Japanese Bobtail
Japanese Bobtail | |
---|---|
Origin | Japan |
Breed standards | |
CFA | standard |
FIFe | standard |
TICA | standard |
CCA-AFC | standard |
Domestic cat (Felis catus) |
The Japanese Bobtail is a breed of domestic cat with an unusual
As in most other breeds, Japanese Bobtails may have almost any color (or colors, arranged in any number of patterns). Predominantly-white calicoes are especially favored by the Japanese and by cat fanciers,[citation needed] and strongly represented in folklore, though other colorations are also accepted by breed standards.
History
Feral and domestic cats with shortened and kinked tails were first documented in
A 2016 study has identified that the kinked tails in these cats are the result of a missense mutation of the HES7 gene. It is the same cause of the mutation in Japanese Bobtails, making it likely that the ancestral founder of the Japanese bobtail is originally from Southeast Asia or China and that the bobtail trait already existed prior to their introduction to Japan.[2]
It is unknown when cats were first introduced to Japan, but they likely arrived through multiple introductions from trade with the rest of Asia. It is believed that they first arrived along with
In 1602, Japanese authorities decreed that all cats should be set free to help deal with rodents threatening the nation's
Around 1701, in Kaempfer's Japan, the first book written by a Westerner about the flora, fauna, and landscape of Japan, German doctor Engelbert Kaempfer (1651 – 1716) wrote, "there is only one breed of cat that is kept. It has large patches of yellow, black and white fur; its short tail looks like it has been bent and broken. It has no mind to hunt for rats and mice but just wants to be carried and stroked by women."
In 1968, Elizabeth Freret is the first known person to have imported the Japanese Bobtail to the Western Hemisphere from Japan.[6] The short hair Japanese Bobtail was accepted for Championship status in the Cat Fanciers' Association in 1976. Recognition for the long hair variety followed in 1993.[6] As of 2013, there are a number of Japanese Bobtail breeders, most of which are based in North America with a few in Europe and at least one in Japan; yet the breed remains rare.
The Bobtail cats are considered to be a lucky breed and to own one promises prosperity and happiness. The tricoloured, Mi-Ke (pronounced 'mee keh') is known as the luckiest colour for this breed. There is a Japanese statue of a cat with its paw in the air called
Breed standard
The Japanese Bobtail is a recognised breed by all major registering bodies, with the exception of the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), the domestic registry of the United Kingdom.
- Head: The head should form an equilateral triangle. (Not including ears)
- Ears: Large, upright, set wide apart but at right angles to the head and looking as if alert.
- Muzzle: Fairly broad and round neither pointed nor blunt.
- Eyes: Large, oval rather than round. They should not bulge out beyond the cheekbone or the forehead.
- Body: Medium in size (usually 2.7 - 4kg, or 6 - 9lbs).[8] males larger than females. Long torso, lean and elegant, showing well developed muscular strength. Balance is also very important.
- Neck: Not too long and not too short, in proportion to the length of the body.
- Legs: Long, slender, and high. The hind legs longer than the forelegs.
- Paws: Oval.
- Toes: five in front and four behind.
- Coat (Shorthair): Medium length, soft and silky.
- Coat (Longhair): Length medium-long to long, texture soft and silky gradually lengthening toward the rump.
- Tail: The tail must be clearly visible and is made up of one or more kinked or curved articulations.
Breed characteristics
Personality
This breed is good for families.[5] Due to their affectionate nature, they are well suited pets for children and communicate with people using soft chirpy noises. This breed is highly attracted to water, very smart, and known for playful behavior, always full of energy and mischief. A very loyal breed, Bobtails make great companions.
Grooming
This breed has a minimal to medium amount of shedding, due to its short fur. Its coat is easy to groom.
Health
Just like any animal, there can be a number of different health problems that could be related to the genetics. This being said, the Japanese Bobtails are generally healthy cats. The recessive gene paired with the shortened tails is not associated with any spinal or bone abnormalities.
The average lifespan for this breed is 9–15 years.[5]
Care
They enjoy climbing and can be prone to obesity.
