10 Unique Bobtail Cat Breeds

These bobtail breeds are different from your average cat.

Bobtail cat breeds stand out for their unique tail, or lack thereof. Resulting from a naturally occurring genetic mutation, these cat breeds don't have the long, expressive tail of most domesticated cats. Instead, they have a tail that's about one-third the length of a normal cat's tail.

What little tails they do have may be straight, kinked, bent, or extra fluffy. Besides the tail, these cat breeds range in appearance, size, and personality.

Learn more about these 10 bobtail cat breeds.

Japanese Bobtail

Sporting a bunny-like tail that's often called a "pom," the Japanese bobtail is a fairly small cat breed with a tail that is straight or bent. As the name suggests, this breed is closely associated with Japan, though it also might have originated in other parts of Asia, including China, Korea, and Tibet. These cats tend to have affectionate and playful personalities.

Breed Overview

Height: 8 to 9 inches

Weight: 5 to 10 pounds

Coat and Color: Medium length coat; comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, including white, black, cream, lilac, red, blue, bicolor, and tricolor

Life Span: 15 to 18 years

American Bobtail

The American bobtail breed was developed in the 1960s. A couple adopted a stray cat with a short tail and bred him to their female cat with a typical long tail. The resulting kittens had a distinctive short tail, and the trait was selectively bred for in future generations. American bobtails are generally sweet and playful with their families. These cats are rare and can cost $600 to $1,200 on average.                  

Breed Overview

Height: 9 to 10 inches

Weight: 7 to 16 pounds

Coat and Color: Short to long coat that is typically shaggy; comes in many colors and patterns

Life Span: 15 to 20 years

Pixie-Bob

With the appearance of a miniature bobcat, the pixie-bob is one of the most wild-looking bobtail cat breeds—but rest assured this domesticated cat is an easygoing and affectionate feline friend. Pixie-bob tails can range in length from nonexistent to a few inches to a full tail. Another interesting feature is that many are polydactyl, meaning their paws have extra toes. They’re also described as doglike, and will do things like play fetch or walk on a leash.

Breed Overview

Height: 10 to 12 inches

Weight: 11 to 22 pounds

Coat and Color: Short to shaggy coat; comes in many colors and patterns including stripes and spots

Life Span: 12 to 14 years

Manx

Manx can have varying tail lengths. Some Manx cats have no tails, while others have very short tails. A Manx with no tail is referred to as a "rumpy," while a Manx with some tail bone protrusion is called a "rumpy riser." Regardless of which category a Manx falls into, these cats have a stocky, athletic build with a short back. They’re known to be powerful jumpers and an active member of the family.

Breed Overview

Height: 7 to 9 inches

Weight: 8 to 12 pounds

Coat and Color: Short, dense coat; comes in a variety of colors and patterns

Life Span: 8 to 14 years

Kurilian Bobtail

This bobtail cat breed lived for centuries on the Kuril Islands between Siberia and Japan. The bobbed tail is a naturally occurring trait and can range in length. In fact, no Kurilian bobtail cats have tails that look exactly alike. These cats are quite muscular, and they love to play. They also are intelligent and social, and typically get along well with people and other pets. Plus, they’re known for their ability to catch mice.

Breed Overview

Height: 9 to 12 inches

Weight: 11 to 15 pounds

Coat and Color: Soft, silky, short or semi-long coat; colors and patterns include red, gray, tabby, bobcat stripes, and more

Life Span: 15 to 20 years

Cymric

The Cymric is essentially a longhaired version of the Manx. Some—but not all—breed registries recognize it as a separate cat breed. Cymric cats have a dense double coat and typically lack a tail altogether, though some are born with a bobbed tail or even a full-length tail. A litter may include both Manx (shorthaired) and Cymric (longhaired) kittens because cats can carry the genes to produce either coat type.

Breed Overview

Height: 7 to 9 inches

Weight: 8 to 12 pounds

Coat and Color: Medium to long fur; comes in many colors and patterns

Life Span: 8 to 14 years

Highlander

The highlander is a new type of cat, originating in 2004 from a cross between a desert lynx and jungle curl, two hybrid cat breeds. This breed used to be known as the highland lynx. These cats have a wild look, but they are typically gentle and loving. They have a naturally occurring bobbed tail that ranges from around 2 to 6 inches long, though some kittens are born with full-length tails.

Breed Overview

Height: 10 to 16 inches

Weight: 10 to 20 pounds

Coat and Color: Short or long coat; comes in a variety of colors and patterns

Life Span: 10 to 15 years

Mekong Bobtail

The Mekong bobtail originated in Thailand centuries ago and looks like a Siamese with a bobtail. This cat has a naturally bobbed tail that can vary in length and can be curved or kinked in different ways. Thus, every tail on a Mekong bobtail has a slightly different look. These cats don’t need a tail to help with their athleticism—they’re quite agile and love to climb and leap. They are smart and social and enjoy interacting with their family, so they require a lot of attention.

Breed Overview

Height: 7 to 9 inches

Weight: 8 to 10 pounds

Coat and Color: Short, glossy coat with barely any undercoat; comes in a variety of colors

Life Span: 15 to 18 years

Karelian Bobtail

The Karelian bobtail hails from the Republic of Karelia, located between Finland and Russia. The bobbed tail is a naturally recessive gene, so both parents must have it for the kittens to have it. The tail can be bent, kinked, or twisted, and it sports longer fur than the rest of the body, giving it a pom-pom look. Overall, these cats tend to be quite friendly and easygoing companions.

Breed Overview

Height: 8 to 12 inches

Weight: 10 to 15 pounds

Coat and Color: Silky, dense, long or short coat; comes in several patterns and colors

Life Span: 15 to 18 years

Desert Lynx

The desert lynx was bred to look like a bobcat. Several domestic cat breeds are in the breed's genetic makeup, including the Maine coon, Manx, American bobtail, and pixie-bob. These cats do look like bobcats with their muscular body, short tail, and spotted coat. Despite their wild appearance, they tend to be social and affectionate, with somewhat of a doglike persona.

Breed Overview

Height: 10 to 16 inches

Weight: 8 to 16 pounds

Coat and Color: Bobcat-like appearance; spotted or ticked coat that is commonly chocolate, silver, black, or blue

Life Span: 13 to 15 years

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Read the original article on The Spruce Pets.