American Bobtail kittens for sale in Southend-on-Sea

The American Bobtail is a relatively new breed, originating in the USA in the 1960s, although it has only recently received much attention. She is rarely seen in the UK as she is not recognized by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) and therefore cannot be shown at GCCF shows. It can be either a short-haired or semi-long-haired variety and can be distinguished by its shorter tail, which is between a third and half the length of a more conventional breed. Since tail length is not a programmable gene and cannot be selectively bred, it is said that no two tails are ever alike, and unlike other cats, the American Bobtail will often wag its tail to show pleasure. The long-haired variety is described as having a shaggy-looking coat (rather than dense or fluffy), in keeping with its association with wild bobcats, from which they are believed to be descended, while the short-haired American Bobtails variety has a more plush coat. It is a robust, rather rugged-looking cat, and both variants are medium to large in size, with males weighing about 15 pounds and females slightly smaller.

Read our American Bobtail Buying Advice page for information on this cat breed.