Breeding and genetics
Mutation
The short tail is a
See also
Health
Recent scientific studies on cat genetics led by researchers has indicated that the Japanese Bobtail breed is one of the most genetically diverse of pedigree breeds.[11] Compared with other breeds, Japanese Bobtails tend to have smaller litters with the kittens being proportionally larger at birth and developing at a faster rate. Kitten mortality rates are reported to be comparatively low.[12]
Odd-eyed specimens
Rarely, a Japanese Bobtail, especially a predominantly white specimen, may have
Behavior
Generally speaking, members of the breed are active, intelligent cats, with a strongly human-oriented nature, are easier to train to perform tricks than most breeds, and are more likely to enjoy learning human-mediated activities like walking on a harness and leash, and playing fetch. They are very attentive, alert felines that notice a lot.[6] Considered an unusually "talkative" breed, they often interact vocally with people.[6] Their soft voices are capable of nearly a whole scale of tones, leading to a folk belief that they can sing.
Folklore and legend
Cats are featured prominently in Japanese folklore. As in many other traditions around the world, cats are frequently objects of fear and mistrust, with various supernatural abilities ascribed to them. But in some Japanese stories, the length of their tails is an important plot point, with the Japanese Bobtail seen as auspicious, while long-tailed cats may be suspected of being nekomata, a type of evil spirit.
The
One legend of the origin of the breed's short tail, tells of a sleeping cat whose long tail caught fire; it then ran through town, spreading flames everywhere. With the capital in ashes, the Emperor decreed that all cats should have their tails cut short as a preventative measure.[7]
While legends and superstitions may have favored the short-tailed breed, it seems likely that the Bobtail simply has a longer history in Japan than other recognizable breeds. It is also likely to have carried much prestige, having originated on the continent and arrived via Korea in the Asuka period (6th century CE), along with other prized articles of Chinese culture.[7]
In popular culture
The manga character Hello Kitty resembles a Japanese Bobtail, and is an example of contemporary kawaii ('cute') pop culture.[13] The character Muta from The Cat Returns was based on a stray Japanese Bobtail that would often visit Studio Ghibli. They also tend to appear in other anime produced in Japan.
In
Mochi, Hiro Hamada's cat in the Disney film Big Hero 6, is also a Japanese Bobtail.
In illustrator Jey Parks's 2017 book Star Trek Cats, Hikaru Sulu is depicted as a Japanese Bobtail.[15]
The titular cat Good Fortune in the Newbery Medal-winning book The Cat Who Went to Heaven is a tricolor Japanese Bobtail.
See also
References
- ^ "Japanese Bobtail". Fédération Internationale Féline. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
- ^ PMID 27560986.
- ^ Darwin, Charles (1868). The variation of animals and plants under domestication. London: John Murray.
- ^ Davisson, Zack (11 September 2020). "Japan's Love-Hate Relationship With Cats". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ a b c "Japanese Bobtail Cat Breed Information, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts". CatTime. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
- ^ a b c d "Breed Profile: Japanese Bobtail". CFAInc.org. Cat Fancier's Association. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ^ a b c "Japanese Bobtail Cat Breed - Facts and Personality Traits | Hill's Pet". Hill's Pet Nutrition. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
- ^ "Japanese Bobtail: Cat Breed FAQ". Archived from the original on 2016-09-12. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
- PMID 27560986.
- ^ Association, Cat Fanciers. "Breed Profile: The Japanese Bobtail". cfa.org. Archived from the original on 2018-01-18. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
- ^ "On The Trail of the Cat Scientists Find Surprises". Pandecats.com. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- ^ Association, Cat Fanciers. "Breed Profile: The Japanese Bobtail". Cfa.org. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- ^ del Barco, Mandalit (2010). "Hello Kitty Hooks Generations On Cute, Kitsch". NPR.
- ^ Grafton, Sue. (2013). "W" is for Wasted. G.P. Putnam.
- OregonLive.com. Advance Publications. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
External links
Media related to Japanese Bobtails at Wikimedia Commons