Even though the name Americans have given to the breed suggests one of the important facets of the breed, the bobtail is really not unique to the islands of Japan. Bobtailed and kinked tailed cats are found all through the Orient. At one time Siamese cats were noted for the kinks in their tails. The legend says the royal princesses of Siam would go bathing and slip their rings over the tails of their Siamese cats. The cats kinked their tails to keep the rings from sliding off and the kink became permanent. Another Thai breed the Korat is also known in its native land for kinked tails. The Korats with lightening bolt tails are highly prized and not given away or allowed to be exported. Fortunately, western breeders do not desire any kinking in their Korats.

The first Japanese Bobtails in America came with returning soldiers after World War II and they continue to do so even today. One of the earliest Japanese Bobtail breeders in the United States, Irene Wood (Takashi Cattery founded in 1981) later told other breeders how her love affair with the JBT came to be. Irene and her husband were living in Seattle, Washington in 1946 when a neighbor asked her if she would be interested in buying a bobtailed kitten. She was shown a pair, a red and white male and a tortoiseshell female, approximately ten weeks old. The owner of the parents was in the Merchant Marines and had brought the parents back from Japan. As it so happens with many Japanese Bobtail owners, one look and they were hooked. They paid $50.00 for the two – a lot of money in 1946. Irene relates that Tuffey, the sister, had babies and she kept two females as Tuffey was killed crossing the street. (Of course, these were the days when no one kept cats indoors for their safety).

"From that time on until the early 70's, I always had bobtails even though they outcrossed with long-tailed cats," according to Irene. "Tommy had a real bunny tail – Tuffey’s was slightly longer, but still formed a pom-pom."

Bob Zenda, a longtime American cat show judge, was a young Sergeant in the U.S. army and stationed in Japan in 1960. He became a co-founder of The American Siamese Cat Club of Japan and began to promote cat shows held the first Japanese All Breed Cat Show as a benefit for the Japan Animal Welfare Society. The show was held at the U.S. Army Service Club #90 at Camp Zama, Japan. Although he did not breed Japanese Bobtails Bob states he was a "midwife" to the Japanese Bobtail as they made their first appearance in an American style cat show in the Household Pet category

There was a class of 15 household pets cats out of 75 entries. How many actually had "bobtails" is unknown, but from the catalog it seems at least 6 of these cats were Bobtails. Among the owners of these Bobtails were Bess Higuchi, also a Siamese breeder and later a CFA All Breed judge, and American Judy Crawford, a fancier and breeder of the native cat now living in Japan. Bess came to the cat show after seeing an advertisement in the military newspaper. Bess was asked to interpret at the show because most exhibitors were Japanese.

Later, Bess working with Judy Crawford would be instrumental in shipping the first "official" breeding pair to the United States. Cats entered by Judy Crawford and presumed to be bobtails were Pooh-Chan, black and white male adult; Spunky, orange and white adult male; Ji-Ji (Corky), Solid white adult neuter; and, lastly, Melisse, a particolor female kitten.

Allbreed judge Betty O’Brien has been quoted that she was deeply impressed with a long-haired mi-ke owned by Mrs. Kiyoko Tanaka that she saw at this show. The name of this little long-haired girl was Micchi and her parents were Tora and Mari according to the show catalog. She received a trophy for the best Japanese-owned household pet category. Since there was no established standard for a Japanese cat, Betty suggested there should be one, such as a tri-colored cat with a short, or bobtail, and engendering characteristics peculiar to all Japanese cats.

In 1967, Elizabeth Freret of Amulet Cattery saw a Japanese Bobtail at the Shoreham Pet shop in Bethesda, Maryland. The owner of the shop and fellow cat enthusiast, Bernice Cool, showed her a red tabby spay with a short kinked tail being boarded for a family that had recently returned from Japan. Elizabeth began a quest to find out more about cats from Japan. About a month later, Bob Winn introduced Elizabeth to Bess Higuchi who explained to Elizabeth that many cats in Japan did indeed have short bunny like tails and they were not docked. Her interest grew and asked if Bess would be willing to trade an Abyssinian female for a pair of Japanese Bobtails. Bess warned Elizabeth it might be a while before she could find the right cats. So working with Judy Crawford through Bess Higuchi, Elizabeth acquired her pair of Bobtails. In the spring of 1968, Judy picked three kittens that could be possible foundation cats. Cats that were sound, not inbred, and tractable.

