Japanese Bobtail
The tail is a pom rather than a stump, and every one is different. This is the cat of the beckoning figure in Japanese shops, and has been for centuries.
Photo by Valter Wei, CC BY-SA 2.0
Overview
The Japanese Bobtail is the cat of the maneki neko, the beckoning figure in shop windows, and it has been in Japan for over a thousand years. The tail is short and carried in a pom, and every one is different.
The tail gene here is recessive and it is unrelated to the Manx gene, so it does not carry the same spinal risk. That is a meaningful distinction between the two tailless breeds.
Temperament
Talkative, active and highly sociable. Japanese Bobtails are among the more vocal breeds, with a wide range of soft chirps rather than a single meow, and they use them.
They are confident, enjoy company, travel well and often carry things in their mouths. They are good with children and with dogs and they do not enjoy being alone.
Care and grooming
A weekly comb, more for the longhaired version. There is little undercoat and matting is uncommon.
No documented breed specific disorder, and a long history as a working landrace before it was ever a show breed. Ordinary preventive care covers it.
Living and exercise
Active households suit them. They are strong jumpers, they like height and they want to be involved.
The tricolour mi-ke pattern is the traditional one and, as with all tortoiseshell and calico cats, it is essentially always female. A male mi-ke is genuinely rare and usually sterile.
Something here wrong or out of date?