The Lucky Japanese Bobtail

 

As you enter your favorite Japanese restaurant or Japanese store, you see a statue of a beckoning cat, seated with one paw raised.  That is the Japanese Bobtail.  The famous cat statue or Maneki Neko, can be found all around, as it is said to bring good luck. 

The Japanese Bobtail is said to have arrived from China or Korea over one thousand years ago.  In the year 1602, it was decreed that cats should help in getting rid of rodents that were menacing for the silk-worms.  Since buying or selling cats was considered illegal, the Japanese Bobtailed cats merely lived on the farms and on the streets, which considered them as the “street cats” of Japan.  Reasons for the mutation which caused the bobbed tail have not been recorded, though it is said to have happened during prehistoric times.  However, there is a legend on how the Japanese Bobtail lost its tail.  It is said that there was a cat that was warming itself to a fire, but it got too close and set its own tail ablaze.  It ran across the town, eventually burning many, many buildings as it ran through them.  As a punishment, the Emperor declared that tails of all cats should be cut off.   Another legend could also be the legend of the bakeneko or the nekomata, which is a cat whose tail, when it grew too much, it became a double-tail.  When this happened, the cat acquired super powers such as walking on its hind legs, talking, and even shape-shifting.  The bakeneko would cause much destruction, and could even resurrect the dead.  Because of this, the Japanese started to cut their cat’s tails so they would not turn into bakenekos.

Calico is the most popular color of Japanese Bobtails.  They are mostly white with patches of red or black.  Though there are solid-colored cats that have no white markings, they are much harder to find.  Most calico Japanese Bobtails are usually blue-eyed or odd-eyed, with one eye colored blue and the other colored gold.  These are usually more expensive. 

The typical Japanese Bobtail is active and energetic.  Though strong-willed, they are very affectionate to their family.  The breed is considered compatible for children as they are not easily intimidated and are stable.  They easily adjust to dogs and other animals.  As they are very active cats, the bobtail likes to participate in a lot of games.  They also love to travel.  It is important for this breed to have human or feline companionship because if it gets bored, their behavior usually becomes destructive.  

Japanese Bobtails will usually give birth to a litter of three or four kittens.  The newborns are large compared to other cat breeds.  This breed is perfect as a family cat as they are sweet-tempered, intelligent, and affectionate.

The breed is popular and has been brought to different countries across the world.  The aforementioned Maneki Neko or “beckoning cat” which is modeled after the Japanese Bobtail is considered a good luck charm and can usually be found in stores or even in homes, Japanese or other.