A cat with a tail like a squirrel - photo and description of the breed

Characteristics and features of the breed

The Mekong Bobtail is an unusual breed of cat that exhibits a canine rather than feline demeanor. They are very active and proactive, ready to carry sticks and slippers and run after a ball. These cats are very close to Siamese, but have a softer character and a larger palette of colors. Cream and caramel coat colors predominate.

Appearance and standard

• Country: Siam (modern Thailand).
• Life expectancy: 20-25 years.
• Litter: 3-4 kittens.
• Weight: cats weigh a little, on average from 2.5 to 4 kg.
• Color: seal point, chocolate point, lilac point, caramel point, blue point, gray-brown point, cinnamon point, fawn point, red point, torty point, cream point.
• Description of the breed: a feature of the breed is a short curved tail, consisting of three or more vertebrae. Each representative has unique tail curves. It is immediately obvious that cats of this breed are well built and have harmonious body proportions. They are quite muscular, but with a graceful twist. Outwardly, they are very similar to Siamese.
• The head has a fairly smooth and flowing shape, flattened on top. The muzzle is oval with an expressive chin and lower jaw. The ears are small, set far apart from each other, and rounded at the ends.

Mekong eyes are large and fabulously blue. The shape is slanting with an expressive rounded lower eyelid, which makes them mysterious and fantastic.

The body of this breed is quite graceful, but at the same time with developed muscles. The back is arched, but rounded closer to the croup. Cats have long legs with very delicate, soft paws. Another feature of this breed is the inability to retract the claws on its hind legs, which is why a peculiar “clunking” sound is heard when walking on floor coverings such as laminate. The cat is much larger than the cat, both in size and weight. On average, cats are 1-2 kilograms heavier and one and a half times heavier.

The tail of Mekong Bobtails is their most important feature. It consists of three vertebrae or more. According to standards, its length should not exceed a quarter of the pet’s body. Each ponytail is different due to its kinks. Outwardly, they may not be so visible, but in any case, each vertebra can be easily felt. Mekongs cannot have long tails, and each cat's tail is unique.

The coat is short, almost without undercoat and very smooth. The skin fits tightly to the body, there are almost no folds. Mekong Bobtails have one more feature - their skin is incredibly elastic not only at the withers, but throughout the body.

Thai cats have different point and Siamese colors; there cannot be white spots or any markings on their fur; they have a dark muzzle and paw tips. The most common breeds are blue point, tabby point and red point.

Important! The presence of a thick undercoat and round eyes in the Mekong is a defect of the breed.

Character and behavior

The character of Mekong Bobtails is very unusual and different from other breeds. They are often called cotops. Cats are incredibly mobile, active, do not sleep during the day, can walk on a leash and bring slippers to their owners. One of the Mekong's favorite pastimes is chasing a stick or ball and walking in the park.

Oddly enough, this breed of cat gets along well with dogs and is calm with other inhabitants of an apartment or house. These cats are also excellent guards. They, like a faithful dog, will protect their home. They are very curious, loyal and always follow their owner, so they tolerate trips well. You don't have to worry about your pet running away or getting lost.

Such a hare tail is found not only in the Mekong Bobtail, but also in the Kuril Bobtail.

Mekongs are quite patient, obedient and non-conflicting. This is a big advantage if there is a child in the house. Thanks to these qualities, cats tolerate all manifestations of love and peculiar tenderness from children without nerves.

Advantages and disadvantages

In general, these cats have many more positive qualities and privileges compared to ordinary representatives of the cat family. The advantages of the breed include:

• calm;
• obedient;
• unpretentious;
• get along well with all family members and other pets;
• endure loneliness without nerves;
• there are no difficulties or special care needs;
• loyal;
• live long.

• vocalists;
• you need to select a diet;
• too active at a young age.

Did you know? Cats make ten times more sounds than cats.

Description

Since the Bombay cat was bred relatively recently, not everyone knows what it looks like. Often a completely mongrel animal that bears only a vague resemblance to it is passed off as a purebred Bombay. To avoid falling into the hands of scammers, you should purchase kittens only from specialized nurseries, and we will tell you what a Bombay cat looks like, give a description of the breed and some tips on choosing a kitten.

Appearance

Externally, the Bombay cat is very similar to the Burmese. Yes, this is understandable, since both breeds are related. The same elegance of gait, the same grace. However, there are a number of differences - the body is noticeably more elongated, the paws are thinner, the stop is less pronounced.

The Bombay wool resembles the Burmese only in its silkiness. It fits tightly to the animal's body and has a bluish-black color. No inclusions of white or other colors are allowed.

According to the breed standard, the Bombay cat also has the following distinctive features:

• the body is muscular, medium in size;
• wide chest;
• straight tail;
• the head is small, round in shape with a clear stop;
• ears are rounded at the tips, medium in size;
• the eyes are large, round, bright amber in color;
• black nose and paw pads.

You can see more clearly what a Bombay cat looks like in the photo below.

The Bombay cat's calling card is its jet-black, satiny coat.

There is also a British breed standard. It is somewhat different from the generally accepted American one. British Bombay cats are distinguished by their slender body build. They have green and yellow eyes.

Character

Despite the appearance of the formidable Bagheera, the Bombay cat is quite peaceful. She gets along with almost all other pets. She inherited curiosity and playfulness from the Burmese. However, there is no need to be afraid of her activity. From her American Shorthair ancestor she also inherited a balanced character and graceful manners.

The Bombay cat is easy to communicate with. She is sociable and does not tolerate loneliness well. These cats often choose one family member as an object of adoration and sleep only next to him. They resemble dogs in their devotion.

