SHOWS 311B: Breed Standards

Chapter 2: American Bobtail

TICA Standard

American Bobtail Longhair

HEAD	20 points
EARS	5 points
EYES	5 points
BODY	20 points
LEGS AND FEET	5 points
COLOR AND PATTERN	5 points
COAT	15 points
CONDITION AND BALANCE	10 points
TAIL	15 points

RECOGNIZED CATEGORIES, DIVISIONS, COLORS: All Categories, all Divisions, all colors.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The American Bobtail is a medium to large, powerfully built, naturally-occurring short-tailed cat. Being a product of natural selection, it is a hearty breed, that has all the intelligence and skill that nature demands of her creatures. The American Bobtail displays the look of an athletic animal, well-muscled and solid, with the appearance of power. The tail is short, approximately 1-1/2 to 6 inches in length and should stand erect when the cat is alert, half-way to the hock being the preferred length. A strong head, with an oval to almond-shaped eye set under a heavy brow, gives the cat a distinctive hunting look. The temperament is that of a calm, intelligent, and completely manageable cat. Conformation, balance and temperament should be the most important factors of this breed. Males can be proportionately larger than females, and should posses male characteristics. Seasonal variations of the coat should be recognized as this cat comes in both medium-shorthaired and medium- longhaired versions. This is a slow maturing breed, taking 2 to 3 years to reach full adult type.

CONDITION AND BALANCE: Condition and balance are very important to the American Bobtail. The American Bobtail should feel powerful, well-fleshed and muscular, without being fat.

PENALIZE: Tail too long or too short affecting the balance and appearance of the cat. Tail knotted out of shape. Coat that lies flat on the body. Coat that is cottony. Too fine-boned or foreign type. Extremely short muzzle or nose break.

ALLOWANCES: In all pointed cats, ghost markings are to be allowed.

ACCEPTABLE OUTCROSSES: The single registration of outcross cats with a natural bobtail is acceptable. Cats of this nature should adhere to the American Bobtail Standard. NOTE: As of May 1, 1999, NO Championship Breeds or wild blood to be used in this breed.

WITHHOLD ALL AWARDS: No tail, full length tail, or docked tail. Bad hips. See Show Rules, ARTICLE SIXTEEN for rules governing penalties/disqualifications applying to all cats.

HEAD

Shape: Broad, modified wedge, without noticeable flat planes.

Size: In proportion to body.

Profile: Gentle concave curve between nose and brow, can have rise to a prominent brow, good length between brow and ears, with a slight bump at the end of the nose.

Chin: Firm and strong, in line with the nose.

Muzzle: Well-defined suggestion of squareness not fore-shortened.

Whisker pads: Noticeable, but not real prominent.

Cheekbones: High, somewhat prominent.

Nose: Wide, gently sloped. Medium in length.

Jaws: Strong.

Forehead: Gentle curve can have rise to a prominent brow.

EYES

Shape: Oval to large almond.

Size: Large, deep-set.

Aperture: Angled slightly upward towards the ears.

Placement: Medium-wide apart.

Shape: Wide at base, with slightly rounded tips.

Size: Medium to moderately large in proportion with the head.

Placement: As much on top of the head as on the side. Alert.

Lynx Tipping: Preferred.

Thumb Prints: Preferred.

Furnishings: Desirable.

Length: In proportion. May look short due to muscling.

Shape: Substantial. Well-muscled.

Shape: Brawny, moderately long and substantial not slim with a noticeable rectangular stance.

Back: Straight. Slightly higher in hips. Somewhat prominent shoulder blades.

Boning: Substantial.

Chest: Deep and broad.

Hips: Substantial, almost as wide as chest. Good depth of flank.

Musculature: Substantial and firm. Males heavily built, wide shoulders, muscular appearance. Females are more feminine and may be smaller built than males.

Length: In proportion, no excessive length. Hind legs slightly longer than front.

Boning: Heavy.

Musculature: Substantial.

Foot Shape: Round.

Size: Large.

Toe Tufts: Desirable.

Shape: May be straight, slightly curved, have bumps or be slightly knotted.

Length: Tail is short; 1-1/2 to 6 inches in length (in repose), and should be carried erect when alert. Must be long enough to be clearly visible above the back and should not be so long as to extend past the hock of the hind leg.

Miscellaneous: Must be articulate, not knotted to the point that it impairs the natural movement of the tail. Straighter tails being preferred over knotted tails.

