I have been involved with the American Bobtail breed since 1994. I stumbled across this breed while surfing the Internet one day. Due to the loss of my Siamese, and wanting another companion type cat, I felt it best to venture forth into new waters and begin with a new breed. After researching many breeds including the Chausie, Pixie-Bob, Sarengetti and Savannah, I finally settled on the American Bobtail. I, being a somewhat bold and outgoing person, felt up to the challenge of promoting this wonderful new breed of cat. It has been a very long hard struggle bringing the Bobtail to the place it holds today in the cat fancy, but it has been well worth the effort.
In my journeys, I have come across many wonderful breeders, owners and friends of the American Bobtail. So I put together this history page so anyone interested may view the story of this breeds travels into the cat fancy society.
A Bold New Breed
Yodi Mishi & Son
In 1989 TICA (The International Cat Association) recognized the American Bobtail as a new naturally occurring breed of cat and accepted it for new breed status. The American Bobtail is a breed that occurred on it's own with no interference from man, nor is the breed an isolated mutation. The American Bobtail has been in existence for many generations and is an excellent example of breed development through natural selection. Due to mother natures demands, the American Bobtail has grown to be a hearty, intelligent breed with few health problems. The foundation stock of this breed were mostly feral cats possessing a natural short tail. As far as it is known, no Manx or Japanese Bobtails were used in the development of this breed. Conscientious breeders have only used feral cats that sufficiently meet the American Bobtail standard in type. Most breeders no longer use feral cats, and many American bobtails have a multi-generation pedigree.
Although the American Bobtail had been in existence for many generations the "true" founding of the breed came about when John and Brenda Sanders adopted a short tailed brown tabby kitten while on vacation in Southern Arizona. The couple brought their new pet "Yodi" home with the to Iowa. Yodi soon matured and being a young male, did what came naturally and romanced the Sander's domestic color pointed female "Mishi".
Shannon
The resulting offspring were born with short tails and other unique traits which are now hallmarks of the American Bobtail breed. These kittens soon caught the eye of Mindy Shoultz (a former Persian breeder) and Charlotte Bentley. Using these kittens and outcrossing to other found cats with natural short tails, they produced the first "true" American Bobtails. The original standard called for the American Bobtail to be a color pointed cat with boots. Due to a limited gene pool, ALL colors are now accepted in both TICA, ACFA and CFA.
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At the TICA 1989 semi-annual meeting Reaha Evans along with Lisa Black presented the American Bobtail for it's acceptance into The International Cat Association as an exciting new breed. The Bobtail was accepted and started it's journey on the long road to success.
Initially two other breeds were also registered as American Bobtails via Tica's executive office. One of the breeds was the American Lynx created by Joe Childers. This breed was created by using a Bobcat (true wild cat) and crossing them with domestics, Manx (Bo-nx), Cymrics and Maine Coons. This breed now has it's own registration association R.E.F.R (Rare and Exotic Feline Registry) and the new name of Desert Lynx (straight ears) with a sub category of Highland Lynx (curled ears). Joe has maintained the ALL colors accepted policy with his breed, citing that if a wild Bobcat did breed domestic cats, all colors would be possible. Cats registered in this association MUST contain 12.5% wild blood. Joe Childers was contacted for conformation or denial and has refused to comment. He can be visited via his "Timberline" Cattery. www.timberlinecats.com
In 1982, Lisa Black (now Lisa Borman-Black) found an ad in her local newspaper. Intrigued she went to the home of Mindy Shoultz. When Lisa arrived there she discovered litter of color pointed bobtailed kittens. Mindy then told Lisa the story of "Yodi". His owner, Brenda, felt that Yodi was an American Bobtailed cat. Not an American Bobcat, Bobcat hybrid, nor a bobcat look alike, but a cat with a natural "bobtail" from America.
While the American Bobtail may have a somewhat rough, rugged, feral look, the American Bobtail comes from wholly domestic cats. The natural occurrence of the short tail remains somewhat a mystery. The American Bobtail breeders do not know where it originated. Could it be the Bobcat recessive short tail? Or the more dominant "M" gene?
We have found it to be a more dominant gene and one of the parents MUST have a short tail in order to pass onto the kittens. American Bobtails come in ALL colors and coat lengths. There is no "right" color for an American Bobtail. The most popular colors seem to be the Lynx Point, Silver and Brown Tabby. The Bobtail is a very slow maturing breed that will take 2-3 years to reach full growth.
The American Bobtail since its acceptance into TICA has undergone several changes to give us the cats we have today. American Bobtail breeders have united across the board to bring this marvelous breed back into the show ring to give the breed its chance in TICA's spotlight! Accepted for championship status in May of 2002, the American Bobtail has wasted no time in showing their prowess in the show ring. Currently there are many Bobtails receiving recognition as champions and Attitude Acres is pleased to have 12 International Best of BREED winners.
Be it the campground, home or the show ring, the American Bobtail should be noted for its outgoing "Attitude" and personality. Extremely adaptable the American Bobtail readily accepts any new challenge or situation. The American Bobtail is a working type breed that has been used in therapy work and seems to delight in bringing joy to others.
Natasha (Serval) and I.
The American Bobtail does not claim a wild heritage, but may claim it has a "Bobcatty look" or a wild bobtailed cat look. The American Bobtail breed has claimed a wild look before the Pixie breed came into existence as per the below Cat Fancy and Cats articles from 93/94. The Pixie was not accepted as a new breed in TICA until late 1994.
The American Bobtail is a accepted breed for championship competition in TICA, ACFA and CFA.
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