Japanese Bobtail - Breed Standard

Breed Standard

The standard described below is a generalized summary - links for each registration authority standard are provided in the breed infobox at the top of the article.

The Japanese Bobtail is a recognised breed by all major registering bodies, with the exception of the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF).

• 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, 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 curved articulations.

While calicoes, including van patterns (color on the crown of the head and the tail only), are favored by many, any coat color or pattern of colors is permissible.