Kurilian bobtail: cats and male cats

The Kurilian Bobtail is a distinctive breed distinguished by its untamed yet amiable appearance. These cats, who have strong, muscular bodies and unusual short tails, add an exotic touch to homes while still having loving, caring dispositions.

Particularly male Kurilian Bobtails frequently exhibit a remarkable blend of loyalty and independence. They are the ideal combination of loving and adventurous companions because they are natural hunters who also enjoy spending time with their families.

The Kurilian Bobtail offers an intriguing blend of domestic charm and wild beauty, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a playful companion or a loyal protector. Let’s explore what makes Kurilian Bobtails unique, both male and female, and what owning one of these amazing cats can bring.

Kurilian Bobtail Cats	Kurilian Bobtail Male Cats
Kurilian Bobtail cats are known for their short, fluffy tails and strong, muscular build. They are friendly, social, and get along well with other pets and children.	Male Kurilian Bobtail cats are generally larger and more robust than females. They tend to be very protective of their territory and show a strong, independent character.
These cats are playful and curious, often enjoying outdoor activities. They are also known for their hunting instincts and ability to catch small prey.	Males can be more dominant, especially around other male cats, but they are also affectionate with their families and enjoy playtime.

History of origin

The chirping of birds in the tropics, the sounds of Babylon, or the whispers of Egyptian priests are not part of the breed’s origin story. One lovely day, visitors from the mainland discovered a stunning cat in the Kuril Islands. We could stop this from happening. The Kuril Islands and Sakhalin have been home to short-tailed hunting cats for a very long time. However, it wasn’t until the middle of the 20th century that geologists and military personnel started bringing these stunning animals with pompom tails to the mainland.

They were mislabeled as Japanese bobtails by some. Even though these two breeds seem similar on the outside, their personalities, temperaments, and even genetic makeup are entirely different. A short while later, cats with and without long hair from the islands of Iturup and Kunashir were transported to the mainland; these cats served as the foundation for the creation of standards for the Kurilian Bobtail. We were introduced to a new breed by T. Bocharova, L. Ivanova, and a few other enthusiasts. Kurilian Bobtails, also known as half-deciduous and short-haired Kuril Bobtals, were given official recognition by WCF in 2009 after a standard was created and authorized specifically for them.

There is no wisdom associated with the Kurilian bobtail breed name. Bobtail (Bobtail) is the official name for a number of cat breeds with short tails. In English, "Tail" means a tail, and "Bob" means a pompom. The place of origin is indicated by the prefix in front.

A rare breed of cat, the Kurilian Bobtail is distinguished by its short, fluffy tail and lively, independent disposition. Cats are excellent hunters because of their powerful, muscular builds, which are shared by both sexes. Women are typically more reserved but still loving, whereas men tend to be more gregarious and extroverted. This breed balances independence and loyalty, so it does well in family environments and gets along well with kids and other pets.

Description of the breed and standards

Naturally, the breed’s appearance should be described first. Kuril Bobtails, a medium-sized breed that is both massive and graceful. Cats outweigh cats in size. Their unique body composition made them skilled jumpers. Viewed from the side, the cat bears a striking resemblance to a small lynx.

Head and muzzle

The bobtail’s head is shaped like a triangle; its broad forehead smoothly transitions into a straight nose. The cheekbones rise high and the cheeks are flat. There is a strong chin and a narrow muzzle. The cats have small, oval-shaped eyes that are positioned obliquely. The ears are high, straight, and large to medium in size.

Body

The Kurilian has a square-shaped body that is compact, powerful, strong, and has well-developed muscles. Because the hind legs are longer than the front ones, the cats have a slightly elevated croup that makes them resemble lynxes.

Coat and colors

Kurilian bobtails come in two hair lengths: short and long.

• Short hair with a moderately developed undercoat fits well to the body. The fur coat is dense and a little harsh to the touch;
• Longhaired dogs have medium-length fur with abundant guard hair and a very thick, dense undercoat. The fur should not be plush. A collar, trousers and tassels on the ears are required.

All colors are acceptable, with the exception of Abyssinian, color points, and white combinations. Aguuti (wild ticked color) and bicolor (two-color) cats are preferred.

Special tail of the Kurilian bobtail

One frequently hears the question, "Why did they dock the cats’ tails?" at exhibitions. We would like to reassure everyone who may be interested: it is simply a gene mutation occurring naturally; no one docked it. The character of the short tail is dominant or semi-dominant.

