Both shorthaired and semi-longhaired Japanese Bobtails are medium-sized cats with females that can weigh 5-7 pounds whilst males weigh 8-10 pounds.
The Japanese Bobtail looks simple with grace having long and slender legs. Its hind legs may be noticeably longer than its forelegs with proper angle. Due to its strong built hindquarters, this feline is capable of easily leaping to great heights. It has oval-shaped furry paws.
Its ‘bobbed’ tail is one of its defining features hence the name, Japanese Bobtail. Unlike the American Bobtail and the Manx, this breed is not completely tailless. Instead, it has a very short tail vertebra, and similar to the Kurilian, no two tails are alike. It appears unique in a pom-pom style that can be curves, angles or kinks. As for the longhaired cats, its pom-pom appearance looks as beautiful as the full-flowered chrysanthemums. The hair on its tail is normally longer than the body resulting to fluff.
Further, it is beautifully gifted with chiselled cheeks that complement the head to form an almost perfect equilateral triangle. It has eyes that appear large and round with a wide-awake expression. The look is completed with large and upright ears but at the right angle and not flaring. The eye colour may vary depending on the coat colour. It may have two different eye colours (odd eyes) or blue that is often seen on a white coated feline.
The shorthaired and semi-longhaired Japanese Bobtail both appears soft and silky with no visible undercoat. The traditional Japanese Bobtail was mainly white with splashes of red and white. In general, its pattern may be self (solid colour), tortie pointed, tabby, and bi-colour. The colours may be black, blue, brown, red, silver, and white.
This breed requires less grooming with only twice-weekly brushing or combing. You only need to give grooming more attention when it sheds its winter coat. Further, follow basic grooming such as regular nail trimming, teeth brushing, and ear cleaning. The earlier these grooming routine is introduced, the better.