Mekong Bobtail cat breed: facts, temperament and care

About the Mekong Bobtail

The Mekong Bobtail is a short-tailed colourpoint cat. Its ancestors came from Thailand, and the story goes that in the nineteenth century King Chulalongkorn of Siam gave some royal cats with kinked tails to Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Russian breeders carried on with the line, possibly adding Siamese blood, and a written standard was drawn up in 1994. The World Cat Federation recognised the breed in 2004, and it was renamed Mekong Bobtail at that time. Before that it was known as the Thai Bobtail, and some people still use that name.

The cat is slim and rectangular, with a rump a little higher than the shoulders. The coat is short, fine and glossy, and the colour is pointed, as on a Siamese, with deep blue eyes. The tail is the signature. It is bobbed and kinked and shorter than a quarter of the body length.

Temperament and living with one

Descriptions of the breed agree that it is friendly, affectionate and active. Mekong Bobtails are said to follow their people, to enjoy being touched and to want a role in whatever is happening. They are playful and curious, with plenty of energy for climbing and chasing toys.

There is little independent documentation of the breed's behaviour, so treat breeder accounts as a guide only. Cats with this heritage often prefer company, so a person at home or a companion pet suits them better than long hours alone. A bored cat of this type can be loud and busy, and needs perches, toys and daily play.

Care: coat, food and play

The short coat needs a weekly brush or a rub with a damp cloth. Trim the nails, check the ears and teeth, and offer measured meals of a complete diet.

Give the cat height and variety: a cat tree, a window seat and puzzle feeders. Interactive play with a wand toy each day keeps an active cat busy. Indoor living is safest.

Health

The Mekong Bobtail has had little research, and no breed-specific disease list has been established. Short, kinked tails come from a natural gene, and a vet can check a kitten's tail and spine. Ask the breeder about the parents' health and any testing, and ask your vet about routine care, vaccines, parasite control and dental checks. Because the breed is rare and the gene pool is small, buying from a breeder who is open about their lines matters.

Is it right for you?

Choose a Mekong Bobtail if you want an affectionate, active cat with an unusual tail and can accept that finding one may take effort. It suits a home with time and attention to give. For a similar pointed look with a full tail, see the Siamese and the Thai, and for other natural bobtails look at the Kurilian Bobtail and the Japanese Bobtail.