The Kurilian Bobtail is a cat breed (or breed group, depending on registry) originating from the Kuril Islands, claimed by both Russia and Japan, and Sakhalin Island and the Kamchatka peninsula of Russia. Short- or long-haired, it has a semi-cobby body type and a distinct short, fluffy tail. The back is slightly arched with hind legs longer than the front, similar to those of the Manx. The breed is also called the Kuril Islands Bobtail, Kuril Bobtail (both often misspelled “Kurile”) and Curilsk Bobtail, and may be referred to without “Bobtail”. It is sometimes also spelled Kurilean. The original short-haired variant is a natural breed, known on the islands for over 200 years. As selectively-bred pets, they have been popular in Russia and to some extent other parts of Europe, especially for their rodent-hunting abilities, since the middle of the 20th century, but remain rare in North America as of 2011.
The variety is mostly known for its distinctive “pom-pom” kinked, short tail, medium to large, substantial, semi-cobby body, with longer hind legs that front, and a rounded-rectangular, wide face. Kurilians are not limited to any particular range of coat or eye colours.
Kurilians are recognized as a breed group of a pair related short- and [semi-]long-haired breeds by the The International Cat Association (TICA), which considers them “Advanced New Breeds” ineligible for championship status, (as of November 2011) and by the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe). The World Cat Federation (WCF) recognizes them as a single breed. As of November 2011, the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) does not recognize the breed at all.
While possibly closely related to the Japanese Bobtail breed – both share the same kind of kinked, short tail, but the Japanese is leaner, more angular and less cobby– the Kurilian originated on the complete opposite side of Eurasia from the similarly named Karelian Bobtail of western Russia and Finland, and is thus unlikely to be a near relative. Genetic studies may eventually demonstrate the breed’s connection to others. Just as the Japanese Bobtail and tailless-to-short-tailed Manx arose independently on islands a world apart, the Kurilian’s bobbed tail may be an isolated spontaneous mutation, that became common on the Kuril and Sakhalin islands because of the limited genetic diversity of island biogeography (an example of the founder effect and, at the sub-specific level, of the species-area curve).
Kurilian Bobtail Nature
Kurilian Bobtails tend to have trusting, friendly personality. This breed encompasses the best of both worlds, being both affectionate and independent.
They are active cats that enjoy climbing and surveying their domains from the highest perches available. In their native habitat, they are also known to be excellent swimmers, able to catch fish as large as 5 kg easily. Because the Kurilian Bobtail evolved to be a skilled fishing cat, most love of water, and may even jump into the bathtub with their owners. They are also inclined to play with other water sources, dripping water taps and cups filled with water being among their favourites.
The Kurilian Bobtail is among the dog-like cat breeds, adaptable, gregarious, trainable, and easygoing. These cats tolerate change better than most felines, and the majority adapt well to travel, children, dogs, and other cats. Most Kurilian Bobtails are not lap cats, but many enjoy lying at their owners’ feet and will beg to play and pet them just like dogs do.
Kurilian Bobtails are not loud by nature, but they do make musical trilling sounds that resemble bird calls. They are one of the quietest breeds when it comes to cats in heat.
Interestingly, male Kurilian Bobtails usually make good fathers, tending to their kittens alongside the kittens’ mothers. If you have more than one litter of kittens at the same time — they mix and travel from nursing one queen to another. Kurilian Bobtails tend to care for all kittens together.
Kurilian Bobtail Health
The Kurilian Bobtail is typically healthy. It differs from the Manx in that the gene responsible for the bobbed tail or lack of a tail in the Manx can trigger health problems in some cases, whereas the Kurilian’s bobtail gene is not associated with any medical issues.
As it is a natural and relatively young breed with wide genetic pool it has no genetic disease due to inbreeding and remains healthy and long lived.
Kurilian Bobtail FIFE standard
According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the Kurilian Bobtails possess a large, trapezium shaped head, with rounded contours. The head is wide at the cheekbone level and slightly rounded in profile. Their chin is well developed and wide and their nose is medium, long and straight. The nose bears a gentle dip from the forehead to the broad, without a definite stop.
The Kurilian Bobtail ears are medium sized, wide at the base and slightly pricked forward. Their tips are rounded and their base is open. They bear lynx-like tufts and long hair out of the ears. The ears are set wide apart and medium height, while the distance between them is equal to the width of their base.
The eyes are oval on top and round at their base, set wide apart and slightly slanted. All eye colour varieties, from yellow to green are allowed, except for the white Kurilians and those with coat patterns that bear white that may only possess blue or odd eyes.
Their body has a compact structure, with well developed musculature and solid bones.
Their back shows a delicate curve from the shoulders to the rump, with the rump being higher.
Their legs are medium in length, strong and sturdy, with rounded paws. Note that the hind legs are longer than the forelegs.
As for the tail, this is composed of one or more angles or curves or any combination. The result is that of the pompom look. The direction of the curves is of minor importance. The tail may be rigid or flexible, while its visible length without the coat varies from 3 to 8 cm (1.5 – 3.5 inches). It is important though that the size and shape of the tail harmonizes with the overall appearance of the cat.
The coat should be short for the Shorthair variety and semi-long for the longhair variety. The texture of the Shorthair’s coat should be soft and silky, laying flat. It should possess a moderate undercoat and be resilient without a plush dense feel. As for the Longhair’s coat texture, this should be fine and silky, laying flat with a moderate undercoat.
All coat colour varieties are allowed with the exception of colour-points, chocolate, cinnamon, fawn, lilac and the same combined with white. However, any amount of white is allowed, i.e. a white blaze, white locket, white chest, white on the belly, white on the paws, etc.
More specifically, the recognized colour varieties are the following:
· Black/ Blue tortie
· Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie smoke
· Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie agouti
· Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie silver/golden agouti
· Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie with white
· Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie smoke with white
· Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie agouti with white
· Black/Blue/Red/Cream/Black tortie/Blue tortie silver/ Golden with white