Mekong Bobtail Breed History
The Mekong Bobtail is a feline breed that originated in Thailand. In fact, there are legends from ancient Siam that contained stories about these lovely cats, which have the Siamese point colors combined with the bobbed tail of a Manx.
This breed is naturally found throughout many parts of Southeast Asia, Iraq, Iran, Mongolia, Burma, Laos, China, and Vietnam. It was not until the latter part of the 19th century that roughly 200 cats, considered “royal,” were gifted to Nicholas II, who was the Tsar of Russia. They were given to him by the King of Siam, Chulalongkorn, and many of these cats had distinct kinked tails that were shorter than that of other felines.
Other bobtailed kitties were also brought to Russia from Southeast Asia, and they are the ancestors of the Mekong Bobtail. Until the 1980s, this breed wasn’t very well known, but today, it is more popular than ever.
Mekong Bobtail cats are friendly, social creatures who like to show their affectionate to their owners.
Breed Traits
Mekong Bobtail cats are friendly, social creatures who like to show their affectionate to their owners. These cats are also generally quiet, though they are curious.
These cats are extremely loyal, and they love being near their human companions as much as possible. In fact, they are often compared to dogs because they are so loyal, trainable, and intelligent. They even get along well with just about anyone, including children and other pets.
Despite their short bobbed tail, these cats are agile and athletic, and they love to climb, spring, and play, so give your pet plenty of room to release his energy every day.
Overall Description
The Mekong Bobtail has a medium sized body that has good muscle tone and is elegant and lean. The legs are also slender, with the hind legs being a bit longer than the front legs. The paws are oval.
The tail is the most unique feature of this breed, as it is very short. Every tail is different, however, because there are various combinations of curves and kinks that are possible. The length can vary but, generally, the bobtail has a minimum of three vertebrae, and it shouldn’t be longer than a quarter of the cat’s total body length.
The coat, which is glossy and short, has hardly any undercoat, so it lies close to the skin.
The shape of the head features a strong chin, and the ears are broad at their base and medium in size. The eyes of the Mekong Bobtail are also particularly beautiful, as they are blue like those of a Siamese. These eyes are also almond shaped, so they have a slight slant.
Colors
The Mekong Bobtail is a truly beautiful breed. These cats come in all of the pointed colors without white. These include seal point, blue point, tabby point, tortie point, chocolate point, lilac point, and red cream.
Grooming Requirements
Because the fur on the Mekong Bobtail is short and there’s hardly any undercoat, grooming is really simple. A basic brushing every now and then will be enough.
Photo credit: Grisha Bruev/Bigstock; Seregraff/Bigstock
