Felis catus
Vietnamese Bobtail Longhair
The Vietnamese Bobtail Longhair is the longhaired division of the Vietnamese Bobtail, a naturally occurring bobtail cat native to Vietnam. TICA carries the breed in its registration programme. The standard describes a medium-sized, lean, agile cat with a kinked tail and a silky semi-long coat.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- Vietnam
- Origin period
- Natural bobtail population native to Vietnam; TICA registration programme 2000s
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- All colours and patterns
- Size category
- Medium
- Average lifespan
- 12–16 years
- Recognition
- —
Origin
Bobtailed cats are well-documented in Vietnamese cultural history and appear in folk art across the country. The Vietnamese cat fancy formally standardized the breed and introduced it to TICA's registration programme. The Vietnamese Bobtail's tail gene is believed to be related to the same autosomal recessive gene (jb) shared by the Japanese and Korean Bobtails, reflecting historic regional cat populations.
Standard
The working standard describes a medium-sized, lean, athletic cat with a kinked or curved bobtail 6–12 cm long. The longhair division has a semi-long, silky coat with minimal undercoat, feathered ears, and a plumed tail. All colours and patterns are accepted.
Cultural Significance
Bobtailed cats appear in Vietnamese folk art and literature, and naturally short-tailed cats are well-known in Vietnamese domestic cat populations. The Vietnamese cat fancy's formalization of the breed mirrors similar efforts by the Thai, Korean, and Malaysian fancies to document and standardize indigenous national breeds. The longhair division reflects the semi-long coat expressions naturally occurring in Vietnam's diverse domestic cat gene pool.
Sources & further reading (2)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-27
- registry-breed-profile — accessed 2026-05-27
Frequently asked questions
Is the Vietnamese Bobtail related to the Japanese Bobtail?
Both breeds carry the same autosomal recessive tail gene (jb), consistent with a common ancestral Southeast/East Asian cat population that spread through historic maritime and overland trade routes. They are registered as separate breeds.
Which registries recognize the Vietnamese Bobtail Longhair?
TICA carries both coat-length divisions in its registration programme. CFA, GCCF, FIFe, and WCF do not currently recognize the Vietnamese Bobtail.
Is the Vietnamese Bobtail Longhair recognized by the WCF?
The WCF does not currently carry the Vietnamese Bobtail as a recognized breed. TICA carries both coat-length divisions in its registration programme. Recognition by additional international registries has not been announced as of 2026.
