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