Mary Allen
Since the American Bobtail is very active, it should be kept outdoors at best. Rural areas with lots of green spaces and climbing opportunities are ideal for this. The pedigree cat also needs a scratching post and play facilities in the home. Intelligence toys, among other things, are ideal for this, as the velvet paw from America is considered clever and eager to learn. So that the American Bobtail does not feel lonely, keeping multiple cats should also be considered.
The American Bobtail is a comparatively new breed of cat that is still relatively unknown. According to a rumor, she was the result of a cross between a bobcat and a house cat. Today this assumption is very unlikely since a mating of the two species would lead to the birth of sterile hybrids.
The short tail is particularly characteristic of the American Bobtail. Therefore, for a long time, it was assumed that they were directly related to the similarly built Japanese Bobtail. Due to scientific findings, this theory is also largely rejected nowadays, since the gene responsible for the short tail is said to be recessive in the Japanese Bobtail and dominant in the American Bobtail. To date, the origin of the long-haired cat has not been fully clarified, although its origin is often attributed to a spontaneous mutation.
The first American Bobtail was discovered in the 1960s and then further developed through targeted breeding. Today there are pedigree cats with both long and short hair.
The American Bobtail is described as a very athletic cat with a sturdy body and broad chest. The hind legs should be longer than the front legs. Her head is relatively broad and her cheekbones are very pronounced.
Racial traits
Occasionally, the American Bobtail is said to resemble dogs in its behavior. The intelligent and active cat follows its owner every now and then and, according to many owners, likes to retrieve objects. The American Bobtail also appreciates water: you have seen quite a few representatives of the breed frolicking around lively and happily in the living water – exceptions prove the rule.
In many guidebooks, the American Bobtail is also described as very social. Normally, she should get along well with children and, after a period of getting used to it, she should also enjoy the company of conspecifics. If you work or travel a lot, you should think about keeping multiple cats so that the American Bobtail does not feel lonely.
She finds it more difficult to deal with strangers. Many owners report that they initially react suspiciously to unknown people and only slowly get used to them.
Attitude and care
Since the American Bobtail is described as very active, it is desirable to keep it outdoors. Rural areas with a high proportion of green areas are ideal for the climbing enthusiast cat. But there should also be enough romping and climbing opportunities in the house or apartment, for example, a scratching post. The clever cat often knows how to get enthusiastic about intelligence games such as a fiddling board or clicker training. A fumbling board can also be easily made by yourself. In addition, the American Bobtail should also be happy about conspecifics, although the different cats naturally have to get used to each other first.
The coat of the American Bobtail Shorthair should be very easy to care for so that it is enough to brush it once a week. The coat of American Longhair has comparatively more undercoat, but normally it is sufficient to use a brush or comb several times a week.