Length: Semi-longhair, shaggy. Tapering to slightly longer hair on ruff, britches, belly and tail.

Ruff: Slight, mutton chops desirable.

Texture: Non-matting, somewhat resilient, all-weather.

RECOGNIZED CATEGORIES, DIVISIONS, COLORS: All Categories, all Divisions, all colors.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The American Bobtail is a medium to large, powerfully built, naturally-occurring short-tailed cat. Being a product of natural selection, it is a hearty breed, that has all the intelligence and skill that nature demands of her creatures. The American Bobtail displays the look of an athletic animal, well-muscled and solid, with the appearance of power. The tail is short, approximately 1-1/2 to 6 inches in length and should stand erect when the cat is alert, half-way to the hock being the preferred length. A strong head, with an oval to almond-shaped eye set under a heavy brow, gives the cat a distinctive hunting look. The temperament is that of a calm, intelligent, and completely manageable cat. Conformation, balance and temperament should be the most important factors of this breed. Males can be proportionately larger than females, and should posses male characteristics. Seasonal variations of the coat should be recognized as this cat comes in both medium-shorthaired and medium- longhaired versions. This is a slow maturing breed, taking 2 to 3 years to reach full adult type.

CONDITION AND BALANCE: Condition and balance are very important to the American Bobtail. The American Bobtail should feel powerful, well-fleshed and muscular, without being fat.

PENALIZE: Tail too long or too short affecting the balance and appearance of the cat. Tail knotted out of shape. Coat that lies flat on the body. Coat that is cottony. Too fine-boned or foreign type. Extremely short muzzle or nose break.

ALLOWANCES: In all pointed cats, ghost markings are to be allowed.

ACCEPTABLE OUTCROSSES: The single registration of outcross cats with a natural bobtail is acceptable. Cats of this nature should adhere to the American Bobtail Standard. NOTE: As of May 1, 1999, NO Championship Breeds or wild blood to be used in this breed.

WITHHOLD ALL AWARDS: No tail, full length tail, or docked tail. Bad hips. See Show Rules, ARTICLE SIXTEEN for rules governing penalties/disqualifications applying to all cats.

HEAD

Shape: Broad, modified wedge, without noticeable flat planes.

Size: In proportion to body.

Profile: Gentle concave curve between nose and brow, can have rise to a prominent brow, good length between brow and ears, with a slight bump at the end of the nose.

Chin: Firm and strong, in line with the nose.

Muzzle: Well-defined suggestion of squareness not fore-shortened.

Whisker pads: Noticeable, but not real prominent.

Cheekbones: High, somewhat prominent.

Nose: Wide, gently sloped. Medium in length.

Jaws: Strong.

Forehead: Gentle curve can have rise to a prominent brow.

EYES

Shape: Oval to large almond.

Size: Large, deep-set.

Aperture: Angled slightly upward towards the ears.

Placement: Medium-wide apart.

Shape: Wide at base, with slightly rounded tips.

Size: Medium to moderately large in proportion with the head.

Placement: As much on top of the head as on the side. Alert.

Lynx Tipping: Preferred.

Thumb Prints: Preferred.

Furnishings: Desirable.

Length: In proportion. May look short due to muscling.

Shape: Substantial. Well-muscled.

Shape: Brawny, moderately long and substantial not slim with a noticeable rectangular stance.

Back: Straight. Slightly higher in hips. Somewhat prominent shoulder blades.

Boning: Substantial.

Chest: Deep and broad.

Hips: Substantial, almost as wide as chest. Good depth of flank.

Musculature: Substantial and firm. Males heavily built, wide shoulders, muscular appearance. Females are more feminine and may be smaller built than males.

Length: In proportion, no excessive length. Hind legs slightly longer than front.

Boning: Heavy.

Musculature: Substantial.

Foot Shape: Round.

Size: Large.

Toe Tufts: Desirable.

Shape: May be straight, slightly curved, have bumps or be slightly knotted.

Length: Tail is short; 1-1/2 to 6 inches in length (in repose), and should be carried erect when alert. Must be long enough to be clearly visible above the back and should not be so long as to extend past the hock of the hind leg.

Miscellaneous: Must be articulate, not knotted to the point that it impairs the natural movement of the tail. Straighter tails being preferred over knotted tails.

Length: Medium-shorthair.

Texture: Resilient, all-weather.

Density: Double coat, undercoat present.