American Bobtail

The American Bobtail cat breed originated during the 1960’s. This is not a very common cat breed. The American Bobtail has a tail that is one third of a normal cat’s tail length. This cat breed is not related to the Japanese Bobtail. This cat breed enjoys playing fetch, and going for on-leash walks. It is a cat breed that is very easily trainable, and thrives on being with family.

Physical Description

The American Bobtail fully matures at around age three. It takes longer than other domestic cat breeds. This is a sturdy, and well-built cat breed that has a short tail. With a long body that has a stocky build, the chest is full and broad. The shape rectangular. Hips are wide, and hind legs are longer than the forelegs. All paws are round and large, and yield furry tufts of fur for winter warmth and comfort in the snow. The head is wedge-shaped, with skull size proportionate to the body. Nose to brow yields a concave curve. The muzzle is broad with large whisker pads. Ears are medium-sized and wide. Eyes are almond-shaped. Tail is end is visible above the cat’s back. Tail is knotted, or may have bumps. Eye color will vary according to coat color. The temperament is sociable and affectionate. Movement is agile and free flowing.

Temperament

The American Bobtail is devoted to family, and is very easily trained to walk on a leash. This cat breed enjoys playing with interactive cat toys, other cats, and children. The American Bobtail makes for an ideal family companion.

The American Bobtail breed is sweet to strangers, and is an intelligent cat breed that enjoys being pampered. Although very active if not exercised or mentally stimulated, the American Bobtail does well with lots of cuddles and interactive cat toys. This cat breed is children-friendly and pet friendly. The American Bobtail cat breed does well in an active home. This wonderful cat breed tends to be kind and affectionate. Opt for numerous puzzle toys, as well as interactive cat toys to keep your cat busy.

Animal Planet TV also works well to curb off loneliness when you’re out and about. American Bobtail cat parents often choose to have two American Bobtail cats to keep each other company, since this cat breed dislikes being alone.

Special Needs

The American Bobtail does best as both an indoor cat or outdoor cat since many have done well out in farms as well. Safety precautions need to be taken for all outdoor cats. The best method is keeping domesticated cats as both indoor and outdoor cats. When outdoors, this wonderful cat breed needs to be protected from wildlife and aggressive dogs. This is a very laid back cat breed that gets on well with everyone, and is also very trusting.

This American Bobtail may be prone to certain illnesses like all cat breeds, so it’s best to always keep a close eye on this fabulous cat breeds. The American Bobtail cat needs to be indoors during the hot summer months, as it is heat sensitive. It is a wonderfully easy cat breed to live with, but does need mental stimulation.

Litter boxes for cats need to be kept clean, or your cat may not use it. Self-cleaning litter boxes are popular today, and help with time management, allowing for more time to play time with kitty! Opt for environmentally friendly cat litter. Litter mats help keep everything tidy.

All cats will need parasite control and routine health care throughout its life. This means vaccinating your cats. This is an important part of keeping your cats healthy throughout their lives. Consult with your veterinarian for advice as to the safest flea and tick products to use.

The American Bobtail will also need to be spayed or neutered. Your cat needs to be protected from household dangers like cleaning supplies, toxic plants, electrical cords, and aggressive animals. Cats are carnivores, and will need a high-quality diet with plenty of fresh water every day. Exercise can be achieved through a variety of play toys that encourage running and a game of chase. Sedentary cats may be prone to obesity, and health problems later on in life. Dental hygiene is also important for this cat breed to prevent gum disease.

Possible Health Concerns

The American Bobtail is a very healthy and moderately active cat breed that may be susceptible to the following health conditions:

• Spinal Problems:The American Bobtail may be prone to a spinal problem where the spine is too short.
• Ringworm:This is an infection of the skin, hair, or claws, and is caused by a fungus called dermatophyte. This occurs in 98% of cats. It spreads easily from cats to people. Symptoms include circular, bald patches that scale and have broken hairs in a ring-like fashion. Consult with your veterinarian for advice.
• Hip Dysplasia: This is rare in domestic cats, and is common in purebred cats. This occurs when the hip joint is loose, and leads to degenerative joint disease. (osteoarthritis) Symptoms include lameness that can be mild to severe. Cats generally need no surgery for hip dysplasia. Weight reduction can help reduce discomfort.

Exercise

When choosing cat toys for your American Bobtail, opt for toys that allow the entire family to play together. Toys like the Shimmer Glimmer are shimmery and plush, and allow for all cats to have plenty of fun with everyone. The wands allow for change-out-toys to prevent your cat from getting bored.

