Kurilian Bobtail: all about the characteristics of the breed and the rules of caring for the cat

It’s no wonder that Kurilian Bobtail cats are rapidly gaining popularity. Those who desperately want to have a pet should definitely pay attention to these charming, dog-like devoted pets, because their character is ideal for keeping at home, and the high intelligence of Kurbobs makes them obedient and easy to train.

Kurilian Bobtail - history of the breed

Already from the name of this cat it is clear that its historical homeland is the Kuril Islands. Japan and Russia were arguing over whose property this territory was. Exactly the same question was raised about the ownership of this breed. But since the islands nevertheless became the property of Russia, it means that the Kuril Bobtails belong to it.

According to historians, short-tailed cats lived on the then Japanese islands for at least 200 years. It is believed that their ancestor is the Japanese Bobtail. This explains the presence of a short tail, which the bobtail cat inherited from its Japanese relatives.

These cute animals with such unusual tails constantly attracted attention and aroused interest among geologists and military men who lived on the Kuril Islands. There were also many seasonal workers on the islands at that time. When leaving, all these people very often took their cats with them, thus introducing a completely new breed to the Soviet Union.

In the 1980s, the first breeders of bobtail cats appeared. For further breeding, animals began to be specially exported from the island.

It was the breeders who proved that the tail of a bobtail cat is a genetic trait and not a flaw.

What can you teach a bobtail?

The required minimum in training a bobtail is the commands “Come”, “Place”, “Sit”, “Next”, “Fu” and “No”. This is the key to the dog’s safety and your peace of mind. On our website you will find instructions for teaching your dog basic commands.

Then you can move on to a more complicated program, and here the limits will be only your imagination and area of ​​interest. The Bobtail can become a therapy dog, an assistant for a person with disabilities, a shepherd, a watchman, and can also perform well in sports. The Bobtail loves to work – don’t deprive him of this joy by turning him into a couch dog.

Appearance (standards)

The bobtail cat is medium in size, it has a muscular body and long legs, and a short tail that looks like a pom-pom.

Dimensions

Adult cats are much larger than cats. If the average weight of a cat is mainly from four to five kilograms, then cats weigh up to seven and a half kilograms.

Head

The animal's head is large and has the shape of a trapezoid. The chin is wide, the muzzle is also wide, and the whisker pads are quite pronounced.

Limbs

The bobtail's limbs are long and powerful. Moreover, the hind legs are longer than the front ones.

Tail

Bobtail cats have a variety of tails:

• “stump” - the tail is straight, it seems that the vertebrae are firmly connected to each other and do not move at all. It has a size from 2 to 8 vertebrae, which are greatly shortened;
• “spiral” - an association with a fishing hook arises. It has a length of 5 to 10 vertebrae. This form is the most common;
• “broom” - straight shape, length approximately 2/3 of the length of a standard tail;
• “retracted bobtail” - at first 5-7 vertebrae are formed completely normally, part of the tail is straight, then several vertebrae have a kink, as a result of which the tip of the tail is twisted into a spiral.

All of the above names are considered conditional.

Coat and color

Kurilian bobtails are usually divided into long-haired and short-haired. Some representatives of the shorthair line have a coat with a very thick undercoat, as a result of which it does not have the necessary shine. Long-haired animals are also divided into animals with long and semi-long hair.

Kurilian bobtails have a variety of colors, in addition to lilac, chocolate, fawn, cinnamon and their combinations.

The standards allow any number of white spots, regardless of the main color of the coat.

Eyes and nose

The eyes of this cat have a very interesting shape and are somewhat reminiscent of a nut, they are oval on top and have a rounded shape at the bottom, set quite wide. The most common colors are yellow and green. The look is clean and bright and will definitely attract attention.

Castration and sterilization

Animals that do not meet standard breed characteristics and are unsuitable for breeding must be spayed or neutered to avoid unwanted matings.

At what age is it recommended to have surgery?

Castration or sterilization surgery is performed:

• for females - at 8–12 months (preferably before two years);
• for males - after 10 months.

The younger the animal, the easier it will tolerate surgery and anesthesia. Too early surgery can lead to delayed development of the animal.

