Korean Bobtail cat breed: facts, temperament and care
A short-tailed cat from Korea, mostly a local natural type with no widely recognised breed standard.
Also known as Korean Bobtail cat, Korean short-tailed cat
Quick facts
| Origin | Korea |
|---|---|
| Size | Medium |
| Typical weight | 6-10 lb (2.7-4.5 kg), as no standard exists |
| Coat length | Short |
| Coat | Short coat of the local domestic type |
| Colours and patterns | Varied, as in local domestic cats |
Recognition
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Not recognised by the CFA |
|---|---|
| How common | Very rare |
Temperament and care (1 low, 5 high)
| Affection | 4 |
|---|---|
| Energy | 3 |
| Playfulness | 3 |
| Talkativeness | 3 |
| Grooming needed | 1 |
| Shedding | 3 |
| Good with children | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 3 |
| Happy alone | 3 |
| Trainability | 3 |
| Suits a small home | 4 |
Best suited to
| Suits | Someone curious about a regional cat type who is content with a short-tailed domestic cat that has no breed papers. |
|---|---|
| Less suited to | Anyone who wants a registered pedigree breed with a written standard and health data. |
About the Korean Bobtail
The Korean Bobtail is the name given to short-tailed cats found in Korea. It is usually treated as a landrace, a local population of ordinary cats that carry a natural gene for a short tail, rather than a breed made by planned breeding. No major registry, including the CFA, recognises it as a standardised breed, and no widely accepted written standard exists. A few sources list it among natural bobtail types alongside the Japanese, Karelian, Kurilian and Mekong Bobtails, and the Korean, Japanese and Karelian tails are all described as short and kinked, not absent.
Because there is no standard, the cats vary in size, coat, colour and tail. Some websites give detailed histories, including dates in the early nineteenth century, but those histories are not backed by firm records. What can be said is that short-tailed cats have lived in Korea for a long time and that they are ordinary domestic cats in build.
Temperament and living with one
With no breed standard, there is no reliable breed temperament. Short-tailed Korean cats are generally described as friendly, sturdy and adaptable, like many working domestic cats. Treat each cat as an individual. Spend time with the cat before you adopt, and ask about its upbringing.
Care: coat, food and play
Care is the same as for any short-haired cat. Comb weekly, trim nails, check teeth and ears, and feed a complete diet in measured portions. Give climbing space, scratching posts and daily play.
Health
No breed health information exists. Short or kinked tails come from gene changes, and in some bobtailed cats the same gene can affect the spine, so ask your vet to examine a kitten and its tail. Standard care applies: vaccination, parasite control, dental checks and neutering at the age your vet advises.
Is it right for you?
A Korean Bobtail suits someone who wants a short-tailed domestic cat and is willing to treat it as a regional type rather than a registered breed. If you want a bobtail with papers, look at the Japanese Bobtail, which has a long record and a written standard.
Profile last reviewed November 7, 2026