As a rule, they treat children well, but they do not like to be squeezed and dragged around. To a child who respects her, she will become a true friend.

Bombay cats have extraordinary intelligence. It is easy to teach them different tricks, which she will be happy to perform. They usually learn the rules of behavior in the house the first time and strictly follow them throughout their lives.

How to choose a kitten?

A Bombay kitten should only be purchased from specialized nurseries with a good reputation; this is the only way to avoid being scammed. When purchasing, check the metrics and veterinary passport. If you are taking a kitten for breeding, make sure that the mother's pedigree does not include a mark such as a craniofacial defect, which is often found in Bombay cats.

Small kittens may have a mixture of brown or gray hairs and blue eyes. They will acquire their true color only after four months. You can judge what a pet will look like from the appearance of its parents, so ask the breeder to show them to you.

It will not be superfluous to examine the kitten for existing diseases. A healthy baby has shiny, clean fur, without black spots or scratches. The eyes are wide open, brilliant in color, without redness or discharge. He actively reacts to what is happening, when you try to pet him, he does not try to bite or scratch you. The tummy should be soft and the nose should be cold and dry.

Little Bombays bear little resemblance to their parents: they have blue eyes and spotted coats.

Temperament

Bobtails are called cute, affectionate and obedient. These pets make excellent companions. They are not aggressive and get along well with children, older people and cat-friendly playmates.

Although this breed is playful, it is not very energetic. You can expect them to want to play every day, but only a little, otherwise they are ready to lie around and snuggle with their owner all day long. Lie by the laptop on the table while the owner types texts, keep your paw on the mouse and try to help your beloved.

The main characteristic of a bobtail cat is absolute affection. More than anything else, a bobtail wants to love—and receive that love! If you need a good companion pet, then this breed is suitable.

Gentle felines with short pom-pom tails are ideal for families and are sometimes offered as therapy animals to neurotics.

Japanese Bobtail

Since ancient times, this cat was considered a friendly animal in Japan, so it was often depicted in various paintings. This breed is popular in China and Korea, as their residents believe that a cat can bring prosperity to the home.

Externally, the Japanese Bobtail is very similar to the Kuril cat, but there are characteristic differences. Firstly, a cat’s nose is not straight, but curved slightly downwards and has a small depression near the forehead. The ears are small and point straight up. The color is white with brown or black spots, sometimes it combines three colors at once.

Japanese Bobtails have a fairly calm and docile character and are very playful cats. They love to be in the center of their owner’s attention and “talk” to him.

Care and illness

Long-haired Napoleons need to be combed weekly - 1-2 times

Particular attention should be paid to your pet's tail. If this rule is not followed, the animal’s fur will roll into mats and it will have to be shaved.

Once a month, breeders recommend trimming a cat's claws.

Squirrel-tailed cats are completely defenseless in the wild and require constant care from their owner throughout their lives.

The unique cat with a fluffy tail has quite ordinary health problems typical of Persian cats. The main one is hereditary polycystic kidney disease. This disease is practically incurable and leads to the premature death of the animal.

The structure of a cat's skeleton is subject to serious deformations. Sometimes kittens of this breed are born with congenital deformities and are subject to complete culling. Napoleon breeders also note that periodically the entire litter is born dead. It has not yet been established exactly why this happens.

Breeding the Kurilian Bobtail

Kurilian Bobtails are a young and not yet fully formed breed. Feline specialists and breeders continue to work on its development.

Criteria for choosing a partner

To maintain standard breed characteristics, when choosing a potential mating partner, the following are taken into account:

• length and structure of the tail (preferably the “spiral” type), “retracted bobtail” is excluded from breeding;
• length and structure of wool;
• strict compliance with all appearance standards;
• presence of a pedigree (for newcomers, documented proof of export from the Kuril Islands is required);
• good health and activity.

Finding a partner for the Kuril Bobtail is quite easy, but mating with other breeds is strictly prohibited

How often can a cat give birth?

It is not recommended for cats to give birth more than 1-2 times a year. Otherwise, this may negatively affect the health of the mother and the kittens themselves.

Typically, a Kurilian Bobtail cat has no more than five kittens in a litter.

The cat has a squirrel's tail: how the charmer became an Instagram star

What do you associate squirrel with? That's right, with a huge fluffy tail. Now imagine that such “wealth” went to an ordinary cat. Don't believe me? Then meet me - this is Bell. She is already three years old.

Her parents are a Persian and a Munchkin (a dwarf breed that is also called “Napoleonic cats”). Such an unusual couple produced a touching kitten.

From the Persians she got her characteristic muzzle and super fluffiness, but her Munchkin roots showed up in her characteristic short legs and good health.

But Bell's most important feature, which has become her calling card, is her huge shaggy tail.

As the owner assures, it makes up exactly half of the cat and evokes a burning desire to immediately touch it.

There is more than one animal in the family; the red “cloud” has a large and cheerful company, whose life you can watch on Instagram.

The owners have created a page on a social network for their pets, where they post funny photos and stories.

Today, more than 150 thousand people from all over the world admire the furries and express their delight through likes and comments.

Really, how can you ignore such charmers?

Interesting facts about the Ocicat cat breed

Ocicats are not particularly talkative, like their Siamese grandmothers.

The name of the breed comes from the combination of the name of the American predator ocelot and the English word “cat” - cat.

The cat is easy to train and can become a good replacement for a dog in terms of following simple commands.

