Japanese Bobtail Breed Standard

GENERAL: the Japanese Bobtail should present the overall impression of a medium sized cat with 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 to create a pom-pom appearance which effectively camouflages the underlying bone structure of the tail. Overall type, composed of balance, elegance and refinement, is the essence of the Japanese Bobtail breed. Taking all of the parts of the standard into account as a cohesive whole, the balance, elegance and refinement of the Japanese Bobtail creates an overall picture of the total cat, where all aspects of the standard come together in a harmonious whole, with neither too much nor too little consideration given to any one feature.

HEAD: although the head appears long and finely chiseled, it forms almost a perfect equilateral triangle (the triangle does not include the ears) with gentle curving lines, high cheekbones, 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. Allowance must be made for jowls in the stud cat.

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.

CHIN: should be full, neither undershot nor overshot.

EYES: large, oval rather than round, but wide and alert; set into the skull at a rather pronounced slant when viewed in profile. The eyeball shows a shallow curvature and should not bulge out beyond the cheekbone or the forehead.

BODY: medium in size, males proportionately larger than females. Torso long, lean and elegant, not tubular, showing well developed muscular strength without coarseness. No inclination toward flabbiness or cobbiness. General balance of utmost importance.

NECK: neither too long nor too short, in proportion to the length of the body.

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 to bend 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. Toes: five in front and four behind.

COAT (SHORTHAIR): medium length, soft and silky, but without a noticeable undercoat.

COAT (LONGHAIR): length medium-long to long, texture soft and silky, with no noticeable undercoat in the mature adult. Frontal ruff desirable. Coat may be shorter and close lying over the shoulders, gradually lengthening toward the rump, with noticeable longer hair on the tail and rear britches. Ear and toe tufts desirable. Coat should lie so as to accent the lines of the body.

TAIL: the tail is unique not only to the breed, but to each individual cat. This is to be used as a guideline, rather than promoting one specific type of tail out of the many that occur within the breed.

The tail must be clearly visible and is composed of one or more curves, angles, or kinks or any combination thereof. The furthest extension of the tail bone from the body should be no longer than three inches. The direction in which the tail is carried is not important. The tail may be flexible or rigid and should be of a size and shape that harmonizes with the rest of the cat.

COLOR: No color or pattern is preferred over any other. In the dominant colored bi-colors and tri-colors (Ml-KE) any color may predominate with preference given to bold, dramatic markings and vividly contrasting colors. In the dilute colored bi-colors and tri-colors (MI-KE), any color may predominate, with preference given to soft, muted markings and gently contrasting colors. In the solid color cat the coat color should be of uniform density and color from the tip to the root of each hair and from the nose of the cat to the tail. Nose leather, paw pads, and eye color should harmonize generally with coat color. Blue eyes and odd eyes are allowed.

PENALIZE: short round head, cobby build, excessively heavy bone.

DISQUALIFY: tail bone absent or tail bone extending more than 3 inches from the 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).

JAPANESE BOBTAIL COLORS

SOLID COLORS

WHITE: pure glistening white.

BLACK: dense, coal black, sound from roots to tip of fur. Shiny and free from any tinge of rust on tips.

CHOCOLATE: Rich warm chocolate brown.

RED: deep, rich, clear, brilliant red, the deeper and more glowing in tone the better.

BLUE: blue, lighter shade preferred. Sound from roots to tip of fur.

LILAC: Frosty-grey with a pinkish tone. Sound to the roots.

CREAM: one level shade of buff cream, without markings. Sound to the roots.

BICOLORS

For “Tabby/Patterned and White” and “Patched Tabby/Patched Patterned and White” categories they may include any variety of tabby markings: spotted, mackerel, classic or ticked with or without areas of solid (unmarked) color, with preference given to bold, dramatic markings and rich, vivid coloring. The term “patterned” may be used with predominantly white cats if a specific tabby pattern cannot be determined, or in cats which may have a combination of traditional tabby patterns. Cats with no more white than a locket and/or button do not qualify for these color classes. Such cats shall be judged in the color class of their basic color with no penalty for such locket and/or button.

BLACK AND WHITE: dense, coal black and pure glistening white.

RED AND WHITE/RED TABBY AND WHITE/RED PATTERNED and WHITE: (red areas in a Red Tabby/Patterned and White have tabby markings: spotted, mackerel, classic or ticked).

OTHER BI-COLORS: Chocolate and White, Blue and White, Lilac and White, Cream and White, Brown Tabby/Patterned and White, Chocolate Tabby/Patterned and White, Blue Tabby/Patterned and White, Lilac Tabby/Patterned and White, Cream Tabby/Patterned and White, Silver Tabby/Patterned and White, Chocolate Silver Tabby/Patterned and White, Blue Silver Tabby/Patterned and White, Lilac Silver Tabby/Patterned and White, Cameo Tabby/Patterned and White, Cream Cameo Tabby/Patterned and White. Black Smoke and White, Chocolate Smoke and White, Blue Smoke and White, Lilac Smoke and White, Red Smoke (Cameo) and White, Cream Smoke (Cream Cameo) and White.

