Compare
Japanese Bobtail vs Korean Bobtail
The Japanese Bobtail is a registered, lively, talkative breed; the Korean Bobtail is a local short-tailed type with no widely recognised standard.
Verdict
Standard and temperament decide this. The Japanese Bobtail is a defined breed, a CFA championship breed since 1976, with the famous tricolour mi-ke pattern, and it is lively, talkative and top-rated with children. The Korean Bobtail is mostly a local natural type with no widely recognised breed standard, so it is Very rare as a breed and has no health data of its own. Its scores are moderate across the board. Choose the Japanese Bobtail for a registered, intelligent, high-energy cat, and the Korean Bobtail for a quieter short-tailed domestic cat without papers.
Choose the Japanese Bobtail if
- You want a registered pedigree breed with a written standard.
- You want a lively, talkative, intelligent cat.
- You have children and want a breed top-rated with them.
- You will play with it every day.
Choose the Korean Bobtail if
- You are curious about a regional cat type.
- You want a calmer, less energetic cat with a moderate voice.
- You are content with a short-tailed domestic cat without papers.
- You accept that no health data exists for a breed with no standard.
Where they are alike
Both are medium, short-coated cats with bobbed tails that need little grooming. Both rate well with children, and both are rare.
Side by side
| Japanese Bobtail | Korean Bobtail | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Shorthair |
| Origin | Japan | Korea |
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Typical weight | 6-9 lb (2.7-4 kg); males are larger | 6-10 lb (2.7-4.5 kg), as no standard exists |
| Lifespan | 9-15 years | — |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Soft, silky coat of medium length with no noticeable undercoat; a longhair variety also exists | Short coat of the local domestic type |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1976 | Not recognised by the CFA |
| How common | Rare | Very rare |
| Affection | 4 | 4 |
| Energy | 4 | 3 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 3 |
| Talkativeness | 4 | 3 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 1 |
| Shedding | 3 | 3 |
| Good with children | 5 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 3 |
| Happy alone | 3 | 3 |
| Trainability | 5 | 3 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 4 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The silky coat sheds moderately, and people who react to cats usually react to this breed. | — |
| Suits | A lively family that wants an intelligent, talkative cat and does not mind a high-energy companion. | Someone curious about a regional cat type who is content with a short-tailed domestic cat that has no breed papers. |
| Less suited to | A very quiet household, or anyone who wants a laid-back cat that sleeps through the day. | Anyone who wants a registered pedigree breed with a written standard and health data. |
| Registries that recognise it |
| — |
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