American Bobtail

In the late 1960s, John and Brenda Sanders, from Iowa, picked up a short-tailed tabby in Arizona and named him Yodie. When they bred him to their female, short-tailed kittens were born: it was a dominant gene. The legend that it is a cross with a bobcat is false; it is a domestic cat. It is sturdy and wild-looking, with a tail a third to half the normal length. Its temperament is calm, adaptable and very intelligent: it learns games, opens doors and has a reputation as a good travelling cat. It matures slowly, at around two or three years.

Weekly brushing for the shorthair, twice a week for the longhair. Daily play and puzzle toys. It adapts well to flats, children and other animals. Watch its weight: it is sturdy and tends to put on weight if bored. It learns to walk on a harness and usually copes well with the carrier and car journeys. Its tail is sensitive, so handle it with care. It needs company but tolerates a few hours alone well.

A generally healthy breed. In some cats, a very short tail has been linked to problems with the vertebrae at the base of the tail or the spine, although this is much less common than in the Manx. Cases of hip dysplasia have been described.