| American Bobtail |
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A brown tabby American bobtail.
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| Country of origin |
| United States |
| Breed standards (external links) |
| CFA, TICA |
The American Bobtail is a relatively new and uncommon breed of cat most notable for its stubby bobbed tail about half the length of a normal cat's tail. This is the result of a genetic mutation affecting the tail development, similar to that of a Manx. The cat is not related to the Japanese Bobtail despite the similar name and physical type — the breeding programs are entirely unrelated and the gene causing the mutation is entirely different.
American bobtails are a very sturdy breed, with both short or longhaired coats. Their coat is shaggy rather than dense or fluffy. They can have any colour of eyes and fur, with a strong emphasis on the wild tabby appearance in show animals.
According to legend, bobtails are the result of a crossbreeding between a domestic tabby cat and a bobcat. Although this IS genetically possible, the unusual tail is actually the result of a random genetic mutation. The breed was recognised by the International Cat Association in 1989.
External links
American Bobtail relatively new uncommon breed cat stubby bobbed tail half the length normal cat's tail