This cat breed needs daily exercise combined with plenty of mental stimulation through active play and interaction with people. Cat parents can use cat toys like the Mousr or Cat Dancer to get their cats to play. This will encourage your cat to play. Finding a variety of mentally stimulating cat toys will allow for your cat to lead a well-balanced life, with the right amount of exercise and mental stimulation. Cat harnesses also allow for daily walks.

This cat breed is an active cat breed, that thrives on attention and free-play. That said, this cat breed still needs to play and interact with people, but needs to have plenty of environmental stimulation 24/7. Cat gyms, cat scratchers, and interactive cat toys within a cat friendly home environment work best for this fabulous cat breed.

Look out for the latest cat toys like Ripple rug play mats, the Feather Whirls, pet cube toys, food trees, turbo scratcher toys, cat companion interactive toys, and electronic motion toys. All these and many more will keep your cat entertained when you’re out and about. Chasing, hunting, and attacking toys are some of the methods that cats will use when playing with interactive toys. When out shopping for cat toys, opt for safe TPA materials that have no toxic BPA or BHT. Ultimately, what feline pet parents need to achieve is bonding through free play and exercise.

Nutrition

Food has the power to heal; yet that healing is totally dependent on the quality of the ingredients within each cat food recipe. Cat food recipes are also constantly changing. This is done to update formulas according to new scientific research, and also to keep costs down. Cat parents need to focus on AAFCO for pet food updates. Cat parents should also look out for the following:

• Diets that have the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) statement on the label stating that the feline diets have undergone animal feeding trials for the appropriate life stage. These are preferable to feline diets that are formulated by computer to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for the life state.
• Some cats may be prone to digestive issues or serious allergies. Consult with your veterinarian as to the best cat food diet available. You will need to understand your cat’s current health and nutritional needs first.

Feeding the right amount of a high-quality cat food is also important. When overfeeding cats, obesity and overworking a cat’s digestive system occurs. When underfeeding, numerous other health concerns occur. If in doubt, consult with your veterinarian for advice on how much to feed your American Bobtail.

The American Bobtail cat breed will need proper nutrition. That said, a high-quality diet that is appropriate for the specific life stage of the cat is necessary. Protein as an ingredient, needs to come first. Dry cat food is a popular choice because it promotes healthier gums and teeth. Yet, wet food is highly recommended by veterinarians because it provides more moisture to cats.

All cat breeds need high- quality fat and protein in their diets. They also need amino acids, including taurine that cannot be found in either human food or dog food. There are also numerous specialty diets for your cat that are formulated specifically for certain medical problems like urinary tract disorder, obesity, or kidney disease.

All cats do well by being fed twice daily. During kittenhood, kittens will need to be fed every few hours. Growing kittens need more calories, nutrients, vitamins, protein, and calories. Your cat should be able to enjoy a peaceful meal in a quiet corner of the house. Some cat parents prefer to leave cat kibble out 24/7. When looking for a high-quality cat food, here’s what to look out for:

• No low-quality fillers
• No artificial additives
• Low grade ingredients or toxic ingredients
• All cat food has to be meat-based because all cats are carnivores.
• No garlic
• Plant-based ingredients should be listed after the protein-based ingredients

Consult with your veterinarian for the best dietary advice for your cat.

Grooming

Cat pampering is a norm today with feline pet parents wanting the very best for the cats. Your American Bobtail cat may be susceptible to skin diseases originating from flea bites, mites, yeast infections, and infections. Opt for natural cat grooming products to help resolve these skin irritants. Consult with your veterinarian regarding any skin issues.

All cat breeds have highly sensitive skin. By using grooming wipes and waterless shampoos in between bathing schedules, you’ll have a healthier cat.

This cat breed is easily groomed. The American Bobtail will need daily grooming to remove shedding hair, and to maintain skin and coat health. Because this breed has a medium coat, daily grooming care is required. Stainless steel combs help to remove dead hair.

Curry brushes help with grooming, and will remove dead hair and debris from your cat’s coat. All cat breeds will groom themselves several times throughout the day. Daily grooming is necessary because it limits the amount of hair that your cat will consume. This helps limit the development of hairballs. Your cat will enjoy being groomed. Coat hair always looks best during the cold winter months. Cats that have been spayed or neutered will have great coats year- round. This is because hormonal changes in cats affects coat length and thickness.

Cat parents can remove mats by using cat clippers which are safer than using scissors. Daily cleaning with pet wipes beneath the tail is necessary. Ears should be checked weekly for cleanliness and sensitivity. If there is a build-up of wax and dirt, organisms can lead to an ear infection.

