Kurilian Bobtail

The Kurilian Bobtail breed originated in the Kuril Islands. Outwardly, its representatives resemble a lynx, but a hare will envy their maneuverability, and a dog will envy their devotion to the owner.

Characteristics of the Kurilian Bobtail - character and behavior

Kurilian bobtails look unapproachable, but in reality, they are good-natured. When the owner changes, the pet quickly adapts to the new owner. He will not get depressed and hiss on attempts to establish contact, on the contrary, he will be the first to get acquainted.

Although the kabob looks kind, the breed has flashes of independence that they actively demonstrate. He is on his hands for a long time and flippers, the bobtail does not like.

Excessive attention from the owner leads to the fact that the cat begins to live by its own rules, feeling like a leader. His confidence is reinforced by the inherent harm of the breed. If the owner tries to re-educate a spoiled pet, he will be faced with torn curtains, spoiled clothes, and broken dishes - this is how the pet defends independence.

Important! The upbringing of the Kurilian Bobtail must be given attention from the moment the pet gets into the house.

Description of the breed

The Kurilian Bobtail has a contrasting appearance. Representatives of the breed are distinguished by their short stature, but their musculature cannot be compared with any of the feline breeds. Due to their strong muscles, they can run fast and make long jumps.

Appearance - what does a kurbob look like

Breed standard:

1. Head. The shape of the head is an equilateral triangle, the outlines of which are rounded.
2. Neck. Medium length, powerful muscles are felt under the thin skin.
3. Eyes. The upper part of the eyes is oval, the lower one is somewhat rounded. The eyes are slanted, which makes the look of the animal mysterious.
4. Nose. The nose is broad and straight, of medium length.
5. Teeth and jaws. Strong jaws are a legacy of the ancestors of the breed who lived in the wild. Pincer bite.
6. Ears. The ears are in the shape of a triangle, set high and wide. The tips are slightly rounded. A distinctive feature of long-haired individuals is the zest in the form of small tassels, which further enhances the resemblance to a lynx.
7. The torso. The body is dense and strong, while the developed musculature does not burden the animal's appearance.
8. Tail. By nature, the tail is short, abundantly pubescent. Because of this feature, the breed has another name - a tailless cat.
9. Extremities. The hind ones are somewhat longer than the front ones. The paws are round in shape, the toes are clenched.

The size

The average height of cats does not exceed 30 cm at the withers.

The weight

The weight of an adult is 7.5 kg.

Wool

There are two types of coat:

• Shorthaired. The short-haired bobtail is the owner of a thin and short coat. The breed standard allows an increase in its length in the tail, on the back, and underside of the body.

• Longhaired. Accordingly, this species has a long or medium-length coat. The long-haired bobtail, like the short-haired and smooth-haired, has an elongated coat on the lower and back of the body. It is also notable for the fact that it has a "collar", "pants" and tassels at the tips of the ears, which further adds to its resemblance to a lynx.

Colors

The breed is unique in that its representatives can wear any color. Most Popular:

• tortoiseshell color;
• smoky;
• black marble;
• tabby;
• tricolor;
• White;
• ginger.

The following colors are not allowed by the breed standard:

• Burmese;
• Abyssinian;
• purple;
• chocolate.

Life expectancy - how long do Kurilian bobtails live at home

The average life expectancy of a kabob, at home, is 15-20 years.

Are Kurilian Bobtail cats hypoallergenic or not? How often do they shed?

There is an opinion that the Kurilian Bobtail belongs to hypoallergenic cat breeds. In fact, it is not supported by any facts. The prefix "Hypo" indicates fewer allergens, but not their complete absence.

Molting takes place 2 times a year and is not abundant, since the kabob sheds hair less often than other breeds of cats. The most abundant molt lasts up to six months, during which the kittens change their children's outfits to an adult one.

Is the Kurbob a friendly breed?

The Kurilian Bobtail is one of the friendliest cat breeds. Animals are not characterized by aggressiveness; on the contrary, they try to make friends with other pets. Representatives of this breed are sociable, therefore, getting into a new family, they are the first to make contact and try to win the favor of a person.