A cat with a tail like a squirrel - photo and description of the breed

Snow-white kittens evoke the most tender feelings in people. A fluffy white lump with sky-blue eyes finds owners much earlier than other brothers. The snow-white coat of pets can be combined not only with blue, but also with yellow, orange, and green eyes. Often these cats have different eyes, which the owners are touched by. Pure white kittens are found in different breeds.

A perfectly white pet may turn out to be completely deaf. It cannot be said that all milk cats have hearing impairments, but most animals with blue eyes and snow-white fur have hearing problems. In the course of research, it was revealed that in cats with heterochromia (different eyes), deafness occurs in the ear located on the half with the blue eye.

There are many breeds of cats that have not only a white coat, but also their own specific characteristics.

Cost of a kitten

To purchase a Nibelung kitten, you can contact Russian Blue breeders. How much does a cat cost? The standard price range in nurseries for representatives of the breed is $700 – $1000. Such a kitten will delight the family as a pet, but cannot be used for breeding work or exhibitions.

Elite kittens should be purchased in the USA, Europe, and Canada. The price for breed-class specimens starts from $10,000.

Eye colors

Cat with green eyes
The most common color of cat eyes is green. This color goes well with any color, including gray striped. Very bright, emerald or grassy, ​​rare. Much more often the eyes have an olive or gooseberry tint.

Almost as often, cats have yellow eye shades - light lemon and yellow-green.

Orange iris colors look very impressive and are usually found in ginger cats. Shades range from copper to amber-walnut.

In a white cat with green or yellow eyes, the coat color is controlled by the piebald gene.

The rarest of colors is blue, from light to rich. Typically, white cats have blue eyes, unfortunately, which are associated with various diseases that are associated with the white gene.

An extremely rare case is heterochrony - different colors of the iris. That is, when a cat has one eye, for example, blue, and the other orange. For cat lovers, this combination is considered the most desirable.

Nutrition

To organize proper nutrition, it is best to use special elite dry food, if possible with a minimum content of plant components. Food should not contain coloring components. Otherwise, the cat risks losing its main advantage - its silver-blue coat color, which will change to a brown-rusty color due to food additives. Products containing copper or iodine can produce a similar effect.

The cat's diet must be varied with vitamins A and B, as well as mineral supplements with taurine.

Kittens that have switched to complementary feeding from mother's milk should be fed 5-6 times a day. It is recommended to use poultry meat that has been previously frozen to low temperatures. Dry food is added to the diet gradually, starting at the age of 4 months.

Adult pets should regularly receive raw meat, which cats need to meet their protein needs. A high protein content in a cat's diet guarantees a beautiful, shiny coat.

It is necessary to provide the cat with free access to fresh water, since representatives of the Nibelung breed need a large amount of liquid in their diet.

Health, vaccinations and nutrition

Given the fact that the American Ringtail breed was discovered relatively recently, scientists have not made any statements about any hereditary or genetic diseases of these cats. There is also no information about the susceptibility to diseases of certain organs and types. With proper care, cats with round tails are known to live from 11 to 16 years.

The opinion that cats that do not go outside and stay at home do not need vaccinations is erroneous. You can also bring lichen spores, pathogenic bacteria on the soles of your shoes, with clothes, bags and packages. Ringtails need to be vaccinated and vaccinated from 9-12 weeks of age. The first vaccination protects against respiratory viral infections.

The next mandatory vaccination is against rabies, it is done at 12 weeks of age. Further, two weeks after the first, a second vaccination against viral infections is necessary, subsequent vaccinations of this nature - once a year. In addition to the above, the prevention of panleukopenia is considered mandatory vaccination. The remaining vaccinations, their necessity and timing of administration are determined by the veterinarian.

The American Ringtail's diet should be balanced in the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It is recommended to use ready-made dry and wet food, premium and super-class pates and canned food

Periodically, your cat needs to be supplemented with vitamin-mineral complexes (please note that a veterinarian’s consultation is required in this matter)

Colors

The wool of the Nibelungs is colored blue, in different shades, colors. There is tipping – i.e. the tips of the hairs are painted a certain color. This creates the effect of a shining halo. Tipping can be bright or weak, but the color of the coat should always be rich and deep.

Expert opinion

Dusheba Vera Ivanovna

In 2010, she graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Scriabin with honors, specializing in veterinary medicine. I regularly attend veterinary conferences, congresses, and webinars.

Breeders do not advise allowing your pet to walk under the scorching sun: bright light can ruin the unique color of the coat - it will simply fade.

In the photo there is a cat of the Nibelung breed

History of the origin of the breed

Many of the stories indicate that the first representatives appeared around the 40s of the last century. It was at this time that a British breeder was transporting Abyssinian kittens to New Zealand, North America and Australia.

This was not a planned breeding. The ancestors of the Somalis are the short-haired Abyssinians. There are two versions of the appearance of the Somalis:

1. As a result of a gene mutation, short-haired Abyssinians, as an exception, gave birth to long-haired kittens.
2. The Abyssinian cat was unplannedly crossed with an unknown longhair cat.

The history of the breed is silent about which version is correct, but it is known that it was thanks to the Abyssinian cat that such a wonderful breed appeared.

