Japanese Bobtail (Cat)

The Japanese Bobtail should present the overall impression of a medium sized cat with long clean lines and bone structure, well-muscled but straight and slender, rather than massive in build.

General: The Japanese Bobtail should present the overall impression of a medium sized cat with long clean lines and bone structure, well-muscled but straight and slender, rather than massive in build. The unique set of its eyes, combined with high cheek bones and a long parallel nose, lend a distinctive Japanese cast to the face, especially in profile, quite different from the other Oriental Breeds. Its short tail should resemble a bunny tail with the hair fanning out in all directions to create a pom-pom appearance which effectively camouflages the underlying bone structure of the tail.

Head: Although the head appears long and finely chiseled, it forms an almost perfect equilateral triangle with gentle curving lines, high cheek bones, and a noticeable whisker break, the nose long and well defined by two parallel lines from tip to brow with a gentle dip at, or just below eye level.

Ears: Large, upright and expressive, set wide apart but at right angles to the head rather than flaring outward, and giving the impression of being tilted forward in repose.

Muzzle: Fairly broad and rounding into the whisker break; neither pointed nor blunt.

Eyes: Large, oval rather than round, but wide and alert; set into the skull at a round pronounced slant when viewed in profile. The eyeball shows a shallow curvature and should not bulge out beyond the cheekbone or the forehead. Color may be blue, odd or gold.

Body: Medium in size, long and lean but shapely and well muscled.

Legs: In keeping with the body, long slender and high but not dainty or fragile in appearance, the hind legs noticeably longer than the forelegs, but deeply angulated or bent when the cat is standing relaxed so that the torso remains nearly level rather than rising toward the rear. When standing, the cat's forelegs and shoulders form two continuous straight lines, close together.

Paws: Oval, with five toes in front and four on the back.

Coat: Medium length, soft and silky but without a noticeable undercoat. Relatively non-shedding.

Tail: The furthest extension of the tail bone from the body should be approximately two or three inches, even though the tail bone, if straightened out to its full length, might be four or five inches long. The tail is usually carried upright when the cat is relaxed. Hair on tail somewhat longer and thicker than body hair, growing outward in all directions to create a pom-pom or bunny tail effect which appears to commence at the base of the spine and which camouflages the underlying bone structure of the tail. The tail bone is usually strong and rigid rather than jointed (except at the base), and may be either straight or composed of one or several curves and angles.

Color: In keeping with Japan's traditional Mi-Ke (mee-kay) cats, which are tri-colored, (black, red and white), the preferred breeding colors are those that tend to produce tri-colored females. In bicolors and tri-colors, any color may predominate with preference given to bold, dramatic markings and vividly contrasting colors. Nose leather, paw pads, and eye color should harmonize generally with coat color. NOTE Eye color may be blue, copper, green, or odd-eyed. Blue eyes and odd-eyes are acceptable in bicolors, tricolors, and particolors as well as in solid white. Copper and green eyes are acceptable with all coat colors. Preference should be given to deep vivid shades of all eye colors.

Penalize: Short round head, cobby build.

NFA: Tail bone absent or extending too far beyond body; tail lacking in pom-pom or fluffy appearance, delayed bobtail effect (i.e.; the pom-pom being preceded by an inch or two of normal tail with close lying hair rather than appearing to commence at the base of the spine).

Accepted Colors:
Color descriptions are as for Persians with the following exceptions:

The cat is not disqualified for lockets or belly spots. Eye color ideally deep vivid green or copper in all colors except that solid white, bicolors, tricolors (Mi-Ke's) and particolors may also have blue eyes and odd eyes, preference to be given to the deeper more brilliant shades.

In bicolors, tricolors (Mi-Ke's) and particolors any color may predominate. Preference is given to bold, dramatic markings and vividly contrasting colors rather than a set proportion of the particular colors.

Particolors are any tabby pattern plus white in any proportion. This color class includes torbie and white patterns as well.

Solids
Tabbies
Bicolors
Blue Eyed White
Blue Tabby
Blue and White Bicolor
Copper Eyed White
Cream Tabby
Black and White Bicolor
Odd Eyed white
Red Tabby
Cream and White Bicolor
Green Eyed White
Brown Tabby
Red and White Bicolor
Blue
Black
Blue Mackerel Tabby
Blue and White Harlequin
Cream
Cream Mackerel Tabby
Black and White Harlequin
Red
Red Mackerel Tabby
Cream and White Harlequin
Brown Mackerel Tabby
Red and White Harlequin
Tortoiseshells
Mi-Ke
Particolors
Bluecream
Bluecream and White
Torbie and White
Tortoiseshell
Tortoiseshell and White
White w/Brown and Red Tabby
Torbie
White, Blue and Cream
pattern Mi-Ke
White, Black and red
Tabby and White
Tabby and White Harlequin

Revised 7/93

Source: AACE >>>