| So You Want an American Bobtail?If you want a | | | | dominant.Since American Bobtails are very |
| friendly cat and don't mind that the breed | | | | friendly and a bit nosy, they are prone to |
| you've chosen is a bit of an upstart in the | | | | get into quite a bit of mischief if they are |
| cat world, since it only has existed since | | | | unsupervised and become bored. If you are |
| the nineteen sixties, you may want to | | | | away from home for long periods of time, you |
| consider the American Bobtail.The American | | | | should be sure that there are plenty of toys |
| Bobtail is one of only three breeds in the | | | | available so that your cat can amuse himself |
| Cat Fancier's Association's Provisional | | | | and still keep out of trouble. Since this |
| Class, which is where cat breeds are placed | | | | breed is fairly sociable, you may also want |
| until they show that they are able to stay | | | | to add a second cat to the household to avoid |
| true to their standards. This breed is a | | | | having your cat feel too lonely.The American |
| lightweight compared to many other breeds, | | | | Bobtail's outgoing temperament makes this |
| weighing in at seven to fifteen pounds.The | | | | breed an ideal choice for families. If you |
| American Bobtail received its name because of | | | | socialize your kitten from a young age, he |
| its extremely short tail. While no one is | | | | should actually look forward to having |
| completely sure how this breed was developed, | | | | friends and family visit.When the Bobtail was |
| cat fanciers suspect that the American | | | | first developed, this breed had quite a few |
| Bobcat, Manx, and Japanese Bobtail breeds are | | | | common health problems. However, in the late |
| all ancestors of the American Bobtail. | | | | twentieth century, concerned devotees of the |
| However, while the Manx can be completely | | | | breed worked to rid it of most of these |
| tailless and still are able to compete in the | | | | problems. Today, the American Bobtail is a |
| show ring, the American Bobtail must have a | | | | strong, sturdy cat.Since even the shorthair |
| tail. The tail should be short enough to stop | | | | has a coat of some length, you will need to |
| before it reaches the cat's hocks.While many | | | | groom your cat at least once a week. Although |
| cats have a sleek, slender appearance, the | | | | the longhair coat does not tangle easily, you |
| American Bobtail standard calls for a stocky, | | | | may need to groom your longhair Bobtail a bit |
| muscular cat with big paws and a slightly | | | | more frequently. If you accustom your kitten |
| wild appearance. This cat's head is wedge | | | | to the grooming process when he is young, he |
| shaped, but broader than normal. The Bobtail | | | | will actually grow to enjoy the attention.If |
| breed can be a shorthair or a longhair, but | | | | you want to own a cat who is sweet and |
| even shorthair cats do not have smooth coats. | | | | sociable, but still has an undomesticated |
| The shorthair coat still is long enough to | | | | streak, then the American Bobtail may just be |
| give the cat a bit of a shaggy look. While | | | | the perfect breed for you.I would love to |
| the Bobtail can come in any color, fawn and | | | | share my secrets with you and my new special |
| white, blue tabby, red tabby, and brown tabby | | | | articles on cat training do just that! |
| are the most common colors. Shorthair cats | | | | Everything you need to know to train your cat |
| are much more common than longhair cats, | | | | is included in these special reports: See our |
| since the shorthair gene is actually | | | | section on Cat Breeds. |