American Bobtail Longhair

American Bobtail Longhair - an intelligent cat breed discovered by accident

Around 1964, an American couple found a small wildcat with a short, erect tail in Arizona (USA). The couple took the kitten in and took care of it from then on. They gave the little cat the name "Yodi". They crossed Yodie with a Siamese cat "Mishi" and interestingly the newborn kittens all had the same short erect tail. This meant that the "clipped tail" gene had to be dominant. The first American Bobtail cats were bred. The name "Bobtail" is an abbreviation from the English and stands for "bobbed tail", which means something like "clipped tail".

Initially, these cats' coats were shorthaired, but crossbreeding with the "Himalayan breed" (a form of Persian cat native to the United States) resulted in the longhaired version of the American Bobtail. These have the same characteristics as the short-haired ones and were approved by the T.I.C.A. in 1989. (English The International Cat Association – German The International Cat Association) officially recognized as a new breed. Today, when breeding such cats, attempts are made to meet the breed standards (see below) so that they can be sold better. In 2002, the American Bobtail Longhair achieved world championship status at the C.F.A (Cat Fancier's Association) and in 2006 at the T.I.C.A. There are currently more than 2800 American Bobtail cats at the T.I.C.A. registered.

The most striking appearance feature is undoubtedly the short tail. It is about 1/4 to 1/2 times the size of cats with "normal tail lengths". It has to be said that not all "Bobtails" are born with a short tail, which is due to the different genetic predisposition.

Another characteristic is their "double-layered coat", which keeps the Bobtail cats warm in the winter and then sheds again in the summer. The coat comes in all color combinations, with the brown tabby, silver, and slightly bluish color scheme predominating.

The lynx-like fur tips are often present on the ears, which sometimes reminds the American Bobtail of a big cat. The cat's meow ranges from a squawk to a squeaky meow. After about two to three years, the body of an American Bobtail Semi-Longhair cat is fully grown.

Because of their athletic build, the American Bobtail Longhair has a lot of temperament. Thanks to relatively high intelligence, she is easy to train. This cat breed is very loyal, good-natured and requires a lot of love. However, not the extensive grooming (brushing 2-3 times a week) as is the case with most pedigree cats. Due to her clingy behavior, it can happen that she follows her caregiver from room to room.

She gets along very well with other dogs and even shows trusting behavior with dogs. She gets along well with people of all ages and is sometimes more reminiscent of a dog due to her playfulness. Most American Bobtail cats love to play with water and chase their tails.

These pedigree cats are even used for therapeutic purposes as they evoke a positive sensation in most viewers. In general, bobtails are considered "escape experts" and that's why you should always keep an eye on indoor cats.

Each breeding breed is assigned characteristic features by the local breeding association, which are intended to describe the pheno- and genotypic properties of this breed (breed standards).

The head of an American Bobtail Semi-Longhair cat is relatively broad and shows some curves, especially in the cheeks and forehead. The nose is broad and slightly curved. The jawbones and chin are strongly built. The ears should be medium-sized and slightly rounded, with lynx-like fur tips on the ears being particularly popular. The ears stand out attentively and are hairy on the inside.

The eyes are oval in shape, fairly large and wide. The color of the eyes should harmonize with the color of the coat.

The musculature of the body as well as the neck is strong. The chest is broad and the bones are solid. The back has a slight sweeping curve.

Interestingly, the cat's hind legs are slightly longer than the front legs. Large, round paws with small tufts of fur between and on the toes are also part of the breed standard.

The tail should be about 2.5 cm to about 10 cm long and extensively haired. Only on the tail and neck has the hair grown longer. The fur has a medium-length thick growth and feels somewhat rough. Cats without a tail or tails of normal length are not accepted. Those animals are then not considered bobtails.

Due to the breeding of the American Bobtail Longhair, the mouth can be a bit too short. The bone structure could be weak or the spine could be curved or too short. The fur may also not correspond to the norm and show growth that is too smooth.