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Cats/what breed is my bobtail kitten?

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Expert: - 7/17/2010


Question

Midnight
About a month ago I got a little bobtail kitten from a good friend of mine and would like to know what breed it is, because I was wacthing cats101 and saw the Japanese bobtail breed and my kitten Midnight looked a lot like the breed and had the same caracteristics as them, and I would really like to know if it is part of the breed or if it is just an American bobtail.

Answer
Hi Lily,

It's really difficult to say.  Bobtailed cats show up in random litters naturally from time to time, even when they have no American Bobtail or Japanese Bobtail lineage.  Unless you know the parents' histories, it's most likely that your kitten has a spontaneous mutation that has resulted in his short tail, unrelated to the Japanese or American Bobtail genes.

The Japanese Bobtail gene is recessive, so if mom isn't bobtailed, the likelihood that there is any Japanese Bobtail in the little one's history is very minimal.  But this adorable little one's tail is much too short to be an American Bobtail, whose tails usually come past their rumps.  As mentioned, I suspect your kitty is the result of his own unique mutation.  But if he does have a purebred in his line, I believe Manx would be the most likely breed.  They share several personality traits with the Japanese Bobtail, but the gene is dominant, meaning it will pass on more easily, and it results in the very short tail (or even no tail) that Midnight has, unlike the American Bobtail.  Manxes with the length of tail that Midnight has are known as a "rumpy risers", and those that have no tails are called "rumpies".

Congratulations on your new addition.  He (or she) is a real cutie!

Jessica  

Jessica

Expertise

The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.

Experience

I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.

Education/Credentials
15 years' hands-on experience

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