Kurilian Bobtail Cats

Kurilian Bobtail cats are a natural cat breed. Unlike many cat breeds that were derived from cat breeders who select different cat breeds to crossbreed in order to develop a new cat breed, Kurilian cats developed naturally from a genetic mutation. They originated in a group of islands located between Japan and Russia called the Kurilian Islands.

Documents indicate that cats with short tails had been taken from the Kurilian islands by military personnel and scientists as early as the middle of the twentieth century. Though the existence of the Kurilian Bobtail cats seems to date back several decades, they are considered a new cat breed among cat breeders and cat associations. Kurilian Bobtail cats are not yet recognized by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), but they are among the preliminary new cat breeds of The International Cat Association (TICA).

According to the cat breed standard of TICA for Kurilian Bobtail cats, the skeletal structure of these cats is substantial and not fine-boned like many cats from that region of the world like the Siamese. A distinctive characteristic of the Kurilian Bobtail cat is the short tail that resembles a pom-pom. The tails of Kurilians should be less than four inches long. Kurilian Bobtails have semi-cobby bodies with legs that are medium in length.

Kurilian Bobtail cats have large, rounded heads. The ears of Kurilian Bobtails are medium sized and slant slightly forward. The eyes are walnut shaped. The Kurilian Bobtail cat is muscular and athletic. Kurilians have short or semi-long, silky coats. Their coats can be any traditional, naturally-occurring color.

A Kurilian Bobtail kitten may be one of a variety of colors and patterns including solid colored, tabby, and tortoiseshell. Kurilian Bobtail kittens are slow to mature. One unique characteristic of this cat breed is that the Kurilian Bobtail father of a litter of Kurilian Bobtail kittens spends a considerable amount of time devoted to the care of his Kurilian kittens. Kurilian cats are known to be skilled hunters of rodents and even fish. Despite their wild background, Kurilian cats make affectionate pets. They are playful and active. Kuilian Bobtail cats are one of the few cat breeds that love to play in water.