Curious, intelligent and alert, the Japanese Bobtail is a medium-size cat that has bags of energy. You don't need to worry too much about this kitty getting fat due to its highly active nature. It's generally a strong and healthy breed too—perhaps that's due to all the pouncing and running around! Japanese Bobtails usually have litters of three or four with the kittens being bigger in size than other newborns. Bobtail kitties tend to walk earlier and be more active than other kittens. Let's just say they're little over achievers! It's a friendly, people-loving cat that loves nothing more than hanging out with you and your family and friends. They get on well with dogs and are great with kids. The fact that they love to fetch, pounce and play tag makes them ideal for families with younger children. Japanese Bobtails are talkative cats and will almost always sing back when spoken to. It comes in short-haired and long-haired varieties but even the shorthaired Japanese Bobtail's coat is generally longer than that of other shorthair cat breeds, and is smooth and silky soft. A unique trait of the Japanese Bobtail is the fact its hind legs are slightly longer than the front ones. Yet even more unique is its tail. There are no two Japanese Bobtails with the same tail. The short tail, which only extends to about three inches from the tailbone is full of kinks, curves and angles. The hair on the tail is often thicker and longer than elsewhere and grows in all directions to create the effect of a pom-pom or bunny tail. The head of the Japanese Bobtail is finely chiselled and forms a triangle with high cheekbones and oval eyes, giving them an Oriental air about them—apart from the name, of course!.

Tri-colour, or Tortie and White (known as Mi-ke), a mixture of black red and white, which symbolises luck. Odd eyed Mi-ke cats are particularly sought after. Self Colours: Black, Red, White Tortoiseshell: Tabby colours: All colours, in tabby patterns. Bi- Colours: Black, Red or Totoiseshell with white. All other colours and patterns with white. The colour of the eyes, nose leather and paw pads is appropriate to the colour of the coat.

15-18 years

Requires approximately 80 Kcals of food per kg of bodyweight per day.