History of origin

At the beginning of the last century, one of the American breeders named Nicky Horner wanted to try to breed a completely black cat.
To do this, she crossed the Burmese and American Shorthair breeds. The kittens that were born looked like panther cubs. In 1958, the Bombay cat was officially registered in the list of breeds, gaining the right to take part in exhibitions only after 20 years. Breeders say that it is very difficult to get a perfectly black Bombay kitten. The peculiarity is that when crossing two Bombays, you can get a cub with a “sable” color, which is a disqualifying feature at exhibitions (two genes, when fused, cause recession). And the Burmese and Bombay produce charcoal-colored kittens

In England, Burmese were crossed with ordinary black cats, without paying much attention to the breed. That is why slightly different standards are set for the American and English types

History of the origin of the breed

If the Bombay cat breed were to appear in Bombay, all 33 war elephants would dance a ceremonial dance in its honor. But the Bombay cat has practically nothing to do with India. Her homeland is the USA!

In the 50s of the last century, American breeder Nicky Horner dreamed of breeding a breed of cats similar to pumas that live in the vicinity of Bombay. To do this, it took about 20 years of breeding experiments and the genes of black American Shorthair cats and Burmese cats.

The way the result of these experiments looked did not satisfy felinological organizations and the Bombays were not recognized by society for a long time.

Nicky Horner got tired of fighting the opposition and stopped working with the breed. But the Bombay banner was taken from the weakened Horner’s hands by breeders Herb and Suzanne Zwecker. It was in one of their litters that the cat Luv It Black appeared, which became a cat sensation and was recognized in 1985 as the second best cat by the CFA.

Love It Black changed public opinion and gradually Bombay cats began to occupy an increasingly strong place on the cat Olympus.

However, this breed cannot be called numerous - just 15 years ago, only 97 Bombay cats were registered with the CFA!

What information and documents must a Bombay breeder provide?

Breeders do not have a regulated list of information that they are required to provide to their customers. However, not only conscience, but also competition among Bombay breeders provokes them to qualitatively inform clients about everything that concerns the chosen kitten, thereby providing not only a high-quality “product”, but also a high-quality service. This will undoubtedly benefit buyers.

It is worth noting that persons who sell Bombays without documents, that is, kittens resulting from illegal mating, rarely provide useful information about the pets, since they simply do not know it. According to the new standards, nursery staff must have a “zoological” education, so they can provide complete information about cats and give professional recommendations on care and maintenance. Pedigree kittens must have a certificate, which the owners can then independently exchange for a pedigree (for a fee) and a veterinary passport.

In addition to clubs and nurseries, there are also breeders, but when purchasing a kitten from them, be careful and attentive - many of them do not breed legally. You can buy a Bombay cat from such a private person cheaper, but there is always some risk - whether it is really a purebred kitten, whether it has had all the vaccinations. Be sure to ask for documents about them - otherwise there is a possibility that an unscrupulous nursery or breeder included payment for vaccinations in the price of a Bombay cat, but in fact did not provide vaccinations. This is not only an unpleasant loss of money, but also very dangerous for the health of the animal. Many purebred kittens are predisposed to various diseases at an early age.

Character and intelligence of the bobtail

Friendliness

Despite the fact that the Kuril Bobtail is very similar to a wild lynx, it is a surprisingly kind and cheerful animal that loves human company and gets along well with all household members.

In terms of devotion to its owner and boundless friendliness, it is rather a dog

than a cat. She always tries to be close to people, is interested in their affairs, and has a pleasant and unique voice.

Bobtails love to sit on people's laps, to be in the center of all events, but at the same time they are unobtrusive. If they see that the owner has no time for them right now, then they do not particularly insist on the next portion of attention to their person.

But it is important to remember that cats of this breed are very attached to their owner, and if you are away from home for a long time, your pet will be very bored

Get along with children and other animals

Unlike most other cat breeds, bobtails do not “walk on their own”, but look for opportunities to follow people everywhere. Along with this, they are extremely patient and never offend children, even if they constantly drag them around, pull their ears, etc.

If there are other cats of the same breed living in the house, they almost never quarrel and are even able to establish their own hierarchy.

In addition, they are distinguished by amazing courage, are not afraid of dogs at all and make friends with them.

Activity

Kurilian Bobtails are active and curious cats

It is important to understand that these cats are very active. They need free space to play, jump, run and climb.

They can jump very high and climb into the most inaccessible places. However, damage to household property from their “adventures” is no greater than from representatives of other breeds.

An interesting feature of Kurilian Bobtails is their love of water.

, they swim, dive perfectly and are even able to catch fish in a pond on their own. The hunting instinct of these animals is simply excellent. They enjoy catching mice and rats.

Intelligence

Bobtails are very smart and easily remember what they are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do.

The Kurilian Bobtail can be taught to walk on a leash, perform tricks and even play games.

An important and useful feature of these cats is that they almost never mark their territory. This, of course, can happen, but only if cats of a different breed live in the house.

Character traits

Unlike many other meowing four-legged animals, the Mekong Bobtail does not walk on its own, but is attached to its owner like a dog - he is ready to accompany him everywhere. If desired, the owner can train the pet to fetch slippers or, upon request, to run after a toy.

In a married pair of Thai Bobtails, the female always dominates - it is she who decides how to properly raise the babies, when to eat and when to sleep. Any mistake by the other half will cause a dissatisfied growl, and in some cases, a serious slap in the face.

Surprisingly, cats never respond with aggression to such menacing attacks in their direction, but meekly agree with the opinion of the blue-eyed beauty.

Males also take an active part in raising offspring; they are the ones responsible for the hygiene of kittens, teaching the intricacies of cat life, and accustoming them to solid food.

Adult cats are not very different in character and temperament from small kittens. But cats with all their appearance show that they belong to the high society of blue bloods - they are independent, proud and stately.

Short-tailed Thais do not know how to scratch: in a fight they would rather use their teeth than release sharp claws. These pets can be safely kept as a guard - if necessary, they will be able to fiercely repel uninvited guests.

