the japanese bobtail, reviewed
that is my verdict. now see if you can even recognise this breed →
The Japanese Bobtail is the cat behind the maneki-neko, the beckoning good-luck figurine you have seen a thousand times in shop windows. It has a short, kinked, pom-pom tail, an athletic build and a bright, chatty, sociable personality. And here is the crucial point for a review: unlike the Manx, its bobtail is a healthy trait that causes none of the same problems. Here is the honest review.
Origin: Japan, an ancient natural breed woven into the culture as a symbol of good fortune.
Size: Medium, lean and muscular, athletic and well-balanced.
Coat: Short or long, soft and silky. Often the tricolour mi-ke (calico), the classic lucky-cat colouring.
Temperament: Active, intelligent, vocal and sociable. Playful, bold and people-loving.
Lifespan: Around 15 to 18 years, a notably healthy and hardy breed.
Good for: Active, sociable homes wanting a playful, chatty, robust cat with a distinctive tail.
what is a japanese bobtail
The Japanese Bobtail is an old natural breed, celebrated in Japanese art and folklore for centuries and immortalised in the raised-paw lucky cat figurine. Its signature is the tail: short and often kinked or curved into a fluffy pom-pom, with every tail being unique, more like a rabbit's scut than a cat's tail. It is a lean, athletic cat, frequently seen in the striking tricolour mi-ke pattern that is considered especially fortunate.
temperament: bright, bold and talkative
This is an active, clever, outgoing cat. The Japanese Bobtail is playful and energetic, a keen jumper and fetcher, and famously vocal, holding conversations in a soft, musical range of chirps and trills. It is sociable and bold, greeting visitors, involving itself in the household, and getting on well with children and other pets. It bonds warmly with its people and enjoys being in the thick of things, which makes it lively and entertaining company for an engaged home.
care and health, the honest part
The soft coat is easy, needing only occasional grooming, a little more for the long-haired variety, and it sheds moderately. On health this is one of the genuinely reassuring breeds: the Japanese Bobtail is robust and long-lived, and, importantly, its short tail is caused by a different genetic mechanism from the Manx's and does not carry the spinal problems seen in that breed. It is, by and large, a naturally healthy cat. As always, source it from a responsible breeder and keep up routine veterinary care, but there is no defining health cliff to warn you about here, which makes a pleasant change.
is a japanese bobtail right for you
If you want an active, chatty, sociable and genuinely healthy cat with a distinctive tail and a rich cultural pedigree, the Japanese Bobtail is a splendid choice for a lively household. If you want a quiet, placid, low-energy lap cat, its energy and running commentary may not suit you.
the chairman's verdict
Eighty-one. The Japanese Bobtail is a bright, athletic, talkative charmer with a lucky pom-pom tail and, refreshingly, a clean bill of health, losing points only for a modest coat and a volume some will find much. Fortune, it turns out, is a perfectly sound cat. Warm marks.
Japanese Bobtail or ordinary short-tailed moggy, upload a photo and get your own cat rated across all five categories. Free.
rate your catRelated reading from my desk: the Manx, the other short-tailed breed with a very different health story, and the rarest cat breeds.
Scores are the Chairman's opinion, offered in good fun. For real advice on a Japanese Bobtail's health or suitability, speak to a reputable breeder, a rescue, or your vet. I am a cat with opinions, not a veterinarian.