Size: Medium to large.
Coat Length(s): Medium hair and long hair.
Body Type: Moderate.
Grooming Requirement: Once a week (medium hair); twice a week (long hair).
Talkativeness: Average.
Activity Level: High.
Affection: Very Affectionate.
Usually Good With: Adults, seniors, and children (6+).
Time Alone: 4 to 8 hours per day.
Attention: Needs average attention.
Handling: Moderately docile.

Tail mutations occur quite often in domestic cats, so it’s likely that the American Bobtail’s abbreviated tail was a spontaneous mutation rather than the product of hybridization with bobcats. Bobcat–domestic cat matings occasionally have been observed, but first generation hybrid males are always sterile and second generation males usually are.

Although you can hear a number of stories about the breed’s origins, the best known is that the original Bobtail bloodline came from a mating between a short-tailed brown tabby male named Yodie and a seal point Siamese female. In the 1960s, Yodie was found hanging around an Arizona motel, supposedly dropped off by a child from a Native American reservation. Yodie’s parentage was unknown, but rumor had it that he was a product of a mating between a domestic cat and a bobcat, because he had a feral appearance and a short, bobcat-like tail. Vacationers John and Brenda Sanders adopted this unique Arizona souvenir and returned home with him to Clinton Country, Iowa.

Yodie successfully mated with the Sanders’ seal point Siamese (proving that he was not half bobcat after all) and the litter contained some bobtailed kittens, indicating that the gene governing Yodie’s tail was dominant, since only one copy of the gene was needed for the trait to appear in offspring.

In the early 1970s, a standard for the new breed was written, calling for a pointed pattern cat with white mittens, a white facial blaze, blue eyes and a short tail. The name American Bobtail was chosen. Breeders added domestic cats and breeds such as Ragdolls, Birmans, Himalayans, Siamese and possibly Manx into the bloodlines.

However, the difficulty of producing cats resembling that standard—pointed pattern, white mittens, facial blaze, blue eyes, short tail—made breeders increasingly frustrated. The original lines from Yodie and his descendants became inbred and unhealthy.

In the mid-1980s a group of breeders took on the task of refurbishing the breed to look like Yodie: a large, feral-looking tabby with a bobbed tail. Their goal was to create a breed that resembled the bobcat but was entirely domestic. Breeders chose short-tailed random-bred domestic cats to rebuild the breed. They used no Manx, Japanese Bobtails, or any other pedigreed breeds or non-domestic short-tailed species. The new look has been much more successful and the breed has been accepted has been accepted for championship by five North American associations.

American Bobtails may be short of tail, but they're long on personality. Just hold one, say fanciers, and you'll be hooked. This breed is still developing and therefore will take more time to settle down to a consistent pattern of behavior, but breeders say the loving, devoted, intelligent temperament is the reason breeders have continued working with the breed through the many years of hardship. These confident, friendly cats adapt easily to most home environments. Vocally, they are not shy about making their feelings known, but are not as vocal as breeds like the Siamese.

American Bobtails usually bond emotionally with their families and are extremely devoted. They usually get along well with other cats and cat-friendly dogs if properly introduced, and instead of hiding under the bed, are usually friendly to unfamiliar humans. If trained from an early age, they tend to be good travelers, which is an advantage for cats who will be shown.

Even though the American Bobtail’s coat has a non-matting texture, grooming is needed and requirements can vary from cat to cat depending upon the bloodlines, particularly since the breed has two hair lengths. Be sure to talk to the breeder about grooming before agreeing to buy a cat. When you settle on a breeder, get her grooming recommendations for your new Bobtail.

When choosing a breeder, be sure she raises the kittens "by hand" or "under foot." That means they’ve usually been well socialized. American Bobtails are naturally affectionate, but early socialization is very important. Kittens raised with little human contact are less likely to form the strong emotional bond that’s a common trait of the breed.

American Bobtails are generally healthy, hardy cats. However, Bobtails born with no tails should be avoided because of the health problems associated with the foreshortened spine. Spinal and colon problems, including severe pain and uncontrolled defecation, can occur.

The tail is short and broad at the base—not to exceed the hock in length—but it must be long enough to be clearly visible above the back when the cat is alert. It may be straight, slightly curved, somewhat kinked or have bumps along its length. The tail is strong and substantial and must be flexible, expressive and not so kinked that it impairs natural tail movement. Straighter tails should exhibit a fat pad at the end of the tail.

The breed is recognized in both long and short hair lengths. Shorthairs have medium length double coats with a resilient, non-matting texture. Longhairs have slightly shaggy medium-long dense hair, with slightly longer hair on the neck ruff, britches, belly and tail. All genetically possible color or combination of colors are allowed. Ghost patterns are desirable in lynx points. All eye colors are acceptable; there is no correlation between eye color and coat color. No outcrosses are allowed.