Jungle-Bob vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison

Bobtailed cats have a naturally shortened tail due to natural genetic mutation. The cat’s original appearance genetics were modified so as to bring about an improved strain that comes in all colors and coat types.

The cat descended from a short-tailed kitten, Yodi. His kittens also had a short tail. Two women selectively bred the cats to be large and strong with a wild look but with a pleasant nature.

The cats used in the development of the breed were domestic shorthairs and longhairs. They are now pedigreed cats without tails.

In 1989, the International Cat Association accepted the American Bobtail into its new breed category, giving it full recognition in 2002. They were accepted for registration by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 2000. This is the world's biggest registry of pedigreed cats.

This hybrid cat is a cross between a Chausie and a Pixie Bob.

What is notable about this cat is that it can have a Bobcat like tail or it can have a full-length tail. They’re a fairly new breed and have been bred since the early 1990s. The whole purpose of breeding the cat was to develop a jungle cat hybrid with a spotted pattern.

The American Bobtail is a cat that came about in the 1960s. It is well know as the cat with a bobbed tail. It’s not as vocal as many other cat breeds. It’s not a slender cat but is sturdy and and strong weighing between 3 and 7kg. Their double coats can be short- or long-haired. The coat comes in different patterns and colors, including orange, cream, black, brown, chocolate etc with a shaggy texture. He sheds quite a bit. The body of the American Bobtail is faily long. Its ears are medium-sized and wide-based with rounded tips, the eyes are almond shape. The eyes can be gold, yellow, green or blue. What is interesting is that the hind legs are much longer than the fore legs, and the feet are round.

Tmperament:

Bobtails are friendly cats, enjoying being in the company of their human family as well as with strangers. They are loving and affectionate to the entire family as opposed to just one person.

They’re quiet cats but will chirp when happy and excited. They get on well with all members of their human family and that includes children and the dogs.

They’re intelligent cats too and they can be taught to walk on a leash and to also perform some tricks. There are some people who say that their Bobtails act more like dogs than cats. These cats are sensitive and can sense when their owners are happy or sad and will come and sit with you when you're feeling sad and alone.

These are big cats and can weigh between 6 and 10kg. The leopard-spotted coat comes in all shades – brown, tawny, gold, silver and black with you not likely to see solid shades.

The coat can be short or medium-length. The cats have a thick muzzle and he has hooded eyes. The ears are fairly large and placed high o the head. They’re well muscled with long legs with the hind legs being fairly longer than the front legs

Temperament:

The Jungle-Bob loves his food. He loves interactive toys that hold the food and encourage him to think about how to get the food out.

He loves his human family and bonds strongly with them, loving to play rough and tumble games with the kids. He gets on well with children as well as other pets in the house.

You may find your Jungle-Bob being shy and not wanting to be friendly with strangers. They’re intelligent cats and have been known to learn how to open certain doors and cupboards. They can also be taught to walk on a leash.

Many people want a dog as a pet but aren’t able to keep one and then the American Bobtail becomes the ideal alternative. These cats aren’t known for their solitary personalities like the many other cats there are and they genuinely love to spend time with their human family. Some will even behave like a dog and be there to meet you at the door when you arrive home.

He is a fairly large, amicable cat and is affectionate and adaptable to your lifestyle. He enjoys all kinds of lifestyles and loves to curl up next to you on your travels, being the perfect road trip companion.

The American Bobtail is a therapeutic cat and is sensitive to the moods of its human family. He gets on well with children and other pets in the family and just wants to be a family member.

By bringing an American Bobtail into your home and your heart, you’ll have discovered the most wonderful feline companion there is.

Your Jungle-Bob, just like all cats with a wild side, should have a largish outdoor cage. Keeping a hybrid cat like the Jungle-Bob is far more challenging than keeping a regular domesticated cat.

Hybrid cats like these are always active and they require lots of exercise. They can learn to walk on a leash.

Hybrid cats like this are made up of many species and they come with lots of interesting fur patterns. but that shouldn't be your motivation for buying one.

Think carefully before you own one of these cats as they’re beautiful for sure, but sometimes they become too much for the owners and then they land up in shelters. Be informed before you invest in one of these cats.

When you buy a kitten from a breeder, always do research on the breeder so as to avoid a host of health issues down the line.

Apart from the typical cat health problems, the Bobtail is a healthy breed of cat. With proper care from you at home as well as veterinary care, these interesting looking cats can live up to anything between 12 and 20 years.

Even a trip to the vet can be a challenge and it can be a frightening experience for a hybrid cat. They may even need to be sedated before the vet can examine them.

Also, did you know that in terms of rabies, which can be a fatal disease, it is not positive that these vaccines even work with a hybrid cat? So if your pet is exposed to rabies, it could spell great danger for you and your hybrid pet.

Keep a close eye on your cat’s weight.

Keep the litter box of your Bobtail scrupulously clean.

Your American Bobtail needs the best quality food there is full of vitamins and minerals if he is to remain healthy. The cat’s diet will depend a lot on his activity levels and general health, but it should always be high protein food. Your vet will always help you with some guidelines on feeding your cat.

Every cat needs exercise, and even though these cats aren’t as energetic as other cats, they are active indoors and out and are also playful. You will need to provide it with some puzzle toys and a climbing tree to keep him mentally and physically active.

Brush his medium-length fur twice a week to keep it shiny and silky.

Trim his nails carefully and check his eyes and inside his ears for abnormal discharges.

Vaccinate your cat to keep it protected from life-threatening cat diseases and take him to the vet immediately you suspect something is wrong.

Before you invest in one of these hybrid exotic cats do research because they’re different from your regular domestic cats.

Because they have a wild side, they’re not suited to small apartments. Apart from being both an indoor and outdoor cat, he will require a fairly large outdoor cage with one part dedicated to shade and shelter for him.

Even though you will buy your Jungle Bob a litter box for indoors, remember that even though you train your cat to use it, the wild part of the cat means that he will spray and do his business on your carpets or against your furniture as well.

This is precisely why so many cat shelters are full of these cats. They become a handful for their owners, and their owners just hand them in as a bad experience.

A hybrid cat like the Jungle-Bob has a digestive system not quite the same as your regular domestic cat. It is absolutely imperative that these cats receive a meat diet as they are carnivores.

Keeping such a cat as a pet means you will need to invest in high-quality protein foods that sit well with this cat’s digestive system. A good guide for the Jungle Bob-cat is to steer clear of carbohydrates and feed your cat a protein-rich diet.

It is also a wise move to feed your new kitten the food that he has been eating at the breeder and then to make a gradual change to the best food protein there is.

Speak to your vet if in any kind of doubt. There are excellent high protein, high-quality commercial cat foods available on the market that make feeding a cat convenient as well.