Japanese Bobtail

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This article is about the cat. For the squid, see Japanese Bobtail Squid.

Japanese Bobtail
Female Japanese Bobtail
Breed standard
FIFe	standard
CFA	standard
TICA	standard
AACE	standard
Cat (Felis catus)

The Japanese Bobtail is a breed of cat with an unusual 'bobbed' tail more closely resembling the tail of a rabbit than that of an ordinary feline. The short tail is a cat body type genetic mutation caused by the expression of a recessive gene.^[1] Thus, so long as both parents are bobtails, all kittens born to a litter will have bobtails as well.
The Japanese Bobtail is a small domestic cat native to Japan and Southeast Asia, though it is now found throughout the world. The breed has been known in Japan for centuries, and there are many stories, as well as pieces of ancient art, featuring it.
Japanese bobtails may have almost any color, but calicoes (三毛, mi-ke^?, lit. "three fur"), are especially favoured by the Japanese. Much like any other breed, the colors may be arranged in any number of patterns, with van patterns and calico being common among purebred cats, though other colorations are also accepted.^[2]