A cat's tail is arguably one of its hallmark features. You can know a lot about how a cat feels just by looking at its tail. Cats use their tails for many things, like balancing on ledges, so it might be strange to see a cat with no tail.
Nevertheless, some cats are born without tails or have stubby, bobbed tails. Oddly enough, these bobtail breeds, as we're going to find out, started as a natural genetic anomaly. Another is that most of them come from islands.
Bobtails usually do not affect a cat's lifestyle, although these breeds often suffer joint inflammation of the tailbone. While tails play an essential role in aspects of a cat's life, like equilibrium, righting reflex, and sensory touch, these bobtail cats seem to manage just fine with their short tails!
Cat Breeds Without Tails
Technically, the Manx and the Cymric cat are the only breeds without tails. Both breeds are from the Isle of Man, a little island in an isolated area where inbreeding in the feline populace made the lack of tail a common occurrence. The genetic mutations happen, so cats are born without the vertebrae of a normal tail, causing a tiny hollow where the tail is expected to be.
In this list that we compiled, therefore, we have included cats with bobtails to give readers more information and richer reading. Let us learn more about the cat breeds without tails or bobtails, shall we?
Manx
The Manx, the only official tailless breed of cat, comes from the Isle of Man between the nations of Great Britain and Ireland. Isle of Man citizens are proud of this, and the Manx adorn the island's money, stamps, stores, and even company logos.
People love Manx cats for their personalities as well as their appearances. They are stocky, muscled felines with short backs and an enormous leaping range. Legend has it that the Manx cat got its tail cut because it was late for Noah's Ark departure and got its tail stuck on the door.
Cymric
Cymrics are often referred to as long-haired Manx. In truth, Cymric cats look much larger than they are, precisely because of their long hair.
Like the Manx, Cymrics can be born with a kinked tail or no tail. They are playful and are very loyal to their owners. These cats are not bothered by lots of activities. However, you will want to give them a lot of attention.
American Bobtail
The American Bobtail, sometimes referred to as the Golden Retriever of the cat world, was first bred around the 1960s. A couple had their bobtail cat and mated with a street bobtail cat they got from the streets. The kindle that was born has similar-looking stubby tails, and today, the breeding of this adorable cat continues.
Not only does this cat have a stumped tail as a prominent feature of its breed, but it's also known for its friendly character. These cats are big and muscular; thick muscle mass makes them look even bigger. Learn more about the American Bobtail in this blog.
Japanese Bobtail
The Japanese Bobtail is the most common of all bobtail cat breeds. It has a more petite body than the American Bobtail and a stubbier tail, similar to a rabbit's. This breed has been documented in writing and paintings in Japan for at least a thousand years. These cats were once feral in the streets of Japan but are now recognized as an official breed worldwide. Japanese Bobtail cats were first imported to the U.S. in 1968.
Japanese Bobtails are usually calico, but they can be found in practically every other coat color. Despite the name, its origin can be traced not just to Japan but to China, Tibet, and Korea.
Pixiebob
Pixiebobs look very similar to the American Bobtail, only with shorter hair. It was bred to look like wild red bobcats in the coastal mountains of Washington state. These dog-like cats can grow up to 17 pounds and are usually polydactyl. They generally have tabby fur with different lengths of the tail. Although they have the "wild" look, Pixiebobs are all domestic.
While most cats meow, Pixie Bobs tend to make chirping noises. They are relatively mellow felines who enjoy being around people.
Owyhee Bob
The Owyhee Bob originated from the unintended and intentional breeding of Siamese and Manx breeds. The Owyhee Bob is slow to grow into adulthood, as the Manx, and has a colorpoint coat, like the Siamese.
Kurilian Bobtail
The Kurilian Bobtail's heritage can be found in Eastern Russian Islands like Kamchatka, Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands. These cats are strong, love hunting, and go well with other animals, even dogs.
Kurilian bobtails are typically found in red, grey, and striped colors. Similar to the Japanese Bobtail, the Kurilian Bobtail cats have more of a pom-pom-shaped tail. People love these cats for their friendly character.
Highlander Cat
Highlanders used to be called Highland Lynx, but their names were changed in 2005. The lively and mild Highlander came from a crossbreed of the Desert Lynx bobtail cats, where it got the short tail and exotic spots, and the Jungle Curl, where it got his distinctive crinkled ears. They have a unique look to them, but in truth, the cat looks wilder than it really is.
They make fantastic pets, although they are very energetic and demand a lot of activity. You will need to ensure that they get great playtime. One notable characteristic of the Highlander is that they have a fondness for water and usually love splashing in it.
Mekong Bobtail
The Mekong Bobtail is named after the Mekong River and is naturally found throughout numerous parts of Southeast Asia. In the last part of the 19th century, about 200 cats, considered "royal," were gifted to Nicholas II, the Tsar of Russia, by the King of Indonesia (or Siam, as it was previously called).
Last Words
Cats without tails are sought not only for their apparent physical quirkiness but also for their fun personalities. These felines are y fabulous, pleasant, as well as spirited.
As you may expect, many misconceptions and legends around tailless felines vary from fantastical to strange. The truth remains that they are the outcome of natural genetic mutations.
Cats without tails seem more like wild cats because they closely resemble animals like the Lynx or Bobcat. Their appearances belie the reality that many are affectionate and outwardly friendly towards people and other pets. They oppose the notion that all felines are withdrawn. On the contrary, they are feline friends through and through! It's one of the purr-sonality that makes them so unique.