Caring for your pet after surgery

Proper care of your pet after sterilization or castration surgery involves the following measures:

• immediately after the completion of surgical procedures, a special postoperative blanket and an “Elizabethan” collar are put on the animal to prevent sutures from licking;
• providing the pet with peace and quiet;
• daily treatment of postoperative sutures with disinfectant solutions (hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, etc.);
• After the operation, the animal cannot be fed for 10–12 hours;
• limiting the pet's activity to avoid damage to the sutures.

After spaying or neutering surgery, it is necessary to put a post-operative blanket and collar on your pet.

If any negative symptoms are observed (wetting or suppuration of the sutures, lack of appetite for three days, etc.), then you should contact a veterinary clinic for advice.

All cats react differently to anesthesia. Some come to their senses almost immediately, while others sleep for a very long time. Our cat moved only along the wall for more than a day; she swayed in all directions. She started eating on the third day, but she returned to normal only a week later, when the blanket was removed.

Character

Representatives of the Kuril Bobtail breed descended from an aboriginal breed of cats, so human upbringing did not in any way affect the character of this animal and it was formed independently. These cats have a well-developed hunting instinct; at one time they were excellent hunters and fishermen, they swam very well, dived deeply and jumped high.

Of course, our domesticated pets have lost some of these skills; some of them don’t even like to bathe. But certain habits laid down by nature still remain. A small two-month-old kitten can jump up to a height of two meters without much effort.

If you live in a rural area or go to the country in the summer, you don’t have to worry at all that mice or rats may disturb you with their proximity. Leave this concern to your pet. Of course, he will disappear at night, but in the morning he will definitely bring and show you his prey.

Owners of this breed of cat very often find something “dog-like” in their pet’s behavior. The Bobtail has sympathy for all family members, but chooses one as his favorite. After this, he is able to follow the object of his love everywhere, like a dog. And at the moment of parting, you feel sad and yearn like a dog. Another similarity with a dog is the ability to understand and execute the “fetch” command. As soon as you throw a stick, the bobtail will immediately rush after it. This game is one of their favorites and the animal can play it indefinitely.

This cat breed has a high level of intelligence and is very trainable.

If you train him regularly, he will know many commands. The bobtail cat is very well-mannered, and you are unlikely to see peeled wallpaper in your home, broken dishes or a destroyed houseplant. But if you still have to punish the animal after some bad trick, do not be afraid that the bobtail will take revenge on you. On the contrary, he will do everything possible to achieve your forgiveness as quickly as possible.

These cats are not loners by nature. They prefer company. Very friendly, affectionate and calm. If there is a child in the house, cats will be very patient towards him, and you will never see aggression on their part.

With the appearance of this cat in your home, you will also understand that not all cats meow the same way: Kurilian Bobtails do it differently from other domestic cats. Their sounds are completely unfamiliar to the human ear. These include guttural howls, light mutterings, and even shouting. If a smoker wants to convey something to you, but you do not understand, he will begin to make strange “bluttering” sounds that will be somewhat reminiscent of human speech.

Kurilian Bobtails are not only very trainable, they also quickly learn the simplest rules.

If you have given him a bowl, a tray, a bed, a couple of toys and a good scratching post, he will never crap anywhere and spoil things. He only needs to show or prohibit something a few times, and he understands everything.

All character traits described above are conditional and relate to the average representative of nature. It is worth remembering that each animal is individual.

After reading the reviews of animal owners, you will be surprised, as some people describe these cats as the sweetest creatures, ready to lie on their laps and cuddle up to their owner (and even attach corresponding photos), while others call them fidgets with a stubborn character. But still, most often the definition slips through: tailless happiness. And this is good.

Whatever your pet is: with or without character, the most important thing is that it brings happiness!

Answer

Puppies are distinguished by their mobility and love of outdoor games. Small dogs of the same litter play with each other. Babies bite, growl, and imitate the behavior of adult animals. The victims of young hunters are toys, shoes, and household items.

The puppies are taken away by different families. Once in a family with children, the baby perceives human children as puppies. The little one plays, biting, attacking. Such instincts. Children are not ready to tolerate such actions. It's painful and scary.

Young dogs need training. Games involving legs and arms are prohibited. The owner needs to show rigor and character. Otherwise the dog will show them.

The owner is responsible. Education excludes the manifestation of aggression that harms the family. An older dog can injure a person. Inaction is dangerous.

Maintenance and care

Like any other cat, a bobtail definitely needs to be brushed. It must be taken into account that they have a thick and hard undercoat, since their roots come from the wild.