The standard states that a Kurilian bobtail’s tail should not grow longer than 8 cm.

It is important to remember that every Kurilian bobtail has a distinct tail, much like a fingerprint. The number of vertebrae, their mobility, joint fractures, and their orientation at an angle or with respect to one another all affect an individual’s structure.

Tails are typically categorized into two types:

• Spiral – the tail consists of 3-15 vertebrae, located with fractures at an acute angle, which forms a semblance of a spiral. It can be curved on the back, and several of its vertebrae can fit tightly to the sacrum, or it can have a completely different direction. In addition, the intervertebral joints can be either movable or immobile. They can be combined and consist of sections of movable and immobile joints.
• Stump – the tail consists of 2-8 deformed and shortened vertebrae. The intervertebral joints of the tail are immobile, and the vertebrae themselves can be located in any way.
• Broom – the tail consists of 5-10 vertebrae that form a bend at an obtuse angle. The intervertebral joints can be immobile, movable or combined.
• Retracted bobtail – the tail has no defects for the first 5-7 vertebrae. Towards the end, a "squiggle" is formed at the tail, which consists of several deformed vertebrae.

Character

Kurilian bobtail cats are naturally self-sufficient, self-assured, and well-balanced. The secret to cordial and pleasant relationships is to treat them with respect and communicate with them on an equal basis.

Psychological portrait

Bobtails have a very strong psyche, they are fearless, calmly tolerate loneliness and are rarely aggressive or shy. They are tender and affectionate with home, to strangers will show indifference. Kurils are smart and clean. In rare cases, they will have problems in communication and content. In addition, they are very smart, very soon the pet will answer you in your cat language, which you can perfectly understand. Representatives of this breed are true, affectionate and charming. Thanks to wild origin, bobtails are excellent hunters, and sometimes even fishermen. If you decide to start the Kuril Bobtail, you should be prepared for the fact that in the house he will be a leader among other animals.

Young kittens frequently rummage and are very lively and inquisitive. They need a great deal of love, care, and attention. They become more reflective, more at ease, and occasionally lazy as they get older.

Cohabitation with other animals

Kurilians are peaceful and non-aggressive by nature, but they will not cede their land to outsiders. There are typically no other options, so they either live as equals or occupy dominant roles in relationships. Thus, a lot about cohabitation depends on the neighbor’s personality, behavior, and the terms under which he agrees to live. Naturally, this does not apply to birds and small pets; a hunter by nature will never view a potential prey as an equal.

Kurilian bobtails are cats that are moderately active and can live in apartments, but they require frequent walks or unrestricted access to the street in order to be happy. It might be worthwhile to install a play complex if this is not offered.

Breeders frequently tell you that their cats don’t mark, and there is some validity to this claim. While most Kurils don’t actually have a tendency to splash, they can "do dirty tricks" in other ways due to their abstinence. They might begin to rip the wallpaper or make puddles in inappropriate areas, for instance. The lack of a distinct scent is another characteristic of cats. You won’t detect any particular cat scents when you enter a home with five or six Kurils.

Care

Bobtails require basic care, this applies even to long-haired representatives of the breed. Their fur has a special structure, it is unusually practical: it does not fall into tangles and does not get dirty. With proper nutrition and the absence of stress, cats practically do not shed in the off-season. Despite this, it is recommended to comb them at least once a week. Thus, dead hairs are removed, the fur becomes shinier, and the skin receives such a pleasant and useful massage. Periodic examination of the eyes and ears, but there is no need to clean them unless necessary. It is also undesirable to trim the claws of these independent hunters, so it is important to accustom the kitten to a scratching post. It is worth considering that if the cat has free access to the street, it will sharpen its claws on trees, so it may not look at a simple device made of a board and rope.

It is not advised to frequently bathe Kurils. This is only done if they are extremely dirty or right before an exhibition. Although few bobtails exhibit a love for bathing, many of them truly adore the water.

To prevent the kitten from becoming scared, it is placed in a bath that has already been filled and gently bathed. The foam is then removed using clean water that has been pre-prepared in a bucket, without using the tap or shower.

Features of nutrition

Up until recently, Kurilian bobtails had never experienced a well-fed life in an apartment. Since this breed is young, native, and not artificially bred, it is advised to feed them natural foods.