A born hunter, the Mekong Bobtail will not give a single small animal a chance to survive, so it is not advisable to have additional fish, birds, and even more so domestic rodents.

Pets love to have heart-to-heart conversations; they have a wide range of meowing timbres; each situation has its own tonality.

Judging by the reviews of the owners, Mekong Bobtails will never offend a child - pets are ready to meekly withstand any childish bullying, no matter how long it lasts. Perhaps the angelic patience is associated with the unusual structure of the animal’s skin: it does not fit tightly to the muscles and grabbing the scruff of the neck does not cause the cat much discomfort or unbearable pain.

Features of behavior and character

Kurilian Bobtails do not like to be alone; these pets prefer to constantly “chase” the owner or one of the family members. Other pets living in the same house as the smoker are also subject to surveillance.

Kurilian Bobtails love children and big companies

From their wild ancestors, fluffies have inherited a love of water, which in a city apartment manifests itself in the form of a regularly occurring desire to splash around under an open tap or in a drinking fountain.

Left with bob-tailed pets and the instinct to jump as high as possible. Therefore, in order to avoid injury to the animal and damage to furniture, you need to take care of purchasing special posts with several sections for climbing and resting.

In addition, Kurilian bobtails are excellent rat catchers, and in their natural habitat, both squirrels and hares serve as prey for purrs.

Kittens of the breed are distinguished by their curiosity and sharp mind. Thanks to its developed intelligence, it is easy to teach the smoker the rules of behavior in the house and even simple tricks.

The undoubted advantages of Russian short-tailed cats include:

• protective instinct, the desire to drive away strangers from one’s territory;
• ability to get along with other pets and small children;
• playful and active character;
• good intuition, due to which the animal senses weather changes and natural disasters in advance;
• inability to leave specific marks on walls and furniture;
• love of outdoor trips and travel;
• unpretentiousness and cleanliness.

But many owners say that the disadvantage of the breed is too strong an attachment to a person, a literal pursuit on the heels.

In addition, smokers:

• against the backdrop of the “protector” instinct, they are unmerciful to guests and strangers in the house (they can even attack);
• they do not like cuddling and excessive caresses; they prefer high backs of sofas and doors to sitting on their knees;
• sometimes experience difficulty during bowel movements;
• love to “talk”, making sounds of purring, loud sniffling, growling, creaking, hissing and persistent meowing;
• may cause allergies, especially during molting.

Behavior

Representatives of the Nibelung breed are distinguished from other cats by specific behavior:

• All representatives of the breed are distinguished by exceptional delicacy.
• Animals are silent by nature and do not like to express feelings with sounds. Sometimes pets make slight hints of meowing.
• They do not strive to advance to the leading roles and are not prone to aggression.
• The intelligence and intelligence of animals are distinctive breed characteristics.
• Animals unconditionally obey the only person they recognize as their master. Show loyalty and devotion. They suffer when separated from their loved ones, although they endure the changes steadfastly. Loyal to all family members.

• Despite their reserved nature, they enjoy participating in children's games.
• Animals are affectionate and sensitive. If a person enjoys the presence of a pet, the cat will spend many hours near the owner. When the owner gets bored with communication, the cat will easily “leave the horizon” and will not be a burden with its presence.
• Cats have special requirements for cleanliness, which especially applies to their sleeping area and toilet.
• Animals need a special menu because they will never touch inappropriate food.
• Cats categorically do not accept scandals and squabbles. You should not use harsh punishment methods on these pets. It is enough to express your comments to the pet in a stern tone.
• Animals are not vindictive. When offended, cats tend to show disagreement, refusing to communicate.
• Representatives of the breed have a negative attitude towards changes in surroundings, moving, new people, disorder and noise. Animals need time and effort to adapt to new conditions.
• Veterinarians do not recommend having a kitten when there are young children in the family. Nibelungs will never show aggression towards children, but they tend to become depressed from loud screaming and crying.
• It takes a Nibelung breed representative some time to make friends with dogs or cats living in the house. After establishing friendly relations, the cat will willingly take patronage over other pets.

Description of the breed

The standard and characteristics of the Somali cat breed are practically no different from the Abyssinian standards. The main difference is the length of the coat.

The Somali breed is impressive in its appearance - the cats are very similar to a fox or a squirrel. Pets with a characteristic color, fluffy tail and beautiful fur can conquer any heart.

Adults reach medium size. Pets weigh approximately 4-6 kilograms.

Breed standard

The Somali cat breed has many names among the common people. The most interesting of them are the squirrel cat or the fox cat. But no matter what name the breed has, the general standards remain unchanged.

Somalis have a long and fluffy double coat, the thicker it is, the better. Despite the fact that the wool is thin, it is very soft. The length is not uniform, a little shorter on the paws, longer on the back, and the longest in the belly area.

Behavioral features

Rodents of the squirrel family belong to active animals that lead an arboreal lifestyle. They make almost no effort when jumping from one tree to another. During the jump, the animal helps itself with its tail and paws. Depending on the type of forest, the appearance of the place of residence changes:

• in deciduous forests the rodent lives in a hollow, the bottom of which is lined with dry grasses or lichen;
• in coniferous forests they make nests for themselves, which they build from branches; they lay wool, moss, and dry leaves on the bottom.

The animal can occupy empty bird homes. The number of such nests in one squirrel can reach 15; it can change its place of residence every two or three days. Thus, from 3 to 6 squirrels can winter in one nest.

Mass migration of animals begins in early autumn. The animals are capable of moving 300 km from their previous place of residence.