Even though bobtails are not afraid of water, not all of them like to swim. If this procedure causes your pet discomfort, try to bathe him less often.

Kurilian Bobtails are very active animals, so they need space to play. Of course, the ideal option would be to have your own house rather than an apartment. To play, a bobtail can use any toys: balls, mice, knotted ropes.

Let's stop biting

It is easier to teach behavior to kids than to older dogs. Puppies are active, mobile, easily excitable, uncontrollable creatures. Such behavior in the absence of education becomes the norm. An untrained dog will be mischievous and do nasty things.

Puppies are babies. They need toys. If the baby has bitten an arm or leg, open the jaw and insert a toy. Biting people is prohibited! Household items and shoes are taken away. You can only play with toys. The little kitten will understand.

Punishments work. You can punish after the third month. Hitting, slapping with hands, or kicking is prohibited. Use a magazine, newspaper, toy. It is necessary to teach the dog prohibition commands. Disobedience is punished.

An animal that does not understand is ignored. After the bite the person leaves. If the dog bites, the game ends. The animal will understand that it hurts.

Feeding

Pay careful attention to the issue of the animal’s nutrition, as its imbalance can lead to upset of the Kurilian Bobtail’s digestive system. It's up to you to feed him natural products or buy food in specialized stores. Just make sure that the food is of high quality.

It is believed that the optimal food for bobtails is hard food: poultry stomachs, various bones and cartilage. When feeding, you need to take into account that Kuril bobtails are a wild hunting species, and their diet should be as close to natural as possible.

Make sure your pet has easy access to clean drinking water.

Nutritional Features

Until recently, Kuril bobtails did not know a well-fed life in apartments. This is a young breed, which is also indigenous and not artificially bred, so it is recommended to feed them with natural products.

Feeding with natural products

The basis of the diet should be lean meat and offal (beef tripe, liver, lung, etc.). All this should be washed well 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 an addition to the main diet. It’s good if the cat eats vegetables, fruits, herbs, or at least green grass that needs to be grown for it. In addition to the meat base, they give porridge with vegetables.

When feeding natural food, it is advisable to supplement the diet with vitamin and mineral supplements.

Feeding with industrial feed

If you decide to feed your Kuril Bobtail dry food, then it is advisable to switch the kitten to it no earlier than 5-6 months. In addition, it must be super premium or holistic class food, based on local products and without starch:

• Nutram Total Grain-Free is a holistic food for healthy adult cats, available in different flavors;
• 1st Choice VITALITY INDOOR – balanced food for domestic 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, available in different flavors;
• Josera JosiCat – complete food for cats with beef;
• Royal Canin Exigent Protein is a food for cats that are picky about the composition of the product.

It is impossible to give special food to smokers without a prescription for the prevention of urolithiasis due to the characteristics of the body. And if cats are unpretentious in their care, then in terms of nutrition it’s the opposite. The food of the Kuril Islands must be balanced and of high quality.

Health

Since this breed lived and developed in completely wild conditions, the animals are in good health and can live 15-20 years.

However, you shouldn’t leave everything to chance, you need to follow the basic rules, and your animal will be around for many years.

Take care of your pet's eyes and check his ears regularly. Special lotions have been developed for both eyes and ears to make daily care easier. If you notice bad discharge from the eyes, or a dirty black coating begins to appear in the ear, do not delay a visit to the veterinarian. Even a seemingly ordinary ear mite can cause a lot of trouble. And if you see a doctor at the wrong time, treatment may take a long time.

Remember that any disease is easier to prevent than to treat!

It is necessary to drive worms out of the animal. Now veterinary pharmacies have a very large list of drugs created specifically for these purposes. These include tablets, pastes, suspensions, and even drops that are applied to the skin of the animal. And their spectrum of anthelmintic action is very wide. Choose a drug that is convenient to use for you.

The gene that is responsible for the tail mutation does not cause any other diseases.

Training, education

Dogs are animals. Living beings need to exercise instincts. Domesticated animals are trained to do this safely. Training requires diligence, regularity, and work.

Each breed is special. There are dogs prone to aggression. These facts are taken into account in advance. Dogs are taught calm behavior.

