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American Bobtail vs Kurilian Bobtail
Two rare, sturdy, short-tailed cats; the American Bobtail is the mellower family cat, the Kurilian Bobtail the more active hunter.
Verdict
These two are close. Both are sturdy, shaggy, short-tailed cats with quiet voices, both are rare, and both come in short and long coats. The one thing that decides it is energy. The American Bobtail is mellow and scores top marks for children and other pets. The Kurilian Bobtail, a rodent catcher from the Russian Far East, scores higher for energy, hunts and plays hard, and tolerates water. Choose the American Bobtail for calm and the Kurilian for a livelier cat.
Choose the American Bobtail if
- You want the mellower, more adaptable cat.
- You have young children or other pets.
- You want a wild tabby look from a cat that does not demand constant activity.
- You want a short-haired or long-haired shaggy coat with moderate shedding.
Choose the Kurilian Bobtail if
- You want a hardy, active cat that hunts and plays hard.
- You like a dense double coat and a pom-pom tail.
- You can give it room and an outlet for its hunting instinct.
- You will accept that few breeders exist and the breed is not recognised by the CFA.
Where they are alike
Both are medium-sized, friendly, people-oriented cats with moderate grooming needs. Neither talks much.
Side by side
| American Bobtail | Kurilian Bobtail | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Shorthair |
| Origin | United States | Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, Russia |
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Typical weight | — | 8-15 lb (3.6-6.8 kg); males are heavier |
| Lifespan | — | Often reported as 15 years or more; few studies |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Shaggy, medium-dense coat in both short-haired and long-haired forms | Dense double coat, short or semi-long, with a pom-pom tail |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | — | Not recognised by the CFA |
| How common | Rare | Rare |
| Affection | 4 | 4 |
| Energy | 3 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 4 | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 2 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 2 |
| Shedding | 3 | 3 |
| Good with children | 5 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 5 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 3 | 3 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 3 | 3 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The shaggy coat sheds in moderation, and people who react to cats may react to this breed. | — |
| Suits | A family or multi-pet home that wants a sturdy, adaptable cat with a mellow temper and a short tail. | An active household that wants a hardy, people-friendly cat with a shaggy-tailed look and does not mind a cat that hunts and plays hard. |
| Less suited to | Anyone who wants a very small cat, a fully tailless cat, or a cat that is easy to find. | Anyone who wants a quiet lap cat, or who needs a breed that is easy to find from several breeders. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026