Signs of thoroughbred

You can determine the breed of a street cat by its external characteristics. To do this, you need to arm yourself with photos and descriptions of representatives of common cat breeds. Each of them is characterized by a certain body structure, color and type of fur, shape and shade of eyes, height and weight. Knowing these characteristics, by comparison you can with a high degree of probability understand what breed an ordinary-looking pet belongs to.

Features of the body structure (shape of the skull, ears, limbs, tail, etc.)

You can determine a cat's breed by body type:

Kurilian Bobtail

• Stocky with a rounded skull, dense bones, shortened limbs. Bobtail, American and British cats have these features.
• Muscular with a slightly rounded skull and paws of medium length. If your pet has this build, it may be a Maine Coon, American Curl, or Turkish cat.
• Flexible with a rather thin body, a narrow or wedge-shaped skull and long thin limbs. These features are characteristic of Angora and Siamese cats.

Scottish Fold
Ears, tail and limbs will also allow you to recognize the breed of the animal. Thus, ears tilted forward are an undoubted sign of a Scottish fold, while ears bent back are a sign of curls. Siamese cats have a long and straight tail, while bobtails have a broken tail. With shortened front legs and a jumping gait, Cymrics have no tail at all. Munchkins and minskins have disproportionately short limbs compared to the body.

You also need to evaluate the width and shape of the skull, forehead, cheeks, degree of expression of the chin, bite, and bridge of the nose. Exotics and Persians can be identified by their flattened nose, graceful Siamese and Javanese by their elongated muzzle.

"Elite" color

Siamese cat
Color in some cases serves as a determining factor in establishing the breed trait. This concept includes the color of the coat and its saturation, as well as possible patterns (tabby, agouti, etc.). Representatives of the Siamese breed are characterized by color point - a combination of a dark muzzle, paw tips, ears and tail with a lighter coat on other parts of the body.

Smoky, blue and silver colors are typical for Nibelungs, British, Scottish and other cat breeds, striped-spotted for Bengals, Savannahs, Safaris, sand for Abyssinians and Somalis, brown for Havana Browns and Chantilly Tiffanys. However, you should not completely rely on this factor when establishing the breed, since many domestic felines are colored similarly.

Eye color and shape

Muzzles of cats of different breeds
When establishing the breed of a pet, you need to look at the shape and color of the animal’s eyes. Thus, in British cats they are light brown, and in Siamese cats there is often congenital strabismus of varying degrees of severity. Turkish Angoras and Vans have heterochromia (multi-colored eyes). Among the owners of white coats of Orientals, Javanese and Persians there are blue-eyed ones. Snow-white Turkish and Scottish cats have yellow eyes with an amber tint.

Expressive almond-shaped eyes with black eyeliner are a distinctive feature of representatives of oriental breeds. Orientals, Abyssinians, Kao-Manis, Thais and Balineses have an elongated eye shape. In addition to their round, wide muzzle and thick coat, nature has endowed the Persians, Scottish Folds, Britons, Exotics and Rexes with large round eyes.

Type of fur or lack thereof

Bombay cat
The type of coat is one of the main characteristic properties of cats of noble blood. The Siamese, Singaporean, Oriental, Tonkinese, Bombay, Burmese, Abyssinian, Russian Blue, American, British, Carthusian and Exotic cats have a short length, while the Balinese, Norwegian Forest, Persian, Siberian, Somali, Turkish, Welsh, Burmese, Maine Coon and ragdoll - long. If the pet is hairless, it is probably a Sphynx, Peterbald, Minskin or Ukrainian Levkoy.

Cornish, Devon and German rexes are distinguished by curly short hair. Laperm, Selkirk and Bohemian rexes have curly and long fur. American cats have a fur coat consisting of short, hard and elastic curls.

Height and weight

These parameters can also be used to distinguish representatives of some cat breeds from others. If the cats are large and heavy, this may be:

• American or Kurilian bobtail;
• Turkish van;
• pixie bob;
• Norwegian Forest, Carthusian, Siberian, British cats;
• Maine Coon;
• savannah;
• ragdoll

Ragdoll
If your pet is too small compared to the average cat, he may be one of the following small breeds:

• munchkin;
• minuet;
• lambkin;
• Skookum;
• bambino;
• skiff-toy-bob;
• Dwelf;
• minskin;
• Singapore.

Differences from other breeds

There are breeds with which Kurbobs have some similarities. Because of this, a person who has not previously been interested in cat breeds may confuse them. However, they all have their own characteristic features that make them easy to distinguish.

The Maine Coon is a large breed that is somewhat similar in appearance to the Kurbob, but with a long tail. A chicken with a pom-pom tail cannot be confused with it. The main differences between the breeds will be the sizes - the Maine Coon is much larger, and its body is more elongated.

This is interesting! The health of Bobtails is much stronger than that of Maine Coons.

The Karelian Bobtail as a breed was registered in 1994, and in appearance it is very similar to the Kurilets. However, its ancestor is the Norwegian Forest Cat with a gene mutation that causes bobtail. Because of this, the main difference between the breeds is that the Karelians have inherited many of the features from the Norwegians. They are smaller and more graceful than the Kurils, and their muzzle is narrower. The tail does not necessarily have kinks, unlike the Kurbob, and is often just straight and short.

The American Bobtail has been bred by US felinologists since the 60s of the 20th century and is not a natural form. Outwardly, it is similar to the Kurilets, but the length of the tail cannot exceed 7 cm. The American Bobtail also has a convex forehead.

