Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Background
The Mekong Bobtail is an ancient Asian breed originating from the Mekong River valley, where these cats were revered as sacred animals and lived in Buddhist temples and royal palaces. Their distinctive feature has always been a short, curved tail, considered a symbol of good luck. In the 19th century, these cats were presented by the King of Siam to the Russian Emperor, after which they began spreading throughout Europe and Russia. The modern breed was officially recognized and standardized by Russian felinologists at the end of the 20th century, receiving the name “Mekong Bobtail” in honor of its historical homeland. Today, this breed is valued for its noble appearance, intelligence, and dog-like loyalty to its owner.
General Appearance
The Mekong Bobtail is a medium-sized, well-proportioned cat with a strong yet graceful physique. The body is elongated and muscular, the chest rounded, the limbs slender and proportionate. The tail is short, composed of several curved vertebrae forming a characteristic “pompon” or spiral. The head is wedge-shaped with smooth contours, the profile straight, and the ears medium-sized and widely set. The eyes are large, oval, and always bright blue. The coat is short, smooth, and silky, without undercoat, fitting closely to the body. The coloration is primarily pointed, with clearly defined contrasting markings. The overall appearance combines Eastern elegance and noble expressiveness, giving an impression of refinement and confidence.
Important Proportions
The proportions of the Mekong Bobtail are based on a perfect balance between grace and strength. The body length slightly exceeds the height at the withers, maintaining harmony and flexibility. The head, wedge-shaped with slightly rounded lines, is proportionate to the body—neither massive nor small. The limbs are of medium length, proportionate to the torso, and the paws are oval and neat. The tail, a key breed feature, is no longer than one-fourth of the body and may form a spiral, knot, or pompon shape, but must always be distinctly shortened. The eyes occupy a significant part of the face, emphasizing expressiveness. All body parts should form a harmonious whole, giving the impression of an elegant and well-balanced animal.
Temperament and Character
The Mekong Bobtail has a calm, kind, and deeply loyal temperament. This cat is exceptionally devoted to its human, prefers constant companionship, and often bonds closely with one person, following them everywhere like a dog. It is intelligent, easily trained, understands tone of voice, and responds to its name. Playful yet not overly active, it gets along well with children and other pets. It is non-aggressive but possesses a sense of dignity and does not tolerate rough handling. Its voice is soft, gentle, and melodious. The Mekong Bobtail is appreciated for its friendliness, cleverness, and ability to form deep emotional bonds with its family, remaining a faithful and affectionate companion.
Head
The head of the Mekong Bobtail has a harmonious wedge shape with smooth lines and gentle transitions. The skull is slightly rounded, the forehead moderately broad without abrupt curves. The profile is straight, with a smooth transition from forehead to nose. The muzzle is neat—neither long nor short—with well-defined contours. The chin is firm but not heavy, aligned with the nose to create a balanced profile. The cheekbones are moderately developed, emphasizing the breed’s Eastern elegance. The ears are medium-sized, broad at the base with rounded tips, set high and slightly tilted forward, giving an attentive and lively expression. The overall impression of the head conveys nobility, intelligence, and softness of features.
Facial Features
The facial part of the Mekong Bobtail is refined, expressive, and proportional to the head. The muzzle is of medium length, slightly tapering toward the nose, without harsh lines. The nose is straight, of medium width, with a smooth transition from the forehead, without bump or depression. The nose leather matches the point color. The chin is firm, well-developed, and vertically aligned with the nose tip. The cheekbones are moderately pronounced, giving the face refinement and expressiveness. The whiskers are long and slightly curved, with well-developed whisker pads. The overall facial expression is open, noble, and friendly, reflecting the cat’s balanced temperament and natural intelligence.
Eyes
The eyes of the Mekong Bobtail are one of its most striking features. They are large, widely set, oval with a subtle oriental slant, giving the gaze a soft and spiritual quality. The color is always blue, in all shades from light sky blue to deep sapphire, with rich, vivid tones preferred. The expression is lively, intelligent, and calm, reflecting friendliness and inner harmony. The eyes are slightly angled toward the ear base, accentuating the oriental head type. The eyelid rims are dark and neatly defined, emphasizing the clarity of the gaze. The combination of eye shape, size, and color lends the breed exceptional charm and refinement.
Ears
The ears of the Mekong Bobtail are medium-sized, broad at the base, and slightly rounded at the tips. They are set high and slightly tilted forward, creating an alert and inquisitive expression. The distance between the ears is moderate, complementing the wedge-shaped head. The inner surface is fine-haired and clean, with delicate tufts at the tips permitted. The outer side is smooth, without excessive hair. The ear shape and placement create a harmonious silhouette, visually elongating the head and enhancing the oriental elegance of the breed. The ears should fit proportionally to the head and highlight the cat’s expressiveness.
Neck
The neck of the Mekong Bobtail is of medium length, graceful, muscular, and smoothly merging into the shoulders. It is well developed but not heavy, emphasizing harmony and refinement of the body. In females, the neck may appear slightly longer and thinner, while in males it looks stronger and more pronounced. The lines are smooth, without folds, highlighting elegance of outline and movement. The coat on the neck is short and sleek, emphasizing its natural curve. The proportional connection between the head and body gives an impression of balance and lightness, which is characteristic of the breed.
