What You Don’t Know About…Japanese Bobtails

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From the Streets of Japan to the Judging Tables of the World

Candilee Jackson

Introduction:

“Full of energy, always playful, loving, endearing, and happy best describes the Japanese Bobtail’s personality. They are very people-oriented and want to be the center of family life.”3

These little guys just cannot wait to get into whatever activity the family is doing. They participate in cooking (looking for tidbits and handouts), domestic chores (bed-making is a fave!), homework (daily screen time is a MUST), and lastly, assume the place of honor in someone’s lap for a nice, long snooze. “Masters of the pounce, these cats love to play tag with their cat friends … and are excellent travelers and enjoy cat shows and hotel rooms.”3

A Little History, If You Please!

One of the oldest recorded naturally occurring cat breeds, Japanese Bobtails hail from the islands of Japan. Historians believe this domestic cat came from either China or Korea when the Buddhist monks came to Japan in 600-700 AD “and were introduced to keep the rats out of the rice paper scrolls in the temples.”3

“In the 1600s, the silk trade found itself in jeopardy due to rats, and the Japanese Bobtail was pressed into service and thus became the street cat that it is today in Japan. All CFA-registered cats can be traced back to the original and current imported cats. The Japanese Bobtail has certainly existed in Japan for many centuries, as evidenced by many ancient prints and paintings. Elizabeth Freret imported the first Japanese Bobtails to the United States in 1968. The shorthair Japanese Bobtail was accepted for championship status in 1976, followed by the longhair Japanese Bobtail in 1993.”3

In his History of Japan, published in 1701, Engelbert Kaempfer, a German doctor, describes in detail the flora and fauna of Japan, noting, “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.”1 Additionally, a 15th-century painting currently featured in the Freer Gallery of Art (one of two museums of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, which focus on Asian art) clearly shows a short-tailed Japanese Bobtail cat.

The Japanese Bobtail comes in many colors and is revered by the people of Japan. It is considered to be linked with the Maneki-Neko, or beckoning lucky cat of Japan, and both homes and businesses throughout the country will have at least one statue of the cat visible for guests and family members. These lovely cats are not always calico in color and come in a rainbow of colors, including red, black, white, and blue, and can be bicolor, tabby, or van.1 Eye color also varies: they can have blue eyes, gold eyes, and even odd eyes!

The most noticeable feature of the Japanese Bobtail is, of course, its pom-pom-like tail. “…Thanks to its many curves, twists, and kinks … no two Japanese Bobtails’ tails are exactly alike.”1 And, coming from Japan, naturally, there is a legend behind the cat’s tail: “The Japanese Bobtail is missing most of its tail because long ago, a sleeping cat’s tail caught fire. The frightened feline reacted by running, and it accidentally set the entire town on fire. The angry Emperor passed a decree that all cats should have their tails chopped off to prevent similar disasters.”1

Marianne Clark, breed council secretary in 2018, has done quite a bit of research on her breed, and states, “Besides breeding for their cute little tails, they managed to become pets of not only the monks, but the Emperor and royalty. Peasants were forbidden to own them. They were kept on leashes and pampered. Some managed to escape to become the street cats they are today.”

Japanese Bobtails are also known as “the singing cats.” Their wide variety of meows, chirps, and vocalizations are both musical and informative. As conversationalists, JBTs always answer when spoken to. Because they are “built on the rake” with their back legs visibly longer than their front legs, Japanese Bobtails love to jump and pounce and are well-known competitors in CFA’s agility trials.3

Myths and Legends

As an ancient culture, Japan abounds with stories passed down by elders and priests and through hauntingly beautiful ink drawings. They have always held a special place in the hearts and lifestyles of the Japanese, and there are many myths about them.2

As a disclaimer, the following were compiled from various places and people through conversations this writer had with friends in Japan’s CFA Region 8, and storybooks suggested by their cat clubs.

  • The Emperor and the Fire

One legend says that a Japanese emperor ordered cats’ tails to be shortened after a cat’s tail caught fire while it was sleeping, spreading flames throughout the village.

  • The Buddhist Monks

Another legend says that Buddhist monks brought the first Japanese Bobtails to the island to protect rice paper from vermin.

  • The Gift from the Emperor

A legend says that the first Japanese Bobtails were a gift to the Emperor of Japan. The Emperor was so fond of his cats that he treated them like members of the court.

  • Maneki-Neko

A Japanese folklore story tells of a female Japanese Bobtail named Maneki-Neko, who would beckon passersby into businesses with her front paw. Maneki-Neko became associated with good fortune and now appears on the facade of Tokyo’s Gotokuji Temple.

  • The Lucky Tricolor Cat

A tricolor cat with a bobbed tail symbolizes good fortune in Japan.

Living With a Japanese Bobtail (or Two!)