A pet has its own place. A rug, a bed, a dog house will do. A disobedient pet that has misbehaved is sent to its place in a stern voice. The beast respects authority. You'll have to subdue your pet. The biting fidget is taken by the scruff of the neck and pressed to the floor. Authority is a manifestation of strength.

Training is accompanied by the distribution of treats. Correctly completed tasks are rewarded with delicious food. Regular exercise develops reflexes and habits. The dog becomes obedient.

How much does a Kurilian Bobtail cost?

The price for a Kuril Bobtail kitten starts from 10 thousand rubles and depends on several factors: the presence of a pedigree, the prestige of the nursery, and the gender of the animal.

In nurseries, prices are higher than when buying a baby “from hand”. But the nursery is a guarantee of the pedigree and good health of your future family member.

This breed has a “novice” class of animals. These are the animals that were brought from the Kuril Islands, and not bred in local nurseries. This means that they do not have a pedigree, but their external data completely coincides with the data of animals bred in Russia.

Advantages and disadvantages

Kurbobs have a lot of interesting positive qualities:

• An indisputable advantage is the high endurance and good health of animals, which makes caring for them quite simple.
• They delight with their natural intelligence and dexterity.
• The fur of representatives of this breed does not mat and practically does not get wet, so regular water procedures are not scary for them, but on the contrary, they are useful.
• Very important positive features are the loyalty and friendliness that kurbobs possess, which affects the convenience of their maintenance.
• Owners of Kuril cats are not faced with tons of fur all over the house, since their shedding is rare and not too noticeable.
• These cats live for quite a long time (up to 20 years), which cannot but be a plus, because they are professionals in arousing warm feelings towards themselves.
• Bobtails do not have the habit of marking territory, since in nature this can be a beacon for the animal’s enemies.

When it comes to nutrition, this species is a real gourmet.
The disadvantages of the breed include:

• Difficulties with organizing the diet of the Kuril Bobtail - they are very whimsical in food, and improper nutrition can greatly harm the health of the animal. The kitten requires special attention in this regard.
• Allergy sufferers should beware of a possible reaction to the saliva secreted by animals, namely to the antigen contained in it.
• The curiosity of young individuals can harm the owner’s personal space, and in the worst case, the interior, since when they encounter an obstacle on their way, the kittens will go straight ahead.

Tips for choosing a kitten

As mentioned above, it is better to purchase a baby from a nursery. This may initially hit your pocket, but in the future it will save a lot of money, since kittens from the nursery are much better than those that you can purchase through an advertisement site. Sometimes unscrupulous sellers sell unkempt and sick kittens, on which they will then have to spend both time and money.

Once you have chosen your baby, be sure to examine him. This should be a well-groomed kitten with healthy fur, clean shiny eyes, active and mobile. He should not hiss and bite, nor should he get scared and hide. The fur should not be matted, bad breath should also be unacceptable, and the area around the anus should be clean.

Be sure to ask the breeder what and how the animal was fed. If you plan to switch it to another food, find out how best to do this without harming the animal.

Mandatory questions include worming the animal and vaccination, as well as the availability of a veterinary passport.

External characteristics of bobtail cats

1. The cats have a large head, rounded contours, with a moderately modified wedge.
2. The ears are medium-sized, triangular in shape with a wide base, slightly tilted forward. At the tips of the ears you can see attractive tassels, which adds to the similarity of the pet with a lynx.
3. A rectangular muzzle with slightly rounded contours and fairly pronounced whisker pads.
4. Straight, fairly wide nose of medium length.
5. Hazel eyes, expressive and large. The color, regardless of coat color, has an unusual shine and clarity. White cats may have multi-colored or bright blue eyes.
6. Wide chin with rounded edges.
7. The size of the body can be different: medium or large. Compact build with a broad chest and slightly raised hips.
8. Powerful paws of medium length and rounded shape.
9. Developed and fairly strong muscles, powerful bones.
10. The fluffy and rather unusual tail harmonizes effectively with the cat’s appearance and can have different directions. Tail length is from 1.5 cm to 13, which is more relevant for semi-long-haired representatives of the Kuril breed.

How to choose a kitten

Purchasing a Kurilian Bobtail kitten is a responsible step that requires intuition and attentiveness from you! It is important to notice among the frolicking kittens exactly the one who will catch your heart. At the same time, you should not listen to either the words of the breeder or the advice of friends and relatives: this is your pet, so you only need to rely on your own premonitions.

