited to one cat in the home, then regular fights between animals are not ruled out in the light of rivalry among themselves. A similar situation can be with dogs.

However, cats are in contact with strangers with a high degree of endurance and tolerance, and bobtail also adequately and without aggression react to infants and children.

Cats of Asian breed pretty quickly adopt bad habits from humans and other animals, therefore such a pet is recommended to be raised from a very young age.

And bobtails are very curious and smart, so the breeder can train animals in simple commands, the main thing is to conduct training in the manner of the game.

Today, culling of individuals by the length of the wool is not carried out by specialists, Therefore, you can meet Japanese Bobtail of the following types:

• longhair;

• half-long-haired;

• shorthair.

The latter option is most common. The fur coat of the animal is silky and soft, a wool layer may be present on the hind limbs.

Today, the following colors of Japanese bobtail are common:

• bicolor;

• calico.

The last type of color suggests the presence of stripes and spots on the wool with clear boundaries. Most often there are white cats with red or black blotches on the coat. In this case, red and black will be present on the head, tail and ears.

According to the color, there is some sort of rejection - for example, purple and chocolate are considered to be an unacceptable color for Japanese bobtail, and purebred representatives of the breed cannot have an Abyssinian coat color.

Monochrome bobtail, as well as tricolor cats with predominant dark colors, are highly valued.

Japanese bobtail breeders are not required to provide animals with any specific housing conditions. Pets are distinguished by independence, so they take excellent care of themselves from a young age. Hair care is reduced to a weekly combing out of a cat with a rubberized brush. During molting, you can do this 2 times more often. Combing will be needed mainly for long-haired varieties of the breed.

A feature of Japanese bobtail is its sensitivity to lower indoor temperatures, as animals lack a natural undercoat, they can freeze and even catch a cold. Therefore, the breeder should maintain the room temperature in the home.

Since cats have rather large auricles, they will need to be cleaned at least once a week. Hygiene procedures should be carried out using a moist cotton pad. And also the owner of the Asian cat should monitor the cleanliness and health of the animal’s eyes, because in the light of their large size, the organs of vision become a target for dust and other impurities that can provoke inflammatory processes of the organs of vision.

Caring for a cat at home will require the breeder to pay attention to the claws of the animal, since they grow quite quickly, can turn inside, thereby causing discomfort to the cat during walking.

Japanese bobtail do not require the selection of any specialized food, so they can be fed with ordinary natural food with the obligatory inclusion of lean meats in the diet. A third of the cat's daily menu will be allocated to cereals and vegetables that the pet needs to replenish carbohydrate and dietary fiber reserves.

If the natural food option for bobtail is chosen, then the breeder should offer the animal eggs, sea fish, sour cream and sour-milk products, meat offal.

Specialized feeds of industrial production for the breed are not produced, therefore dry and canned options are allowed to be selected taking into account the length of the animal’s hair, as well as special conditions such as pregnancy or castration. According to the owners reviews for bobtail premium food will be suitable.

To obtain purebred offspring, only Japanese Bobtail breed animals should be crossed. As a rule, female animals will be ready for breeding at the age of 1.5-2 years, after they pass 2-3 estrus. It is not recommended to use animals for breeding before the due date, since there is a risk of the birth of underdeveloped kittens. It is possible to give birth to females no more than once or twice a year. As for cats, they will be ready for mating at about the same age as cats.

Usually, bobtail litter has 2-4 kittens, rejection in the case of crossing purebred animals has a fairly minimal percentage.

Pets that are not planned to be used for offspring are best castrated or sterilized. The optimal age of the animal for such operations will be 10-12 months. For females, it is important to sterilize before two years.

You can learn more about this cat from the video below.