Marianne gathered together Japanese Bobtail stories from “aficionados from around the world, including Australia, South Africa, the USA, Canada, Europe, and Japan.”

Stories of their inquisitiveness and intelligence abound. The most common trait is a love of fetching, and some can be compulsive fetchers! No one teaches them this trick; they just seem to know how to fetch from when someone first tosses a toy. They will retrieve toys in succession, understanding that bringing toys back results in another toss and chase for them. This play never ceases to impress any of their humans. “We think it’s a demonstration of their high intelligence.”

Indy, Cecil, Beanie, and Mikey are all faithful fetching mates. One owner tells of the nightly fetch play by Zen, who would bring her toys to bed, but fortunately left behind the real dead mouse she caught downstairs.

Dweezil, in South Africa, likes to play hide-and-seek. Indy, a longhair smoke Mi-Ke (tricolor) cat, is particularly skilled and demanding to show off her skills. Fire loves to play fetch every evening and brings various toys to play. He also plays soccer with his ping-pong balls and lifts them with paws into the bathtub to play with them, which makes a loud racket.

Cecil and Beanie have a “sort of” fetch routine with their pom-poms. Their owners take all the pom-poms upstairs, and the cats bring them back downstairs, one by one. They meow with great fanfare, as if they had caught a mouse. They drop them at their owners’ feet and are praised after each such routine, day in, day out.

Lily baby is way too smart for her own good. She figured out how a laser pointer works and will no longer chase the red dot.

Sachi is a lone JBT in a house with a devoted owner. She has everything her kitty heart could desire. But the toys started to disappear, and it took days to discover her stash of toys under the refrigerator. Sachi is very intent about her toys, and when her owner prepared for a move, Sachi was very agitated watching the toys, beds, and other cat accoutrements being packed in preparation. On moving day, Sachi went into her big two-story cage with toys. She watched and complained loudly as the furniture left HER house. At their new home, she looked around with a funny expression: she was stunned. She then let out a HUGE meow, almost saying, “HOLY ****, so this is where you put everything!” Sachi took the move incredibly well, which is a testament to these cats’ adaptable personalities. She was smart enough to figure out her stuff was moved right along with her, and everything was going to be just fine.

Then there’s Marmalade, who plays in the bathtub when her owner takes a bath. Her owner has a rubber shark which bobs up and down in the bubbles, with the theme from Jaws playing in the background. Marmalade splashes around in the water trying to catch the shark. She runs straight for the bathroom whenever the Jaws theme is played, knowing that’s her cue.

Most owners report their JBTs like to take baths or showers with them. Kamikaze got his name from diving into the full bathtub as a kitten and swimming around! While in the bathroom, Max will unravel every toilet paper roll, his owner laughing hysterically. He has unraveled as many as five in a row.

Everyone agrees Japanese Bobtails are talkers, but they hardly ever “meow” and use regular cat talk. Instead, they are full of chirps, trills, and baby talk such as “waaaawaaa.” Their vocalizations are never annoying, but rather cute. Lily’s owner swears she imitates human speech when she meows, “Right now?,” “NOW!,” and “Hello?” Dweezil has a big vocabulary of vocals: a short, high miaow for just chatting; a kind of prrrrr when he’s looking for family (or for trouble) when he comes in from outside; a high, plaintive wail to note his displeasure at closed doors; and a dry, short “meh” sound when he’s had enough cuddling and wants to be left alone. Halle, definitely a talker, will shout at her owner until she gets her daily brushing. Neko wakes her owner with a meow and greets her when she comes home at the end of the day.

They tend to figure out mechanical things. Opening cabinet doors is easy for them, and they know a doorknob somehow mysteriously opens doors. If there is a cat perch near a door, a paw will reach for the knob. Sully actually figured out how to flip open the handles on the French doors. His owner had to bungee-cord the two handles together!

And the Last Word

All Japanese Bobtail owners agree: these cats are inquisitive and want to be part of the family’s activities from morning ‘til night. They are playful yet will curl up beside their people to give loving comfort. They are natural mousers and will chase anything which would be fun. These wonderful door-greeters ensure the house they inhabit is a home. “Japanese Bobtails are sheer happiness in a cat suit!”

Sources

  1. Fawcett, Kristin. n.d. “Seven Unusual Facts About Japanese Bobtail Cats.” Mental Floss. Accessed June 10, 2016. https://mentalfloss.com/article/80475/7-unusual-facts-about-japanese-bobtail-cats
  2.  n.d. “Japanese Bobtail Cats.” Festival of Japan. Accessed December 09, 2024. https://festivalofjapan.co.uk/information/japanese-bobtail-cats/
  3. n.d. “Japanese Bobtail Cats.” CFA Breeds. Accessed October 01, 2018.
    https://cfa.org/breed/japanese-bobtail/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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