Attitude towards children

Kabob is suitable for families with children. The cat will never purposefully scratch the child, on the contrary, it will try to patronize him. The pet will not show aggression even if the child accidentally or deliberately pulls it by the tail or ear.

Kurilian Bobtail willingly joins in games with kids. So, he will happily spend time playing hide and seek and other teenage games.

Relationship to other animals

If other animals already live in the family, the bobtail will easily find a common language with them. He is equally enthusiastic about cats and dogs, so it will not be difficult for him to establish contact with a mischievous dachshund and a formidable Maine Coon.

However, it is worth noting that the presented breed categorically cannot stand ornamental birds and rodents. This is due to the developed hunting instinct.

Playfulness

Participation in active games is a pleasure for the representatives of the breed. But, if the owner of the animal is constantly busy and does not spend time with the pet, he can become lazy.

In this case, it is recommended to organize a trip to nature, where the character of the pet will be revealed in a new light. In the fresh air, the hunting roots will "turn on" and the cat will run after butterflies and explore unfamiliar surroundings.

How loneliness endures

Although the bobtail does not like to flatter for a long time, nevertheless, without long attention, the animal begins to wither. In addition, in the absence of a master's eye, his character begins to deteriorate. The cat feels like the rightful owner of the territory and begins to live by its own rules.

Potential health problems

Representatives of the breed inherited excellent immunity from their ancestors living in Siberia. Kurilian Bobtails have good health, but there are a number of diseases to which pets are vulnerable:

• hemorrhoids;
• prolapse of the rectum;
• cracks and inflammation of the mucous anus;
• urolithiasis disease.

Important! The best prevention of disease is a timely visit to the veterinarian.

Kittens cost

The minimum cost of kittens is 8,000 rubles. The maximum price is 25,000 rubles. It is recommended to buy kittens in catteries that have a good reputation.

Kurilian Bobtail Nurseries

Numerous catteries specializing in the sale of Kurilian Bobtail kittens are located throughout the Russian Federation. The following organizations with a snow-white reputation are popular:

• Innosima.
• "Veneris".
• Alpha Cats.
• "Niko Star".
• "Marivit Eagle".
• "Siolni".
• "Star of the Kuriles"
• "Golden mean nursery"
• "Pride Amur Nursery"
• "Akirvili nursery".

Need for care

Due to the special undercoat, the wool rarely gets tangled, which means that care for it is minimal and consists of combing. It is strictly forbidden to scratch the cat against the coat: this spoils its structure and gives the pet uncomfortable sensations.

Representatives of the breed are delighted with water procedures. However, they should not be bathed too often, as the skin can dry out and the hairs become thinner.

Another feature of the breed is the inability to fully retract the claws. But, at the same time, caring for them is not required, since while walking, the pet grinds them off on its own.

Eye care includes daily wiping with a cotton swab dipped in a special solution. Also, do not forget about hygienic procedures for cleaning your ears. Wipe them in the same way.

Maintenance cost

On buying a kitten, spending does not end but becomes the first and largest. Cash costs are made up of a number of factors:

1. Routine medical procedures such as castration, sterilization. Also, do not forget about the need for vaccination, a visit to the veterinary office, according to the schedule established by the veterinarian.
2. Nutrition and care. If the pet eats natural food, and not special food, then the costs will not be much, but more. So, feeding with a natural feed will cost approximately 1,500 rubles, and with feed 1,000 rubles.
3. Entertainment. It's about buying toys and a cat. The cost of toys is about 100 rubles, and scratching posts are about 500 rubles, but the last purchase will be a one-time purchase.
4. Unexpected expenses. If the animal is injured, you will need to visit the veterinary office and subsequently take medications.

Thus, the basic maintenance of a cat will cost approximately 3,000 rubles per month.

Nutrition

How to feed a bobtail is a personal matter for each owner. The Kurilian Bobtail can eat special food or natural food. Buying a professional ready-made feed is beneficial for people who have a heavy workload and do not have enough free time. For the breed, choose a premium product.

As for the natural diet, it should include fresh, healthy foods, because kurbob needs a balanced diet.

