Felis catus
Korean Bobtail Longhair
The Korean Bobtail Longhair is the longhaired division of the Korean Bobtail, a naturally occurring bobtail cat found throughout the Korean peninsula. TICA carries the breed in its Registration-Only (ANB) programme. The standard describes a medium-sized, lean cat with a pom-pom tail and a semi-long, silky coat.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- Korea
- Origin period
- Natural bobtail population native to Korea; TICA ANB registration 2000s
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- All colours and patterns
- Size category
- Medium
- Average lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Recognition
- —
Origin
Bobtailed cats are a well-established part of Korean cultural heritage, depicted in traditional Korean art. The breed was formally introduced to international felinology through TICA's registration programme. Both shorthair and longhair coat-length divisions are recognised. Genetic studies place the Korean Bobtail's tail mutation in the same locus as the Japanese Bobtail, consistent with shared historic maritime trade routes.
Standard
The TICA draft standard describes a medium-sized, lean, athletic cat with an elongated body and a flexible pom-pom tail 8–10 cm long. The longhair division has a semi-long, silky, low-maintenance coat with minimal undercoat, feathering on the ears and toes, and a plumed tail. All colours and patterns are accepted.
Cultural Heritage
Bobtailed cats are prominent in Korean cultural history, appearing in traditional paintings and folk art. The Koreans called bobtailed cats 'kkori-jjalbeun gori' (short-tailed cat) and considered them auspicious. The Korean cat fancy's formalization of the breed standard in the late 20th century was part of a broader effort to document and preserve Korea's indigenous cat heritage, paralleling the Thai cat fancy's documentation of Thai Tamra Maew breeds.
Sources & further reading (2)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-27
- registry-breed-profile — accessed 2026-05-27
Frequently asked questions
How does the Korean Bobtail differ from the Japanese Bobtail?
Both breeds share the same autosomal recessive tail gene (jb), reflecting common ancestry via historical East Asian trade routes. The Korean Bobtail is generally described as having a slightly longer body and somewhat longer tail pom-pom than the Japanese Bobtail. The two are separate breeds in TICA's programme.
Is the Korean Bobtail Longhair recognized by CFA?
No. The Korean Bobtail Longhair is currently in TICA's registration programme only; CFA, GCCF, and FIFe do not carry the breed.
Are Korean Bobtail Longhairs recognized by CFA?
No. The Korean Bobtail Longhair is in TICA's registration programme only. CFA, GCCF, FIFe, and WCF do not currently recognize the Korean Bobtail in either coat-length class.