Feeding with natural products

The basis of the diet should be lean meat and offal (beef tripe, liver, lung, etc.d.). All this should be well washed and frozen or scalded with boiling water. The Kuril breed loves fresh fish, especially sea fish. It is better to give boiled fish no more than once a week. Egg yolk or raw quail egg no more than twice a week. Fermented milk products are given as tolerated, as a supplement to the main diet. It is good if the cat eats vegetables, fruits, greens or at least green grass, which needs to be grown for it. In addition to the meat base, give porridge with vegetables.

It is best to add vitamin and mineral supplements to the diet when feeding natural food.

Feeding with industrial feeds

It is best to switch the kitten over to dry food no sooner than five or six months if the Kuril Bobtail is to be fed that type of diet. Furthermore, these ought to be ultra-premium or holistic class feeds, with no starch and local products serving as the foundation:

• Nutram Total Grain-Free is a holistic food for adult healthy cats, it comes in different flavors;
• 1 st Choice VITALITY INDOOR – balanced food for indoor cats with carefully selected ingredients;
• Sanabelle GRANDE – complete food for adult cats (recommended for large breed cats);
• Arden Grange Adult Cat – grain-free food for adult cats, comes in different flavors;
• Josera JosiCat – complete food for cats with beef;
• Royal Canin Exigent Protein – food for cats that are picky about the composition of the product.

Due to bodily characteristics, Kurils cannot be given special food for the prevention of urolithiasis without a prescription. Cats may not be fussy about their care, but they certainly aren’t fussy about their diet. Kurils should have a well-balanced and superior diet.

Health and life expectancy

This breed is resilient and strong overall. This seems to have been influenced by both natural selection and the lack of human interference in the selection process. However, there are a few things you should be aware of about them.

• Research shows that the mutation responsible for the short tail is not associated with genetic abnormalities and does not affect the quality of life. Meanwhile, bobtails are more likely to have rectal prolapse or the formation of the so-called "roses". Usually, small kittens suffer from this disease. A predisposing factor is improper nutrition, invasions, constipation and diarrhea. Whether the predisposition is inherited has not yet been determined.
• Kurilian bobtails have a urine pH of 7-7.5, not 6-6.5, like ordinary cats, so they rarely suffer from alkaline urolithiasis, but they do form acidic stones. All kinds of drugs for the prevention of urolithiasis or specially developed food for most cats are categorically not suitable for them.
• They are also prone to the formation of tartar, especially individuals eating soft "natural" food.

Poor upkeep and care are typically linked to additional health issues. Remember to get regular immunizations, dewormings, and other preventative measures. Even cats who never venture outside need them.

Kurilian bobtails have an average lifespan of 13–14 years.

Choosing a kitten and price

Bobtail kittens, like many others, are blind at birth and don’t open their eyes for another two weeks. They start to "change color" in their eyes around one month of age. By the time a kitten reaches one year of age, its typical gray-blue color transforms into a permanent one, and in cats with bright green eyes, it can occasionally last for two years. Kittens are fed and acclimated to the litter box from one month of age, when their mother stops picking up after them. Kittens will receive their first deworming at the same age. Two months are spent on the first vaccination, and three weeks are spent on the second.

After learning all the nuances of apartment living, kittens can move to a new home no sooner than three months. Babies weigh around 1.5 kg at this age.

It’s not allowed to crossbreed with other breeds, but sometimes a partnership where one parent is a Kurilian bobtail results in kittens with short tails. These kittens, referred to in the advertisement as Kurilian bobtails, are typically given away for a low price. If you really need a pet of this breed—and not just a short-tailed cat—then proceed with caution.

Until they are 4 months old, almost all kittens maintain their baby fluff. Therefore, observing the parents can help you predict whether the baby will grow out to be long- or short-haired.

A Kurilian bobtail kitten from a cattery typically costs between 15 and 20,000 rubles.

The Kurilian Bobtail is a rare breed distinguished by its gregarious and lively disposition. Both male and female cats of this breed make excellent companions because they integrate well into families and form strong bonds with their owners.

Despite being powerful, self-reliant, and skilled hunters, they also adore spending time with their owners and going for a good cuddle after a long day of exploring. Either a male or female Kurilian Bobtail will bring unique qualities to any home, so it doesn’t matter which one you choose.

These cats are an excellent option for those who enjoy having pets because of their eye-catching bobbed tails and charming, affectionate personalities.

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