Consult with your veterinarian about safe and gentle ear cleaning techniques. Nail trimming is necessary every few weeks. Eyes should also be cleaned gently every morning with cotton wool or a soft wipe. Each eye should be cleaned with different wipes or cotton balls to avoid eye infection contamination in both eyes. Nails should be trimmed when needed.

Healthy cats need minimal bathing with a gentle cat shampoo. Your cat will need dental care as well. By feeding dry food, and having professional dental cleanings with your veterinarian throughout your cat’s lifetime, your cat will have less of a chance of developing gingivitis or gum disease.

Small and frequent effective hygiene habits will make a big difference in maintaining healthy skin, healthy teeth, and good overall health. Look for environmentally safe pet products that have natural ingredients.

There are so many wonderful feline products like the warming cat mat that makes grooming comfortable for your Wegie. It is designed to help aching joints, and increase blood circulation. Rosemary feline shampoo bars have essential oils that also help to improve circulation, all the while moisturizing hair and skin, and preventing hair loss in your cat.

Adopting an American Bobtail

Numerous felines get lost when out wandering, and end up at shelters. According to the ASPCA, only 33% of pet owners keep their pets tagged, and only 2-5% of shelter cats are reclaimed by their cat parents. Even if your American Bobtail is an indoor cat, he or she should wear identification at all times. Doors and windows end up being opened, and it takes a few seconds for your cat to escape. There are also numerous unplanned situations like weather disasters, or home fires. The best form of identification for your American Bobtail should consist of a collar with ID tags and a microchip. Consult with your veterinarian for advice about Pet Hub, Blanket ID, and microchipping for your American Bobtail cat breed.

Socialization is very important for all cat breeds, no matter how docile a breed is. With socialization, cats learn how to get along with other cats, animals, and people. Kittens need to begin socialization from 2-7 weeks of age. It should continue throughout a cat’s lifetime. Cats should never be neglected or left alone for long periods of time. If out at work all day, cat parents should consider getting two cats for companionship purposes. That said, your cat should never be placed in a dangerous environment or be near aggressive dogs or people.

All cat breeds that have not been socialized during kittenhood, and during the latter stages of life will fear humans and avoid human contact. By playing with and providing the best care for your rescue, you’ll be developing a close bond, and working toward reducing, and eventually eliminating any negative feline behaviors with positive clicker training.

Natural feline behaviors like urine marking, soiling outside the litter box, fighting with a new cat, may be behaviors that you’ll have to deal with when bringing your new cat home. If you have other cats at home, they may be territorial, and see the newcomer as a threat. All these problems can be worked through with the help of a good veterinarian and cat behavioral therapist.

That said, the American Bobtail is one of the most popular cat breeds in the U.S. This is a sweet, family-friendly cat breed that loves being with family. They get on with other cat breeds, dogs, and even strangers. Children can pick up this breed, and the American Bobtail will be just as relaxed. With intelligent personalities, and fun attitudes, adopting this cat breed will be extremely rewarding for the entire family.

When choosing your cat, ask questions, and look for a great temperament! That said, numerous cats can be quirky at shelters, but soon settle down in their new homes, and become very friendly and sociable. All cats deserve a safe and cat-friendly home.

Give your American Bobtail the very best life, filled with plenty of TLC and regular veterinary care. Keep in mind that vaccinations and parasite control are an important part of feline health care.

Consider pet health insurance for your cat. With so many great and affordable pet health plans available today, there’s no reason to avoid keeping your pet covered in case of an emergency.

Your cat will also need to be protected from household hazards, most especially electrical cables, poisonous plants, medication, and open windows. The American Bobtail makes for a wonderful adoption! As usual, make sure that children are always gentle and quiet around your cat.

Give your cat time to adjust to his new surroundings. As with any cat adoption, make sure that you have the time and resources to take good care of your very sweet American Bobtail!

Brief History

The American Bobtail’s stubby tail is the result of a genetic mutation. It is thought that the unusual tail is linked to the Manx gene. This breed originated when Brenda and John Sanders became the proud cat parents to a short-tailed kitten in Arizona. This kitten was named Yodi, and he became the forefather to the breed. Mindy Schultz, a family friend who bred Persians, started breeding the short-tailed cats with other cats that had short tails. She bred them together with Charlotte Bentley. Both wanted to breed cats with a strong and sturdy build, short tails, and sweet temperament.

The American Bobtail was recognized by the International Cat Association (TICA) in 1989. This breed has also been accepted for championship competition by Tica, The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), and the American Cat Fanciers’ Association. (ACFA) The German based World Cat Federation (WCF) recognizes this breed as both the American Bobtail Longhair, and the American Bobtail Shorthair. That said, it is not accepted for showing, and there is no breed standard set at the WCF. (Germany)