{"id":2218,"date":"2021-04-20T14:33:43","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T12:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlinecatworld.com\/?p=2218"},"modified":"2021-04-19T09:27:17","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T07:27:17","slug":"kurilian-bobtail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onlinecatworld.com\/kurilian-bobtail\/","title":{"rendered":"The Kurilian Bobtail: a quiet cat that adapts quickly"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Kurilian Bobtail can be found in both long-haired and short-haired form. They are named after the archipelago from which they originate, the Kurilian Islands. Here they have started to cross in isolation with the Japanese Bobtail. Besides being excellent hunters, they are also a very loving breed. Would you like to know more about this rare cat? Are you curious how they originated and got a fluke?<\/strong> Then read on!<\/p>\n

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The origin: natural origin on an archipelago<\/h2>\n

The part ‘Kurilen’ comes from the Kurilen archipelago on which the Kurilian Bobtai originated. This used to be Japanese territory but has been in Russian hands since 1875. This archipelago consists of 56 volcanic islands. Cats with short tails, often referred to with their English term ‘bobtail’, have been naturally present on these islands for about two centuries. This is where the second part of the name Kurilian Bobtail comes from.<\/p>\n

Because the breed originated so long ago, it is difficult to find out what the real origin was. By nature the Kurilian Bobtail cat already existed on the islands. Only the variety as we know it probably originated from a natural cross with the Japanese fluke cat.<\/p>\n

Both the Kurilian Bobtail and the Japanese Bobtail are known to be very good hunters. They were therefore taken by fishermen and travellers on the water to catch rats on board. When the islands were still in Japanese hands these fishermen and travellers came to these islands. That is how the Japanese Bobtail ended up on the island. When the islands fell into Russian hands, this area was used for military purposes and was much more difficult to reach. In this isolation, these Kurilian Bobtail started to cross with the Japanese Bobtail. It was only after the Soviet Union fell apart that the archipelago became accessible again. From that moment on, around 1950, they were taken to the mainland by Russian scientists and tourists.<\/p>\n

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The character: a friendly hunter<\/h2>\n

Because of the wild nature of the Kurilian Bobtail it is a real hunter. They are known for their first-class ability to catch rats, for example. These hunting abilities have taken these animals from their ancestors. On the Kuril Islands, the Kurilian Bobtail also hunted snakes, hares and squirrels. But they did not only hunt on land, they also have excellent fishing skills.<\/p>\n

This hunting character also has a completely different side. The Kurilian Bobtail is also a very friendly breed.<\/strong> They can get very attached to their owners and like to sit on their laps. They are also real family animals that can cope well with a busy household and other animals. This affectionate character requires a lot of attention, but the Kurilian Bobtail will never impose itself. They are also very quiet and not very vocal.<\/p>\n

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The appearance: powerful and affectionate<\/h2>\n

The appearance of the Kurilian Bobtail is compact and muscular. The weight of the cat differs between males and females. Males usually weigh between 5 and 7.5 kilograms, while females are lighter between 3.5 and 5 kilograms.<\/p>\n

The body of the Kurilian Bobtail is compact but gives a strong appearance. The hind legs are longer than the front legs, giving the Kurilen a powerful leap for its small appearance. The head is wedge shaped and fairly large with convex cheeks. His ears are high on his head and are of medium size. Also, the nose is of medium size with a slight curve. The eyes are large and almond-shaped.<\/p>\n

The most striking thing about the Kurilian Bobtail is of course its tail. In contrast to most cat breeds it is much shorter and in a graceful curl or spiral. <\/strong>It seems that each tail is unique, as it were a kind of fingerprint. Some tails rotate a lot, which creates a kind of spiral. Others are less curly and form for example a hook or a short bend. Not every tail is the same length. They vary between 3 and 8 vertebrae.<\/p>\n

The coat comes in two varieties, short-haired and long-haired. The short-haired variant has a coat between 3 and 8 centimetres. For the long-haired variant this is between 8 and 10 centimetres. There are no further requirements on the coat for this breed.<\/p>\n

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The coat colour and coat patterns that occur<\/h2>\n

The Kurilian Bobtail has no strict requirements with regard to coat patterns or colour. The tail is therefore really the determining factor for this breed to see if it is a Kurilen fluke cat or not. However, there are a number of patterns and colours that are most common. Below are all the patterns that are possible with a cat’s coat. The last one, colourpoint, hardly occurs in this breed.<\/p>\n

Even: In this case the entire coat has one colour.<\/p>\n