Pixiebob is much larger, and its weight reaches 10-12 kg. Also, Pixie Bobs do not allow a variety of colors and only tabby is recognized as the standard. The main difference between the breeds is their size.

The Cymrik breed is of natural origin, which is slightly smaller in size than the Kuril and has a round eye shape. The tail is very short, and ideally completely absent.

Japanese Bobtail. These cats are smaller and sleeker than Kurbobs, and their paws are taller. The color is usually predominantly white. The Japanese Bobtail is calmer than the Kuril, has good health, does not tolerate cold weather and is more whimsical in food.

A naturally occurring Manx breed. Its representatives should have a tail completely absent. In other parameters they are very similar.

The Mekong Bobtail breed has the coloring of Siamese cats, which Kurbobs do not have. This feature is the main difference between these two breeds of natural origin.

Skif-Tai-Don. The smallest Bobtail breed. The weight of these cats almost never exceeds 2.5 kg. The color of the representatives of the breed is the same as that of Siamese cats.

Cat with a cat

The most famous representative is the Bobtail

“Bobtail” translated from English means “short tail.” The general name of the breed combines several different types of cats from around the world. Each subspecies has its own habits, character and body structure.

American Bobtail

The father of this breed was the cat Yodi, who lived on a South American Indian reservation. In 1970, a standard for this breed was adopted, and the American Bobtail gained worldwide recognition only in the early 90s. These cats are very similar to lynxes, and they can come in a wide variety of colors. There are elegant tassels at the tips of the ears, a dense build, a slightly elongated body and massive paws.

They have a playful character and can be affectionate. Smart and easy to train animals. Freedom-loving. They need extra care for their long and thick coat. Problems may arise during reproduction.

Japanese Bobtail

This cat breed has been known in Japan for hundreds of years. How and under what circumstances the breed was formed is unknown. In their homeland, these cats bear the proud name Mi-ke.

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Medium size breed. The tail is 5-7 cm long and has a special structure in each individual. Unusual triangular head with narrow eyes and a long nose. Medium length coat without undercoat. Tricolor color: black, red and white.

They are characterized as intelligent and friendly cats. They love to swim. Suitable for keeping in an apartment. Easy to learn.

Kurilian Bobtail

A relatively young breed of cats, bred in Russia. It was first presented at the exhibition in the 80s of the 20th century.

The tail length is no more than 15 cm. The tail structure of each individual is unique. The animals are large, strongly built with powerful paws (the front ones are shorter than the back ones).

The character of these cats is often compared to that of a dog. Freedom-loving, but very loyal animals. They don't mark the territory, they don't smell like cats. They love to fish and hunt. Not fully domesticated.

Karelian Bobtail

The breed was formed as a result of natural mutations. The habitat of aboriginal cats is the coast of Lake Ladoga. In selection from phylinologists since 1992.

Tail length is 4-12 cm. There are a wide variety of colors. The cat is medium-sized, strong-built with well-developed muscles. The front legs are much shorter than the hind legs. The coat can be either long or short.

Karelian Bobtails become very attached to their owner. Very affectionate and friendly. Unpretentious in care. They rarely get sick.

Mekong Bobtail (Royal Bobtail)

It was born as a “by-product” of the breeding of Siamese cats. The Russian breeder, having received several short-tailed kittens, continued his work. As a result, a new breed of bobtail.

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A distinctive feature is the Siamese color. The structure of the tail is unique for each individual. Short dense body. The hind legs are longer than the front legs. Wedge-shaped head. Short coat with undercoat. Eye color is blue.

They are described by breeders as intelligent and sociable cats. They often live up to 20 years. The coat requires additional care.

Toy bob

The progenitor of Toy beans is considered to be a Russian cat named Kutsy, born with a mutation in Rostov-on-Don in 1988. The breed was registered as experimental by American breeders in 2009. The second name is Skif-toy-don.

A miniature cat with a strong build and well-developed muscles. Tail length 3-7 cm. Dense coat. There are both short-haired and semi-long-haired animals.

These cats have dog-like habits. Easy to learn commands. Trusting and fearless. Males of this species do not mark territory and have no characteristic odor.

Pixie bob

"Pixie Bob" translates from English as "Elf with a short tail." The breed was obtained through long and painstaking selection by American breeders. Registered in 1995.

Very similar to a lynx. A special feature is polydactyl paws. The body of the animal is medium in size. Males are 2 times larger than cats (females 3-5 kg, males 5-10 kg).

These cats have few kittens in their litter (maximum 3). They are characterized by breeders as unobtrusive in communication with the owner and wary with strangers. It is extremely rare to release their claws. Not aggressive. Unpretentious in care.

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Animals with short tails

This cat breed is descended from Japanese and Siberian ancestors. They have long hair, a powerful body, love water, swim and hunt well. The Kurilian Bobtail tolerates cold well, so they can be taken out for fishing. They are also good at hunting various rodents.

Animals of this breed have a beautiful appearance and a good mind. They will be devoted and faithful to their owner, and will not leave him in difficult times. The main thing for such cats is human communication and walks in the fresh air. The coat is of medium length, but the advantage is that they shed little.

Japanese Bobtail

Japanese cat breeds look very graceful. They have fluffy and thick fur, and an elongated, pointed muzzle. The tail dimensions are within twelve centimeters. The main characteristic of the animal of this breed is that they resemble a twisted donut, this feature makes them very beautiful. The paws have different sizes, the front ones are shorter than the back ones and due to this, they can overcome any height.

“Japanese bobtails are frequent guests of various exhibitions. They are also easy to train, so, like dogs, they are walked on a leash. The character is very friendly, they quickly get used to the owner and make contact.”