Elizabeth accompanied by Wain Harding, a young cat fancier also living in Virginia, joyfully picked up three adorable kittens, Judiko’s Madame Butterfly, a mi-ke; Judiko’s Richard San of Amulet, a red and white male, and a cinnamon colored tabby female named Prunello. Madame Butterfly was very unusual in that she was a four-colored calico. In addition to her red and black spots, there were two blue patches of color. Madame Butterfly was eventually bred to Richard and produced the first recorded litter of Japanese bobtails in America, five in total, all with pom like tails. Elizabeth was concerned that the gene that produced the tail was similar to the Manx gene and could produce colon-rectal problems. Later, it was verified by geneticists that the gene was indeed different. Years of breeding by American breeders have also proven this to be true! That same year eight more Bobtails were sent to Elizabeth so she would have healthier out crosses.

The Cat Fanciers’ Association Board of Directors with President Richard Gebhardt’s and Board member Jane Martinke’s encouragement accepted the Japanese Bobtail in 1969 at a Board Meeting in September, in Trenton, New Jersey. The 1970 Yearbook excerpt, "Mrs. Elizabeth Freret, who was present as a guest, was recognized by the Chairman. Mrs. Freret had brought a female Japanese Bobtail cat and two kittens and distributed a proposed standard to the Board for consideration. After examining the cats and kittens and reviewing the proposed standard, motion was made to accept the Japanese Bobtail cats for registration, providing an export certificate is furnished at the time of registration." .Other CFA exhibitors and judges took notice of this new breed and began working with them.

In 1971 the Japanese Bobtail along with nine other breeds applied for Provisional Breed Status. Out of the nine, only the JBT and Sphynx were granted the next step towards championship. In 1976 the Japanese Bobtails were accepted for Championship status. This was a historic moment for the breed, the first association to accept them!

It should be noted that the early breeders were concerned that there be a definite distinction between the Manx cat and the Japanese Bobtail, at least in the show ring! The standard was written for a smaller medium cat. There are street cats in Japan that are large and cobby and have thick coats and cats of this type are often seen in the art of the Japan. However, these first breeders wanted a stylized cat, one to resemble fine Japanese porcelain.

Fourteen years later after much success in the show ring, breeders pushed for acceptance of the Longhair variety in the Cat Fanciers’ Association, and in less than three years, their were two divisions of the Japanese Bobtail competing for titles and awards. Pioneers in this division include myself, Marianne Clark nee Hamilton of Kurisumasu Cattery, Rev. Gena Garton (Catastery Cattery), Marilyn Knopp (MariCho Cattery) and Lynn Berge (Berjo).

After acceptance by the Cat Fanciers’ Association, the Japanese Bobtail became permanently ensconced in America and Canada. The recognition of the breed spread to the other cat associations, American Cat Fanciers’ Association (ACFA), Canadian Cat Association (CCA), The International Cat Association (TICA) and other registries. Almost all of the of major cat registering bodies in the world accept the Japanese Bobtail for show. Breeders can be found in Switzerland, Poland, France, Germany, U.K., Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Russia, and of course, its native land Japan. Although like most people, the Japanese consider the "foreign" cat more exotic and more desirable just as American breeders admire the exotic "foreign" cat.

One incident illustrating the above sentiments happened to me at a cat show in Southern California. CFA Judge and then CFA President Craig Rothermel reached his second best and best cat in show to present to the audience. The Japanese Bobtail belonged to an American (me) and the American Shorthair belonged to a Japanese exhibitor!