The ideal age for purchasing a Kurilian Bobtail is three months. It is at this time that the baby begins to show independence and gradually weanses the habit of maternal care. In addition, a three-month-old “smoker” already has fairly balanced psychological health, so he quickly gets used to new family members.

If the pedigree of the future pet plays an important role, ask the breeder to introduce you to the necessary documentation or, more preferably, to the parents of the babies. This is one of the easiest ways to understand what to expect from your bobtail. The breeder is not talkative and does not demonstrate a desire to tell as much as possible about his charges? This is an alarming sign: it means he has something to hide from curious and persistent buyers like you.

When choosing a kitten, you should focus on its behavior among its brothers. Is your baby active and cheerful, happily getting involved in play and showing healthy curiosity towards you? This is your pet! Refrain from buying lethargic and timid kittens: this may lead to unpleasant consequences in the future.

Care instructions

The bobtail does not need careful grooming, which is undoubtedly an advantage of this breed.
Even long-haired individuals will not cause any inconvenience. Wool

The undercoat is not very developed, the fur almost never gets tangled, as a result of which combing does not become a daily painful task. It will be enough to do this once a week. For this purpose, it is worth buying a brush with metal teeth; a special glove with growths is also allowed to remove unnecessary hairs.

Bathing

The bobtail really enjoys bathing; they love to spend time this way. But it is not recommended to do it too often, because the skin can become dry and the fur thin. Even the mildest shampoos and conditioners will have no effect on the situation. Hygiene procedures are carried out only when the animal gets dirty. You need to fill a basin with warm water and put the cat there. The shampoo is carefully distributed over the body, after which it is also thoroughly washed off. At the end of the procedure, you need to dry the fur well so that the animal does not freeze. For long-haired individuals, it is advisable to use a hair dryer.

Claws

It is worth noting that cats cannot retract their claws. But while walking, grinding occurs, so there will be no problems. It is, of course, recommended to buy a special cutting device to cut off the ends that are too long. It is very important not to injure the vessels.

Eyes

Eyes require special attention. They should be washed several times a week using a clean, lint-free cloth or cotton swab. Movements are carried out from the outer corner to the inner. The ears are also examined with the same frequency, and a special lotion is used for cleaning. Sulfur should not accumulate, otherwise infections will occur.

Teeth

Teeth should be brushed once a week. For this purpose, specialized cat pastes and a special finger attachment are used. If necessary, you can also take a regular toothbrush.

Nutrition

Bobtails are unpretentious in terms of nutrition, but this does not mean that they can be given everything. If your dog constantly participates in exhibitions, it is advisable to buy premium food. For breeds and pets, ordinary products are also optimal, interspersed with boiled meat.

The following foods are prohibited:

• Vegetables that cause increased gas formation.
• Fish with the exception of lean sea fish.
• Raw and fried meat.
• Bakery.
• Milk products.
• Pork and lamb, other fatty meats.
• Tubular bones.
• Smoked and sweet.
• Dog food.
• Canned food for people.

It is worth noting that the animal should always have access to clean water. Bottled is best.

Bobtail care

Caring for a Kuril breed cat includes a standard set of hygiene procedures, regardless of the length of the coat and other individual characteristics. The only difference: a short-haired cat creates fewer problems during shedding.

1. The owner of a purebred animal must periodically inspect the ears. To remove dirt, use a regular cotton pad and a special lotion (you can buy it at a pet store), which allows you to carefully clean the ears of wax, and at the same time carry out effective disinfection.
2. No special care is required for the eyes; a smart cat copes with this hygiene procedure on its own. If brownish accumulations are detected in the corner of the eyes, you can carefully clean them with cotton wool dipped in warm tea without brewing or in a special solution.
3. To trim overgrown claws, a nail cutter is a practical tool for creating a beautiful manicure for cats.
4. It is not necessary to bathe your pet often; 1-2 bath procedures per month are enough. To thoroughly clean thick fur, you can use a special cat shampoo. After washing, the animal is dried with a towel. Next, you need to comb out the shedding undercoat. After the bath, the cat looks a little unusual. His fur becomes unnaturally fluffy, but after 2-3 days the usual appearance will be restored.

To eliminate fleas and reduce the risk of infection with helminths and ticks during street walks, you can use pharmaceutical products for animals. Every pet store has effective medications designed for the age and weight of the animal.