Personality and Temperament
With a thick, luxurious coat that's often beautifully marked to resemble a wildcat's fur, the Kurilian Bobtail cat is renowned for having a sweet, gentle nature. Like the breed's name suggests, Kurilian Bobtail cats have short to ultra-short bobtails. Kurilians have one of a kind tails. Sometimes compared with a snowflake or a fingerprint, no tail is identical to another.
Big, active, and intelligent, the Kurilian Bobtail cat has an intense play drive and a natural love for hunting. This breed is renowned for its fishing skill as well, so families with aquariums and tiny pets such as hamsters and guinea pigs will want to ensure that these vulnerable animals are kept far from the Kurilian Bobtail, which views all small creatures as prey to be captured.
Kurilian Bobtail cats typically get along very well with other cats, dogs, and children. They love to play, and anyone who is willing to spend time engaged in rousing games will automatically get this cat's undivided attention.
Despite its hunting prowess and high activity level, the Kurilian Bobtail cat loves to snuggle with its favorite person. These cats do have a tendency to choose a preferred companion, and they are also known to give other family members the cold shoulder when it's time to choose a lap for TV time or settle in at bedtime.
Meet other bobtail cat breeds: Japanese Bobtail Cat and American Bobtail Cat
Care
Nutrition
Grooming
Exercise
Health
Kurilian Bobtail cats have no special nutritional needs, however it is best to offer a diet that is high in protein with limited carbohydrates. We recommend choosing fresh food or offering a commercial brand that lists real meat or fish as the number one ingredient.
The shorthaired Kurilian Bobtail will appreciate a weekly brushing to remove dead hair and cut back on shedding, while longer haired Kurilian Bobtail cats require daily brushing to prevent mats.
As this is a large, active breed, you may wish to teach your cat to accept toenail clipping from a young age. This will help cut back on damage to your clothing, your furnishings, and your skin. You may also wish to teach your kitten to accept toothbrushing.
This breed is exceptionally athletic and will show off its ability to reach high speeds, make sharp turns, and climb as high as possible anytime it is given the opportunity. Kurilian Bobtail cats are highly trainable, and may appreciate learning how to walk on a leash so that they may safely enjoy the outdoors.
Inside, Kurilian Bobtail cat requires multiple scratching posts, at least one sturdy cat tree, and plenty of exciting toys. These cats appreciate window seats that provide them with a view of the outdoors, particularly if a bird feeder is involved.
The Kurilian Bobtail cat has a reputation for excellent health and can have an exceptionally long lifespan that extends up to 20 years. No known genetic issues are present.
History
The Kurilian Bobtail is native to the Kuril Islands, which give it its name. The breed is also native to Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and Sakhalin Island, which are located in the same geographic region.
The Kurilian Bobtail is a natural cat breed, meaning that it was developed by natural selection over time rather than via any kind of human manipulation. It has been gaining popularity throughout Russia since the middle of the 20th century. Still, the breed is not well-known outside of Russia, Europe, and Japan. So far, it has not been granted official recognition by the Cat Fanciers Association.
International cat breed registries are taking notice, though: Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe), The International Cat Association (TICA), and the World Cat Foundation (WCF) allow registration. Some clubs separate long and short haired Kurilian Bobtail cats into separate divisions while others allow them to be shown together.
Eyes
Legs & Paws
Tail
The Breed Standard
Body
Head
Ears
Coat
Color
FAQ
How much does a Kurilian Bobtail cat cost?
Kurilian Bobtail cats cost between $700-$3,000.
How big do Kurilian Bobtail cats get?
Kurilian Bobtail cats tend to be medium in size. A fully grown Kurilian Bobtail cat might weigh between 8-12 pounds or more and range in height anywhere from about 10"-14" inches tall.
How long do Kurilian Bobtail cats live?
The Average lifespan for Kurilian Bobtail is 14-20 years.
Do Kurilian Bobtail cats shed?
Kurilian Bobtail are long-haired cats, so you do have to expect a certain amount of shedding from this breed, but they don't shed as much as other cat breeds.
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We have a kurilian bobtail this information confirms it. She loves her daddy over me even though I feed her. We have a black kurilian bobtail we adopted and we live her. She has more personality than we know what to do with also she has multi-player of coats for winter
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
I adopted a cat and didn’t know she was this breeed until taking her to my vet. She’s everything described here and she has attached herself to my daughter and only associates with me for food and when she pleases. She’s the striped breed and she hunts all day n night. So in love with this cat
She must be absolutely beautiful, Niki! Thank you for sharing.
We have a lovely grey and white Kurillian Bobtail. She demands loving affection which is great. My son purchased her from Russia
as a kitten and she is now 15 mo.old. She is very smart and very active; loves to play w/anything and loves water.
The one bad characteristic (although humorous at times) is that she wants to be at highest point in the room to check
it out and has broken some of my favorite figurines .She is also VERY fast.They definitly are climbers! I would not
recommend this breed for older adults that have mobility issues. Their loving nature ,howeve,r is truly exceptional.
Thank you for sharing, Marjorie!
I have 2. Siblings. Same mummy. Different dads. Pure pedigree. So every characteristic as above love them to bits. Beautiful, affectionate, clever, sweetest breed of cats ever. Maya loves her daddy. Nelson loves me his mummy. My life is blessed with these two fur babies. X
From this article, I know I have a Kurilian. He is absolutely beautiful and is so smart and affectionate and has that tail. He adores my dog and loves to play and sleep with her. She needed him when I first got her because she was a very shy and traumatized feral border collie/lab mix. She took right to him. He is everything you said they are. He loves to play and let’s me know when he is bored and ready to go at it. He is so smart, he knows how to maneuver the play stick toy with bobbles at the end. He does this and plays with my cat like he was the human moving the play stick. I’ve got pictures of him doing this. I love him to pieces and he is so affectionate. He’s like a little cuddle bug!!
I got him when I saw a post on Next Door (in Arizona). He was obviously dumped off at the end of a street and I rescued him from there. I was going to try to find him a home or a kill-free sanctuary because I had a few cats of my own who were way up there in age, but after about 2 hours with him, there was no way I was giving this charming fella up!! He’s very demanding in a gentle way and very persistent. I tell him, “Joey, I think I knew why your former owners dumped you” and I thank them every day for that! He’s happy and very loved by my other cat too!!
Thanks for sharing!
Where can I find one of these marilous fur children?
I would search for “kurilian bobtail breeder near X” with X being your town. If you can’t find a local breeder, you may need to contact someone and have your cat shipped in.