The Mekong Bobtail cat is a relatively rare breed of cats that originally came from Asia. Typical of the Mekong Bobtail is its short stump tail and the so-called “point” drawing.
The Appearance of the Mekong Bobtail Cat
If it weren’t for the short tail, the Mekong Bobtail cat could easily be mistaken for a Siamese cat. Both breeds are short-haired and have light body fur with a point pattern.
Mekong Bobtails weigh between 3.6 and 4.5 kilograms on average, making them one of the medium-sized cats. Your physique is muscular but still slim and elegant. The legs are of medium length.
Typical Mekong Bobtail: the Stubby Tail
The short, kinked tail is characteristic of this rare breed of cats. According to the standard of the cat breeders association “World Cat Federation,” the tail must have at least three vertebrae. However, its length must not exceed a quarter of the body length.
Fur with Point Drawing
The coat of the Mekong Bobtail cat is short, shiny, and has a little undercoat. Mekong Bobtails can also be recognized by their striking coat color with the typical point pattern.
What is meant by point drawing? Point cats have light body fur. The muzzle, ears, legs, and tail are darker in color.
A hereditary metabolic disorder is responsible for the striking color combination: the enzyme tyrosinase, which is necessary for melanin production, only works in this case at colder temperatures. However, melanin is needed to dye the fur dark.
With point cats, the darkening only works in the colder, outer body parts, the “points”. In the middle, where the body is warmer, the fur remains light (partial albinism). Shortly after they are born, these kittens are completely white because the uterus is so warm that no melanin is formed.
Siamese cats, Birman cats (Holy Burma), Thai cats, Ragdolls, and Balinese also belong to the cat breeds with a point pattern.
The large oval eyes of the Mekong Bobtail shine in an intense blue. They also have this in common with other point cats, such as the Siamese.
Temperament: Lively and Playful
Cats of this breed are described as bright, curious, and playful. However, intelligent animals need a lot of attention – and enough activity. If they are bored, they can meow extensively. Like Siamese, Mekong Bobtails are relatively “talkative”.
So you should definitely make time for regular play units and provide the kitties with interesting scratching and climbing opportunities. Perhaps you can get your Mekong Bobtail cats excited about clicker training as well.
With intelligence toys, you can also keep the agile exotics busy for a while.
The Mekong Bobtail Cat: Easy to Care for and Few Demands
The cats are considered to be relatively easy to care for and do not place particularly high demands on their owners. Because they are a short-haired breed, you only need to brush their coat every now and then – especially in spring and autumn when the coat is about to change.
Of course, you should also pay attention to such basic things as high-quality food and suitable litter boxes with a Mekong Bobtail cat so that it feels comfortable with you.
Mekong Bobtail cats can be kept outdoors, but they also feel comfortable in the apartment. A networked balcony or a secured garden is ideal.
Sociable Family Cats
With their friendly, affectionate nature, Mekong Bobtails are ideal family cats. It is said that they get along particularly well with children.
The house tigers with stubby tails are sociable and should therefore move in with you, if possible, in pairs. They should also get along well with other pets.
Long Life Expectancy Despite Restrictions
Certain hereditary diseases are particularly common in Mekong Bobtail cats. These include, for example, eye diseases such as eye tremors or watery eyes. You should therefore check the eyes of your Mekong Bobtail cat regularly and consult a veterinarian immediately if there are any changes.
Members of this breed of cats are also prone to mammary tumors and other cancers. Urinary tract and digestive disorders are also not uncommon.
The fact that Mekong Bobtail cats have very short and kinked tails could also lead to health problems. Cats need their tails to keep their balance while climbing. The tail is also an important means of communication. Cats that lack the tail are impaired in their communication.
Tailless breeds like the Manx cats have severe spinal damage and are classified as torture breeding in Germany. Experts believe it is possible that Mekong Bobtail cats with their stubby tails also suffer from problems with the spine.
Despite these limitations, the life expectancy of a Mekong Bobtail cat is quite high: it is 15 to 18 years.
Better Not: Buy a Mekong Bobtail Cat
In Europe, Mekong Bobtail cats are extremely rare and therefore difficult to get. Breeders are most likely to be found in Russia.
Even if you like this breed because of its lovable character traits, you should refrain from buying it. Because with your demand you are promoting the planned breeding of cats with serious health restrictions. You may find what you are looking for in an animal shelter – every now and then, pedigree cats end up in the animal shelter.
In any case, hands-off breeders who offer stub-tailed kittens on classified portals! As a rule, these are unscrupulous “multipliers” who are only interested in making a quick profit. Most of the time the animals are not kept in a species-appropriate manner, have no proper papers, and are neither vaccinated nor dewormed.
Origins: From Thailand to Russia
The origins of the Mekong Bobtail cats are in Thailand. It is believed that they descended from the Siamese cats. The breed owes its name to the Mekong River, which flows through Thailand, among other things. Sometimes the cat breed is also called “Thai tailless” in the English-speaking world.
This unusual breed of cats is said to be relatively widespread in Asia. Mekong Bobtails also have a community of lovers in Russia and that goes back to an interesting story:
In the 19th century, the King of Siam (now Thailand) is said to have given the Russian Tsar Nikolas II around 200 kittens. Most of them had a stub tail. Even today this breed is mainly bred in Russia.
Other cat breeds with a stubby tail are the “Japanese Bobtail”, the “Kuril Bobtail” and the “Pixiebob”.
Conclusion: a Lovable Breed of Cats
Mekong Bobtail cats are extremely lovable animals: intelligent, affectionate, and particularly suitable for families with children. In this country, the breed is a rarity – and maybe that’s a good thing. Because members of this breed of cats are prone to various health problems.