In ancient times in Japan, such cats were worshiped for many years. Also in Japan, it was believed that cats had evil forces in their tails, so local residents kept pets specifically with a small tail or without one at all.

American Bobtail

American cat breeds are very different from Japanese cat breeds. Even at first glance they can be immediately distinguished. The face is round in shape, the fur is slightly long and fluffy, the paws are dense, and the body is muscular.

These cat breeds are very kind and love children. Just like other cats, they need a lot of space and a large territory.

Mekong Bobtail

The history of these breeds began in 2003. They are an exact copy of the Siamese breeds, but with one difference - their short tail.

Russian cat lovers turned their attention to them, and at this time the breed received its official name - Mekong Bobtail

At numerous competitions, these breeds were considered defective and were not allowed into exhibitions because of their strange tail. There are also many legends involving these cats. Siamese cats with short tails actually existed many years ago. They were used as stands for jewelry. There are rumors that princesses took off their jewelry while bathing and put it on the short tail of these animals. And after a while, such breeds became completely unpopular. And in our time they have found a second birth.

They have a dark muzzle, paws and tail. Kittens of this breed are born white, and then over time a dark pigment is formed. They have smooth and silky fur. The eyes are large and blue. Even though Mekong cats are muscular, they are very graceful and slender. Such cats love to play with children, even when they are tormented, they are patient with this and control their actions.

Karelian Bobtails

These cat breeds are small in size. The tail is short, sometimes fractured, from four to thirteen centimeters. The hind legs are much longer than the front legs and this fact is very noticeable. The muzzle is narrow, there are almost no cheeks, the ears are very large and the tassels are slightly visible. These breeds have medium-sized coats.

Karelian breeds are very kind and gentle. They easily take root in any conditions, quickly get used to the owner and obey him. The meowing of cats resembles the chirping of birds, even a little like singing. In normal environments, these cat breeds live in packs, like lions. They get along well with other animals, so they do not have the habit of marking their territory.

How does the Ocicat cat breed relate to people?

Independence is not in the Ocicat's nature. The cat will not hesitate to bother any family member, but the main owner will be considered one person, whom he chooses independently, according to some of his own beliefs.

The cat will behave coolly with strangers for the first 5-10 minutes, then a cautious introduction will follow, and after another couple of minutes the cat will already be sitting on the lap of the new acquaintance. A sociable creature will react with coolness only to people with an unstable psyche or with a dislike for animals in general and cats in particular.

A cat with a fluffy “squirrel” tail has become famous online

Date: 02/16/2017 | |

A cat named Bell from Tokyo is gaining popularity on Instagram thanks to her unusual tail and cute appearance.

The cat breed is Minuet, it has expressive features - a round muzzle, large eyes, short legs and an incredibly fluffy tail, similar to the tail of a squirrel.

At the moment, about 70 thousand users are subscribed to Bell the cat’s Instagram.

Minuet cat is a fairly new breed of cat, it was registered in 2015, previously called the Napoleon breed. It is believed that the ancestors of this breed are the Persian and the Munchkin. The first Napoleon kitten appeared in 1995 from American breeder Joe Smith and in the same year was registered by the TICA association (USA).

As adults, cats of this breed weigh less than two kilograms, and female cats weigh about one kilogram, which is 2-3 times less than cats of other common breeds weigh.

Cats of this breed come in long-haired and short-haired varieties. Their color can be any and is not regulated by a standard, but the eye color always matches the coat color. Thanks to their liveliness and mobility, they look like inquisitive kittens and evoke affection in everyone who sees them. Abroad, for example, they are jokingly called TEA CUP and BABY DOLL.

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Training the Ocicat breed

If you really want to, an Ocicat can be trained to follow some commands, but it will not turn out to be a full-fledged “dog”. The cat has too independent a disposition for this. But the cat will carry out some commands with pleasure, for example, fetching a ball or jumping through a stick and hoop.

Rules for keeping the Ocicat cat breed

Keeping an Ocicat will not cause much trouble. The breed is considered completely domestic, so long walks with the cat are not necessary.

But you will have to purchase enough toys to keep the pet occupied while the owners are away. A restless cat will happily play with balls, mice and other traditional cat entertainment.

But special puzzles and a large house, along the pillars of which you can climb to the upper platforms or practice jumps, will be especially loved.

Short fur does not require complex care: you can brush your pet only once a week. The cat will perform all other hygiene procedures independently.

They do not have any difficulties with the litter box, but if the owners are away for a long time, it is better to install two toilets: the spotted pet does not really like to visit a dirty litter box.

Character of Ocicat cats

The Ocicat will become a true faithful friend to man. These cats are not afraid of traveling and moving if the owner is nearby. But they won’t be shy to remind you of themselves when they want affection or games. The Ocicat's lively character and innate curiosity will make the cat accompany people in all their movements around the house and take part in all matters.

Spotted pets do not tolerate loneliness very well, so it would be better to take the kitten into a family where someone is always at home or get him a four-legged friend. The Ocicat gets along well with any representatives of the fauna.

The cat is not a breed of overly talkative creatures; it will meow loudly only if its rights are infringed, for example, to food. If the owner does not go to feed the animal at the same moment, the Ocicat himself will inspect the contents of the plates, pots and pans. And he will feel absolutely right.

The well-known feline curiosity will force the pet to explore all the open and secret places of the apartment, and more than once, so you should not be surprised by the slightly open doors of cabinets or bags, or the presence of the pet on the mezzanine or in the bedside tables.