American Bobtail Cats Coming To Big Show Here

Sweet and natural, sounds like one of those exotic drinks you'd find in a health-food store, doesn't it?

It also characterizes one of the most unusual cats you'll ever meet.

Chances are you've never caught a glimpse of an American bobtail but next weekend at the Evergreen Cat Fanciers giant show several will be exhibited. This marks the first West Coast show appearance of a bobtail.

Tara Duffy of Orlando, Fla., one of the nation's premier American bobtail breeders, will bring two of these energetic creatures to the event, which has 230 entries and 36 breeds.

A new breed in The International Cat Association, the American bobtail was originally produced from natural, planned matings, involving large spotted native cats and domestics. Today their descendants (several generations removed) are domestic in temperament but wild in appearance.

A '60S CAT

It's believed the American bobtail's origins were in the 1960s, when a young Iowa couple, John and Brenda Sanders were vacationing in Arizona near an Indian reservation. One day while walking outside of their motel they saw a small spotted tabby kitten with a stubby tail.

Charmed by gentle, clownish antics of the kitten, they inquired about it to the motel owner. They were told an Indian boy, passing by had left it on the steps. The motel owner was going to keep it but decided against it when the kitten began tormenting his dogs, whose nonstop barking disturbed everyone that night.

So the Sanders took the male spotted tabby home to Iowa, where they named him Yodie. Soon he became friends with their resident Siamese female Mishi.

Eventually the two produced kittens of their own, with tail lengths varying from short to long. The kittens caught the eye of a family friend, Mindy Schultz, who saw possibilities for a new breed.

Schultz bred a couple of these offspring with Himalayan and Ragdoll type cats, producing what she called the American bobtail. In the early '70s, Schultz wrote the first provisional standard which called for a long-haired colorpoint with white boots, a center white face blaze and, of course, the signature short tail.

"The breed started strong," says Duffy, "but with little genetic knowledge by those involved. Initially, health and temperament problems surfaced, believed caused by excessive inbreeding."

RAISING AWARENESS

Eventually, a Florida breeder, Reaha Evans, acquired several cats and the original breed records, determined to elevate the American bobtail to a respected new level. It wasn't long before she and another breeder, Lisa Black, began turning out large, healthy cats while opening the standard to include all colors.

During the '80s breeders ventured in a slightly new direction, resulting in a natural wild appearance in the cats.

Years of diligent, carefully planned American bobtail breeding and campaigning bore fruition in 1990 when TICA recognized the cat as an experimental (developing) breed.

Duffy adds, "The trend today is toward a sweet domestic cat that has the wild look of the bobcat." The standard describes it as stocky, heavy, longhaired and of medium size. The medium coat is double and boasts a shaggy appearance.

The cat comes in all colors, Duffy says. "While the registry remains open - and to keep our gene pool healthy - outcrossing is permitted, but to cats of established breeds is discouraged. Nor are bobcats being bred into existing lines."

She describes the bobtail personality as "dog-like," because of its responsiveness. "It's loving, clean, quiet and very intelligent, which makes it easily trainable. It's fearless, yet not aggressive, and excellent around dogs and small children. It's a breed that once you've been properly introduced, you will never forget."

Even people who are not cat lovers, says Duffy, a former Siamese breeder, love the bobtail. She cites her husband, Timothy, and 15-year-old son, Nick, as cases in point.

The American bobtail is slow-maturing, according to Duffy, not reaching full growth until 2 1/2. Males range from 12 to 20 pounds, females 8 to 14.

Pet-stock American bobtails sell for $250-$500; show quality are $500 and up.

Promoters are calling this 200-entry, 18-ring show the largest ever held west of the Mississippi River. An estimated 35 vendors will have cat-related products and adoption information available.

The Seattle Center Exhibition Hall show hours are 4-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and children over 6.

Proceeds from the show will go to the Washington State Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies' Spay and Neuter Awareness Program, Fix It. Evergreen has donated $32,000 to Fix It, which has helped pay for the sterilization of hundreds of area pets, the past two years.

Mail information regarding dog/ cat events to Classified Division, attn. Marilyn Fairbanks, Dog/ Cat Events, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. All releases must be in writing and received by Monday prior to Sunday publication. Be sure to include a public phone-contact number. Pet tip of the week is on The Times InfoLine, 464-2000, then press PETS (7387).