Glossary

Bobtail

A cat with a naturally short, stubby or kinked tail, a trait that occurs in several breeds and mixed-breed populations.

Also called: bobtailed cat, short-tailed cat, tailless cat, Manx

A bobtail cat has a tail that is much shorter than normal, from a small pom-pom to a half-length stub, or in some cats no tail at all. Short tails have appeared naturally in cat populations in many places, especially on islands and in isolated regions, and several breeds are built on them, including the Manx, Japanese Bobtail, American Bobtail, Kurilian Bobtail and Pixie-bob.

Different bobtail breeds use different genes, so they are not closely related. The Manx gene is dominant and a kitten that inherits two copies usually dies before birth. Manx cats can also have spinal problems, sometimes called Manx syndrome, which can affect the bowel, bladder and hind legs and may appear in young kittens. Other bobtails, such as the Japanese Bobtail, use a different inheritance and are not known for the same problem. The bobcat, a wild species, has a short tail but is not related to bobtail breeds.

A short or kinked tail may also come from an injury or a spine defect in an otherwise ordinary cat, so a vet should check any kitten born with an odd tail. Tails help cats balance, so watch for trouble with walking, jumping or using the litter box, and ask your vet.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Landrace A local population of cats that developed over centuries in one region with little planned breeding, before any registry wrote a standard for it. Pedigree A cat whose parents, grandparents and earlier ancestors are recorded by a registry, showing it belongs to a recognised breed. Breed standard The written description of the ideal cat of a breed, covering head, body, coat, colour and temperament, used by judges and breeders. Folded ears Ears that bend forward and down because of a gene that also affects cartilage throughout the body, as in the Scottish Fold. Hybrid cat A cat bred from a domestic cat and a wild species, such as the Bengal from the Asian leopard cat or the Savannah from the serval.