TRI-COLORS

Ml-KE (tricolor): black, red, and white in any combination (red areas may have tabby markings: spotted, mackerel, classic or ticked).

OTHER MI-KE (tri-color) COLORS: Chocolate Mi-ke (warm chocolate brown, shades of red and white in any combination [red areas may be solid or appear tabby]); Dilute Mi-ke (blue, cream and white in any combination [cream areas may be solid or appear tabby]); Lilac Mi-ke (lilac, cream and white in any combination [cream areas may be solid or appear tabby]); Patterned Mi-ke (brown tabby, red tabby and white in any combination); Dilute Patterned Mi-ke (blue tabby, cream tabby and white in any combination); Silver Patterned Mi-ke (silver tabby, cameo tabby and white in any combination); Dilute Silver Patterned Mi-ke (blue silver tabby, cream cameo tabby and white in any combination); Lilac Silver Patterned Mi-ke (lilac silver tabby, cream cameo tabby and white in any combination); Smoke Mi-ke (black, red and white in any combination. Non-white areas have a white undercoat deeply tipped with black or red [red areas appear red smoke or cameo tabby]). Cat in repose appears Mi-ke. Dilute Smoke Mi-ke (blue, cream and white in any combination. Non-white areas have a white undercoat deeply tipped with blue or cream [cream areas appear cream smoke or cream cameo tabby]). Cat in repose appears Dilute Mi-ke. Chocolate Smoke Mi-ke (warm chocolate brown smoke, shades of red smoke and white in any combination). Non-white areas have a white undercoat deeply tipped with chocolate or red [red areas appear smoke or cameo tabby]). Cat in repose appears Chocolate Mi-ke; Lilac Smoke Mi-ke (lilac, cream and white in any combination. Non-white areas have a white undercoat deeply tipped with lilac or cream [cream areas appear smoke or cream cameo tabby]). Cat in repose appears Lilac Mi-ke.

PARTI-COLORS

TORTOISESHELL: black and red.

CHOCOLATE TORTOISESHELL: warm chocolate brown and red.

BLUE-CREAM: blue and cream.

LILAC-CREAM: lilac and cream.

OTHER JAPANESE BOBTAIL COLORS (OJBC)

Tabby/Patterned and Patched Tabby/Patched Patterned categories include any variety of tabby markings: spotted, mackerel, classic or ticked with or without areas of solid (unmarked) color, with preference given to bold, dramatic markings and rich, vivid coloring. The term “patterned” may be used if a specific tabby pattern cannot be determined, or in cats which may have a combination of traditional tabby patterns.

TABBY/PATTERNED COLORS: Brown Tabby/Patterned, Chocolate Tabby/Patterned, Blue Tabby/Patterned, Lilac Tabby/Patterned, Red Tabby/Patterned, Cream Tabby/Patterned, Silver Tabby/Patterned, Chocolate Silver Tabby/Patterned, Blue Silver Tabby/Patterned, Lilac Silver Tabby/Patterned, Cameo Tabby/Patterned, Cream Cameo Tabby/Patterned.

PATCHED TABBY/PATCHED PATTERNED COLORS: Brown Patched Tabby/Patterned, Chocolate Patched Tabby/Patterned, Blue Patched Tabby/Patterned, Lilac Patched Tabby/Patterned, Silver Patched Tabby/Patterned, Chocolate Silver Patched Tabby/Patterned, Dilute Silver Patched Tabby/Patterned, Lilac Silver Patched Tabby/Patterned.

SMOKE COLORS: Black Smoke, Chocolate Smoke, Blue Smoke, Lilac Smoke, Red Smoke (Cameo), Cream Smoke (Cream Cameo), Tortoiseshell Smoke, Chocolate Tortoiseshell Smoke, Blue-Cream Smoke and Lilac Cream Smoke

COLORPOINT AND COLORPOINT AND WHITE (Any of the following colors with white): Including but not limited to, solid or tabby point restricted colors and pointed and white colors: Black (Seal), Red, Cream, Chocolate, Lilac, Blue, Tortoiseshell, Blue-Cream, Smoke, Dilute Smoke, and all of these colors in lynx pattern. Also, all of these colors with white or colors with lynx pattern and white or any colors genetically possible in the breed.

OTHER ALLOWED COLORS/PATTERNS: Any other colors or pattern or combination thereof genetically possible in the breed.