Allowed Products:

• raw meat - lean varieties;
• offal;
• low-fat fish;
• eggs;
• dairy products;
• cereals;
• vegetables;
• grass.

Prohibited Products:

• vegetables - potatoes, eggplants, legumes;
• roast;
• smoked;
• flour products;
• fatty;
• sweets.

Important! Regardless of what food is chosen for the animal, he should have 24-hour access to a bowl of clean, drinking water.

Veterinary

Although the representatives of the breed have excellent health, nevertheless, a visit to the veterinary office is a necessity. So, the branch office, for the purpose of a complete examination of the animal, will need to be visited 1-2 times a year. The number of appointments can be increased at the discretion of the veterinarian.

Important! The veterinary office also checks the weight of the animal by month.

Grooming

Professional grooming, as a rule, is necessary for animals that participate in exhibitions. In order for the pet to relate better to the procedure, it will be necessary to periodically perform it, starting at the age of six months.

Main accents:

• grooming is performed using professional imported cosmetics;
• during the procedure, a set of special tools is used: degreasing compounds, cleansing shampoos, nutritional complexes, conditioners, and much more;
• the specialist performs the work using professional tools - combs, scissors, hairdryer.

Exhibitions

The owner must prepare his pet for participation in the exhibition in advance. The presence of show grooming matters. So, a cat should have:

• clean coat, free of dandruff and parasites;
• clean ears;
• clear eyes and the area under them;
• clean nose, no crusts or discharge.

Individuals are not allowed to participate in the exhibition if:

• the tail is short without bends and kinks;
• tail length more than 13 cm in length;
• undescended testicles;
• erosion of the mucous membrane in the anus;
• back problems;
• claws are amputated;
• there is no tail;
• deafness.

Important! An animal with an unkempt coat that has not been in the hands of a groomer for a long time may be subject to disqualification.

Pros and cons of the breed

Like any breed of cat, the bobtail has both positive and negative traits.

Pros:

• high intelligence;
• learnability;
• good health;
• friendliness.

Minuses:

• wayward character.

History of the breed

Technologists believe that kabobs descended from short-tailed cats that inhabited the Kuril Islands in the 18th century.

In Japan, the Kurilian bobtey is a symbol of good luck, as evidenced by ancient beliefs. People are respectful of kabobs and present on significant dates.

Representatives of the breed came to the island as part of the Japanese military and other expeditions. The animals were even used as watchmen on farms where furry animals are bred. Only now the kurbobas are overly proud and it is not in their rules to obey someone. Therefore, many individuals simply fled from the Japanese into the wild nature of the Kuril Islands.

Siberian cats came to the territory of the Kuril Islands together with immigrants. They made friends with Japanese animals easily. The breeds crossed until the Kurilian Bobtail appeared with the usual appearance.

The first breed standard was established in 1991. In 2001, changes were made to the recognized standard, and in 2012 the FIFe organization officially recognized the Kurilian Bobtail breed as an independent breed.

Interesting facts about Kurilian Bobtail cats

The question of whether cats belong to Russia or Japan took a long time to decide. It was finally closed after the annexation of the Kuril Islands to the USSR.

It is believed that the representatives of the breed have a healing aura, which allows them to relieve stress, headaches, stabilize blood pressure and heartbeat.

Kurbobas love water, so swimming in the bathtub and ponds will be the best entertainment for them.

A feature of the breed is the absence of a cat smell.

Owner reviews

On the forums dedicated to pedigree cats, the owners of the Kurilian Bobtail leave extremely positive feedback. The owners highlight the easy and docile nature of the pets, the absence of aggression and conflict. However, you can also find negative reviews, where the waywardness of animals is highlighted. However, this breed of cats without a tail becomes unmanageable only if the owner does not pay enough attention to education.

Similar breeds

There are three breeds of cats that are similar in appearance and character to the Kuril boat:

American bobtail.
Siberian cat.
Maine cat.

Bobtails are kind and simple animals that get along well with family members and pets. Their appearance wins hearts, and their kind character makes a person the best friends.