Black / blue / grey-slate, red, cream, white
All colours, apart from typical colourpoint colours, are possible. Traditionally, tri-coloured cats (called Mi-Ke in Japan) and their most white counterparts, are preferred to other colours.
Solid / plain, / bicolour, van, harlequin, tri-colour, tabby / striped
Short for shorthairs and mid length for longhairs.
Blue, green, yellow / golden, odd
The Japanese Bobtail’s tail is undoubtedly its most differentiating characteristic. Consisting of one or more ‘welded’ vertebrae, it can be folded on itself in any way, unique to each individual. The overall length of the tail is variable, but in general at its longest extension, the tip should be no more than 3 inches away from its body. This results in a pompom with long hairs spouting out in all directions (even on the short-haired variety). Poetically, they have been compared to chrysanthemum flowers that grow in Japan.
Japanese Bobtails’ bodies are muscular but slender and delicate as they have a semi-foreign medium body type. They are well-proportioned, and even their truncated tails fit beautifully with the rest of their bodies. Their hind legs are slightly longer than their front ones, but are slightly bent (as if ready to pounce), meaning that their back is straight. Their head is an almost perfect equilateral triangle, with soft, curving lines and prominent cheekbones. Their ears, are large, and are placed at right angles to their heads. Their eyes form a pronounced angle when seen in profile, and are large and oval shaped.
The Japanese Bobtail has virtually no undercoat. Their soft, silky hair is attached to their bodies and makes them look like porcelain statues. Both long haired (Longhair Japanese Bobtail) and shorthaired (Shorthair Japanese Bobtail) varieties exist. The longhaired variety can have beautiful collars that complement their chrysanthemum-esque tails.