Cats without tails may seem odd to you, but it is very common to find cat breeds with no tail. Although a tail is an important body feature, and they use tail wagging as a means of communication, there are some cats that do pretty fine without a tail. But the question here is, have they lost their tails as a result of some accident, or is this a result of some genetic mutation?
Let’s dig in deeper to find out more.
Cat Breeds with No Tail
There is only one cat breed that doesn’t have a tail —Manx. Other cats that fall under the category of being tailless are actually born with a bobbed or short tail. These cats are born with a short tail as a result of genetic mutation that naturally occurred in some cats when they were bred. A kitten is born with a bobbed tail when the bobbed tail gene is being passed on to it.
To further discuss this rare phenomenon in cats, we have chosen 9 cat breeds with no tails.
So, let’s take a closer look at the cats that are born without tails or have very short ones.
1. American Bobtail Cat
Key Features
Lifespan:13 – 15 years
Personality: Affectionate, friendly, social
Weight: 16 – 18 pounds
Height: 9 – 10 inches
This cat breed is not completely tailless. Instead, the kittens are born with a short tails. This breed was created in the 1960s when a couple bred their domestic cat with a stray bobcat. All the kittens were born with short tails.
An American Bobtail cat is popular for its friendly demeanor and affectionate nature. It is muscular and weighs around 16 pounds.
2. Japanese Bobtail Cat
Key Features
Lifespan: 15 – 18 years
Personality: Affectionate, playful, and intelligent
Weight: 5 – 10 pounds
Height: 8 – 9 inches
The second one we will discuss from our list of cat breeds with no tail is the Japanese Bobtail. This cat has a tail like a bunny, also called a pom. It is smaller than the American Bobtail cat and can be easily differentiated from other bobtails due to its stubby tail. These cats have been around for hundreds of years and are associated with Japan. But they are also found in other Asian countries, such as China, Korea, and Tibet.
A Japanese Bobtail tends to have a jolly and affectionate temperament and is also very intelligent.
3. Kurilian Bobtail Cat
Key Features
Lifespan:15 – 20 years
Personality: They are strong and sweet-tempered
Weight: 11 – 15 pounds
Height: 9 – 12 inches
This cat has a lot of similarities with the Japanese Bobtail, and some experts even consider they are related because of striking resemblance. But these cats have originated from Russia and were first found there some 200 years ago.
Just like the Japanese Bobtail, the Kurilian cats also have short, stubby tails. They can be found in red or grey colors, and their coat is short and silky. People like these cats because of their loving personalities. They also get along well with other pets and cats.
4. Manx
Key Features
Lifespan:8 – 14 years
Personality: Loyal, Friendly, and Energetic
Weight: 8 – 12 pounds
Height: 7 – 9 inches
Technically, the Manx is the only tailless cat breed. These cats have strong, muscular bodies and have a reputation for being energetic jumpers. They are further divided on the appearance of their tailbones. If the Manx has no tail, it is called a Grumpy, whereas the one that has a protruding tailbone is called a Rumpy Riser.
Recognized in the year 1906 by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), this cat originated from the Isle of Man, the Irish Sea. Its social and loyal temperament makes this cat everyone’s favorite.
5. Cymric
Key Features
Lifespan: 8 – 14 years
Personality: Playful, Loyal, and Active
Weight: 8 – 12 pounds
Height: 7 – 9 inches
A Cymric has a lot in common with a Manx, so much so that a Cymric is often called a long-haired Manx. They share a lot of similarities, and the only difference in their appearance is the length of their coats. A Cymric has a long-haired coat, whereas a Manx has a short coat. Some cat breeders also call these two breeds twins of one another.
Just like a Manx, a Cymric is also very active and loves to be playful. These cats were first created in 1960 in Canada. Because of their long and dense coat, they appear larger than their original size. They are very intelligent and need plenty of mental stimulation to match their intelligence level.
6. Highlander
Key Features
Lifespan:10 – 15 years
Personality: Active, playful, and gentle
Weight: 10 – 20 pounds
Height: 10 – 16 inches
Highlander makes to our list of cat breeds with no tail because it too has a very short tail. A mix between the Desert Lynx and the Jungle Curl, this cat also has curled ears, making it look wilder than it actually is. But they are generally gentle and loving cats. Created in the year 2004, these cats were initially named Highland Lynx, but later their names changed to Highlander.
These cats are very energetic and need plenty of exercise. They love to play with their owners and should be given proper attention. Another unique feature these cats are famous for is their likeness to water. Unlike other cats, they don’t mind getting wet and are not aversive to water. So, bathing these cats won’t be a trouble for the owners.
7. Pixie-Bob
Key Features
Lifespan:12 – 14 years
Personality: Social, playful, and energetic
Weight: 11 – 22 pounds
Height: 10 – 12 inches
The Pixie-bob cat is also considered one of the cat breeds with no tail because some of these are born without tails. The length of their tails varies, and some of these cats can have a short tail as well.
This breed of cats was recognized by the American Cat Fanciers Association in 2005. The Pixie-bob was created by crossing Keba, a large male cat with a bobbed tail, with a brown spotted cat. It is important to mention here that the mating was natural and not planned.
These cats are also very jolly, friendly, and love to play.
8. Mekong Bobtail
Key Features
Lifespan: 15 – 18 years
Personality: Loud and active
Weight: 8 – 10 pounds
Height: 7 – 9 inches
The Mekong bobtail is also considered among the cat breeds with no tail because it has a bobbed tail that may also be curved. This cat breed originated in Thailand and is named after a Thai river named the Mekong river.
The Mekong Bobtail cats are agile and loud. Due to high intelligence, they need a lot of mental stimulation games and also want their owner to give them attention. They have a short, glossy coat and lack an undercoat.
9. Desert Lynx
Key Features
Lifespan:12 – 15 years
Personality: Social, friendly, and gentle
Weight: 8 – 16 pounds
Height: 10 – 15 inches
The last one to make it to our list of cat breeds with no tail is a Desert Lynx. This cat is a unique mix of different cat breeds such as a Manx, an American Bobtail, Pixie-bob, and Maine Coon. But these cats resemble bobcats more than any other breed.
They have a muscular build, short tail, and spots on their bodies. Although from their names, they appear to be wild cats, they are loyal and loves to be around people. These cats also like to follow their owners everywhere and would love to spend time with them. Many owners have described these cats as loyal and faithful, like a dog.
Conclusion
Apart from tailless cats being unique and appealing, they are also known to have very playful and friendly temperaments. These traits make them desirable for people who are looking for fun-loving pets.
We hope our article will have helped you give a detailed description of different cat breeds with no tails. Thus, owning a tailless or bob-tailed cat is an undoubtedly fulfilling and fun experience to have.
Whether you own a tailless cat or are planning to bring one with a tail, we urge you to make yourself educated and do enough research to better understand your furry feline. There are also some very informative books about cats available for this purpose.