So, what gives us the name American Bobtail? Our tails, of course! We have short, stubby, bobbed tails that are only one to four inches long, about one-third the length of a normal cat’s tail. And the best part is each tail is unique! This is a result of a natural mutation that occurred when a Siamese cat was crossed with a short-tailed male tabby. It might look a little funny at first, but we think our tiny tails are purrfect.

You might be fur-prised to learn that American Bobtails aren’t the only bobtail cat out there; there are several others, including the Japanese Bobtail and Kurilian Bobtail. That said, we’re definitely the best bobcat, and we have a really interesting story. We American Bobtails came about when John and Brenda Sanders went on a vacation to Arizona and found a short-tailed kitten who they named Yodi. When they got back home to Iowa, Yodi got together with the Sanders’s female Siamese cat named Mishi. It was certainly a match made in heaven, because the American Bobtail was born! The Sanders family knew we were special, so they partnered with professional breeders to breed Yodi and Mishi’s kittens with other short-tailed felines across the United States and Canada. They were selective with their choices, aiming to create a new breed of strong, medium-length cats with a wild appearance but a docile temper. This was back in the late 1960s - and look at us now! We’re a beloved, smart, and affectionate breed of cat that makes the purrfect domestic cat addition to any family. We’re also pretty darn cute, with a striking eye color, unique coat color, and quiet chirp. That said, the International Cat Association didn’t add us into their breed category until 1989, and we didn’t get full recognition until 2002. However, we’re now also recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) and the American Cat Fanciers Association. And while the American Bobtail breed is currently #41 in CFA popularity, we’re pretty sure that we’ll continue to climb up the ladder once more people get to know us.