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Karelian Bobtail vs Korean Bobtail
Two Very rare natural bobtails. The Karelian is a defined Russian type with a kinked tail; the Korean is a local type with no widely recognised standard.
Verdict
Both cats are Very rare and neither is recognised by the CFA, so origin and standard decide it. The Karelian Bobtail is a sturdy natural type from Karelia in Russia, with a kinked tail, a dense short or semi-long coat and a calm family nature. The Korean Bobtail is mostly a local type from Korea with no widely recognised standard. The Karelian is quieter and a little more playful. Reliable health records are scarce for both, so ask a vet before committing. Choose the Karelian if you live near its homeland, and the Korean for a regional domestic cat.
Choose the Karelian Bobtail if
- You want a defined natural bobtail with a calm family nature.
- You live in or near Russia.
- You want a playful, quiet cat.
- You like a dense short or semi-long coat.
Choose the Korean Bobtail if
- You are curious about a regional short-tailed cat type.
- You are content with a cat without breed papers.
- You want a short coat that needs almost no grooming.
- You accept that no written standard exists.
Where they are alike
Both are medium cats that rate well with children, with moderate energy. Both have natural short tails and little documented health data.
Side by side
| Karelian Bobtail | Korean Bobtail | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Shorthair |
| Origin | Karelia, Russia | Korea |
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Typical weight | 7-11 lb (3-5 kg), reports vary | 6-10 lb (2.7-4.5 kg), as no standard exists |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Short or semi-long, dense coat | Short coat of the local domestic type |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Not recognised by the CFA | Not recognised by the CFA |
| How common | Very rare | Very rare |
| Affection | 4 | 4 |
| Energy | 3 | 3 |
| Playfulness | 4 | 3 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 3 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 1 |
| Shedding | 3 | 3 |
| Good with children | 4 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 3 |
| Happy alone | 3 | 3 |
| Trainability | 4 | 3 |
| Suits a small home | 3 | 4 |
| Suits | Someone in or near Russia who wants a rare, natural-type bobtail with a calm family nature. | 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 outside the breed's home region who needs easy access to breeders and health data. | 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