History of the breed

The history of this breed, as well as one of any other native breed, remains purely speculative and hypothetical.

In contrast to Japanese bobtail, known and recognized all over the world for a long time, Kurilian short-tailed cat has been known since second half of the last century.

Families of military men, coming back to mainland and geologists from scientific expeditions took out such cats from Kurilian Islands in the late 1970’s. These cats won their owners’ hearts to the extent that they did not want to leave cats in no way.

At that time nobody were considering Kurilian bobtail as a breed. There was even no concept of felinology.

Only in the late 1980’s some believers who had owned these surprising pompon-tailed cats declared Kurilian bobtails as breed. It was discovered that the tailless cats from Kuril Islands represent a true Russian miracle forcing people to applaud and admire them.

The American fanciers have been driving away at breeding of short-tailed cat of wild type for 20-30 years. But it turned out that there was a similar cat in Russia, only waiting in the wings.

The main difference between Kurilian bobtails and Japanese bobtails consists not only in a various genetic origin of the tail, but also in particular charm of Kurilian cats. The Kurilian bobtail is fine-boned and well coated animal. It has “Russian features of muzzle” blending together the severe look of master of primeval forests, tenderness and devotion to its family.

Kurilian bobtails are the massive cats with muscular body, large head, pompon tail, springy and strong legs. The great intelligence and unique temperament are the most important traits of this breed.

In the late 1980’s the cat shows assembled many spectators, the most-respected foreign experts and the first Soviet felinologists. The Kurilian short-tailed cat fanciers perplexed them.

Presumably the cats may be distant relatives of Japanese bobtails. But the first exhibited Kurilian bobtails have greatly differed from them. Short tail was the unique common detail. All other traits had sharp distinctions.

As a result, many shorthair animals brought from Far East Islands were recognized as Japanese bobtails. Undoubtedly, many of them conformed to the standard of Japanese bobtail and proved it by their Best in Shows and their excellent descendants.

Some enthusiasts, namely Mrs. L.Ivanova and Mrs. T.Bocharova, brought for breeding new shorthair and semi-longhair animals from the Islands Kunashir and Iturup. These cats greatly differed from subtle Japanese bobtails by their size and build. On this basis the Soviet felinologists started to elaborate the standard for Russian native short-tailed cats of unknown origin.

The Soviet Felinological Federation (SFF) was involved with elaboration of the preliminary standard of Kurilian bobtail.

The first expedition, undertaken by Mr. Tatyana Bocharova to the Kuril Islands, allowed judges to see a lot of animals and to trace genetic regularities of the short tail inheritance.

The results of the first pairing already proved, that the breed characteristics of Kurilian cats and the short tail were passed on from generation to generation, while the pompon tail was not concerned with any harmful modifications.

On October 21, 1991, the SFF accepted the first standard of Kurilian bobtail.

It was important not only to begin breeding of Kurilian bobtails, but first of all to prove to the European felinologists that new breed had the right to existence.

On December 3-4, 1994, the seminar of Russian felinologists on native breeds finished off the SFF standard and prepared materials to gain full acceptance of this new breed within WCF (World Cat Federation).

The preliminary standard had some differences from the current one. The main difference concerned the length of a tail. Under the first version of the standard the tail had to be as long as 5-13 cm. Today the shorter tail is preferred. Also it was decided to give preference to agouti colored animals and to exclude all pointed colors, with white including.

Today the stipulation on agouti color is not in force, but everyone agrees that this color greatly beautifies Kurilian bobtails.

In 1995 WCF has accepted the final Kurilian bobtail standard.

The tide of interest to Russian short-tailed cats has stirred up Europe. The triumphs in numerous shows in Czech Republic, Poland, Germany and Italy prove it. Today there are about ten European And American catteries of Kurilian bobtails.

In October 2002 in Tallinn the FIFe Judges and LO (“Livre d’origine”) Commission was presented with the breed. Kurilian bobtails literally charmed the members of the commission with their unique look and docile personality.

On May 30, 2003, in Amsterdam the FIFe General Assembly recognized Kurilian bobtail as the native Russian breed and accepted it for championship since 2004. The breed is exhibited in the III group under the code KBS/KBL.