American Bobtail, scientific name: Lynx rufus, also known as: red lynx, North American bobcat. The body length of the American Bobtail is 0.7-1.2 meters, shoulder height is 36-38 centimeters, it is robust, muscular, with longer hind limbs than forelimbs, and can live up to 16 years.
It is mainly distributed from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the United States. The Bobtail cat has strong adaptability to the environment and can survive in forests, semi-deserts, cities, and wetlands. It mainly hunts small rodents such as wild rabbits at dawn and dusk.
American Bobtail is the result of a natural genetic mutation that leads to a shortened tail. For centuries, short-tailed cats have appeared in many places, from Japan to the Isle of Man. When they were noticed by the right people, a new breed was born. That's what happened with the American Bobtail, which is the descendant of a short-tailed cat that John and Brenda Sanders obtained while vacationing in Arizona. They named it "Yodi," and during the turbulent 1960s, it became the founder of this breed.
The descendants of Yodi and his wife Mishi also have short tails, indicating that this characteristic is caused by a dominant gene. A friend of the family, Mindy Shoultz, who had experience breeding Persian cats, worked with Charlotte Bentley to develop this unusual cat into a new breed. They mated these kittens with other cats that were born with short tails, which were found throughout the United States and Canada. They selectively bred these cats to be large and muscular, giving them a wild appearance but a good temperament. All the cats used to breed this breed were non-purebred domestic shorthair and longhair cats. Now, 50 years later, such crossbreeding is no longer necessary, as the ancestry of these cats is longer than their tails.
The International Cat Association accepted the American Bobtail as a new breed in 1989 and granted it full recognition in 2002. The American Bobtail is also recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association and the American Cat Fanciers' Association.
Assuming you love the personality of a Golden Retriever, but its size and energy are too much for you to handle, then an American Bobtail might be your best choice. Because it is loyal to its owner, enjoys playing, and can walk well on a leash (of course, after training), and can smile to greet guests.
The American Bobtail has a strong adaptability, so it is a good travel companion, making it suitable for long-haul truck drivers and wanderers. Moreover, because of their nature of love and intuition, they can also serve as good counselors.
The sociable American Bobtail loves to play, so it is a good choice for families with children. However, supervision of young children is always necessary to prevent them from hurting the cat, such as pulling its fur or twisting its tail.
1. Parvovirus
Symptoms: Cats infected with parvovirus may experience fever, depression, gradually decreasing body temperature, weakness, dehydration, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Solution: Choose a good pet hospital to vaccinate on time, keep the home clean and hygienic, and isolate appropriately. Rabies vaccine can be administered starting at 3 months of age; for cats, the triple vaccine can generally be administered starting at 2 months of age, with a one-month interval between shots.
2. Cat flu
Symptoms: Fever, excessive nasal discharge, frequent sneezing, accompanied by conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers, and excessive tearing.
Solution: Once detected, seek medical treatment in a timely manner. This virus is transmitted through the air, so isolate your cat promptly from others.
3. Hairball
Symptoms: Cats may experience vomiting, loss of appetite, and the presence of hairballs in their excrement.
Solution: Regularly feed the cat hairball medicine and it is recommended to grow some cat grass at home.
4. Gastrointestinal discomfort
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
Solution: First, fast the cat, then feed it some probiotics for conditioning. If the condition is severe, seek medical treatment promptly. Prevention: 1. Maintain a light diet; 2. Do not frequently change cat food, follow the seven-day food transition method when changing cat food.
Health: Due to the large amount of fur on cats, they are prone to carry various bacteria and fleas. In order to ensure the health of cats and their owners, cats should be bathed and their fur should be groomed regularly;
Diet: Different cats have different preferences for food. Owners should not randomly choose cat food on the market for convenience. They should carefully select cat food based on the type, growth condition, and physical condition of the cat. Special utensils should also be prepared for the cat;
Health: Just like humans, cats can also get sick. When a cat is sick, it must be taken to a specialized animal hospital for treatment. Regular physical examinations and vaccinations should also be conducted. Only when a cat is healthy can it have the energy to play with its owner;
Safety: There is a saying that "curiosity kills the cat". Cats are busybodies and always have a great curiosity about various things. And their nature makes them particularly fond of entering enclosed spaces, so owners must close doors, windows, and box covers to prevent cats from getting into potential danger;
Living space: The favorite activity of cats is to lie down and sleep, so as an owner, you should prepare a small mat for it to sleep on. After prolonged use, these mats will accumulate a lot of bacteria. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to cleaning and disinfecting them at any time;
Cat litter: The problem of pets relieving themselves anywhere has troubled many pet owners. However, cats are actually very clean animals, so as long as the owner provides them with cat litter, they will go to the litter box to relieve themselves on their own;
Cats cannot tolerate being mistreated. They become annoyed when their owners force them to do something. Therefore, owners should trim the cat's nails regularly to prevent scratches and infections when playing with them.
The fur of the American Bobtail usually does not tangle, as long as you comb it a few times a week. You may notice that the cat sheds a lot of fur in spring and autumn, as it enters the shedding period, so it needs the owner to comb its fur carefully during this time to prevent the cat from suffering from hairballs or respiratory diseases.
The American Bobtail actually has a medium-length double coat, with a soft undercoat covered by a layer of coarse outer hairs. When the coat is silver-pointed, it may have a soft texture. Long-haired American Bobtail has a collar of fur around its neck, as well as long fur on the upper part of its hind legs, belly, and tail. Its fur comes in various colors and patterns.
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