Body
The body of the Mekong Bobtail is medium-sized, elongated, muscular, and flexible, with a strong yet refined bone structure. The back is straight, smoothly transitioning to the loins and croup, forming a harmonious silhouette. The chest is moderately broad and rounded, never barrel-shaped. The abdomen is tucked up, emphasizing the breed’s athletic build. The croup is proportional and slightly raised, giving the cat a graceful posture. The body is balanced—neither heavy nor fragile—reflecting natural strength and agility. Females are more refined, males slightly more muscular. The Mekong Bobtail’s body combines oriental elegance with physical endurance, typical of an active and graceful breed.
Tail
The tail of the Mekong Bobtail is its unique and defining feature. It is short, measuring 3–8 cm, consisting of several deformed vertebrae forming a pompon, spiral, hook, or knot. Each tail is individual, giving the breed its distinctive charm. The tail feels dense and resilient, without breaks at the base. The fur is short, smooth, and close-lying, accentuating its shape. The tail should not be straight or overly long—only the characteristic curves and twists are acceptable. Its position is natural and does not affect balance or movement. The expressive tail of the Mekong Bobtail symbolizes the breed’s uniqueness and oriental sophistication.
Forelimbs
The forelegs of the Mekong Bobtail are slender, proportional to the body, with strong bones and well-developed muscles. The shoulders transition smoothly into the body. The elbows are directed straight back, neither turning in nor out. The paws are oval, compact, with pads matching the point color. The legs are straight, stable, and parallel when moving. Their medium length provides balance between grace and strength. The short, close coat on the legs emphasizes their elegance. The limb structure provides stability and harmony, contributing to the cat’s refined and balanced oriental type.
Hind Limbs
The hind legs are slightly longer than the forelegs, creating a gentle upward slope from shoulders to croup and emphasizing elegance. The limbs are muscular and strong, with well-defined joints and smooth contours. Thighs are developed but not coarse; knees are straight without deviation. The paws are oval, compact, with elastic pads matching the point color. In motion, the hind legs are straight, providing a soft, springy step and good stability. The limb structure combines strength and grace, reflecting agility and flexibility typical of the breed.
Gait and Movement
The gait of the Mekong Bobtail is smooth, light, and springy, showing feline grace and confidence. While walking, the body remains steady, movements balanced and elastic, without abrupt motions. The limbs move parallel, with the hind legs following the front, producing an even rhythm. Owing to its muscular build and flexibility, the cat moves softly and almost silently, radiating controlled energy. When running, the movements are quick and precise, demonstrating agility and coordination. The gait reflects the breed’s natural energy, confidence, and combination of elegance, endurance, and dignity.
Coat
The coat of the Mekong Bobtail is short, fine, smooth, and close-lying, without undercoat. To the touch it is silky, cool, and soft, with a characteristic sheen accentuating body lines. The hair length is uniform throughout, slightly shorter on the head and legs, and a bit longer on the back and tail. The lack of undercoat keeps it easy to groom and sleek in appearance. The coat color features a contrast between the light body and darker point markings. The texture complements the oriental type, enhancing elegance and refinement.
Accepted Colors
All varieties of point coloration are permitted. The body is light, in shades from cream to beige-golden, while the points on the face, ears, legs, and tail are distinctly darker. Accepted colors include seal point (dark brown markings), blue point (gray-blue), chocolate point (warm brown), lilac point (silvery gray), red point (reddish), cream point (pale cream), as well as tortie and tabby point variations. The eyes are always blue, regardless of color. The color must be even, with smooth transitions between the body and points, emphasizing the breed’s harmony and refinement.
Size
The Mekong Bobtail is a medium-sized cat with balanced and proportional build. Adult females weigh 3–4 kg, males 4–6 kg. Height at the withers ranges from 25 to 30 cm. The body is elongated, muscular yet light, giving mobility and grace. The bone structure is medium, never heavy, harmonizing with the supple muscles. The breed’s size and proportions reflect the balance between oriental elegance and physical stamina. Regardless of sex, the Mekong Bobtail retains refined lines and compactness, appearing light and elegant even with strong musculature.
Faults
Faults include deviations that disturb the harmony of the breed type and body balance. These include overly heavy or excessively light build, a short or squat body, or a narrow chest. Faults also include a coarse or square head, rectangular muzzle, flat forehead, or a nose that is too long or wide. Small, round, or overly slanted eyes, as well as dull iris color, are undesirable. Ears set too low or too upright break breed expression. Coat that is harsh or fluffy, presence of undercoat, uneven color, faded points, or weak contrast are also considered faults. Minor imperfections are acceptable if they do not distort the breed type.
Disqualification
Disqualifying faults include any deviations that distort the breed type or indicate genetic defects: a completely straight or long tail, absence of typical curves or knots, fused or broken tail base, crossed eyes, eye color other than blue, skull deformities, incorrect bite, missing or excessive teeth, excessively short or elongated muzzle. Disqualifications also include presence of undercoat, long or wavy coat, or white patches on a point-colored body. Aggressive, excessively fearful, or unstable behavior is not permitted. Any signs of crossbreeding exclude the cat from breeding programs.
Important Notes
The Mekong Bobtail’s unique tail structure is a natural anatomical feature and is not considered a defect unless it affects mobility or causes discomfort. Evaluation focuses on proportional harmony, typical head expression, coat purity, and eye color intensity. Minor individual tail variations are permitted and emphasize individuality. Cats must display a calm temperament and sociability. Tail docking or any artificial modification is strictly prohibited. Evaluation follows ICCF standards, emphasizing overall impression, grace, and breed balance.
Conclusion
The Mekong Bobtail represents the harmony of Eastern beauty, elegance, and intelligence. This breed combines refined lines, an expressive gaze, and a unique short tail that gives it exceptional charm. It is friendly, loyal, and emotionally stable, making it a perfect human companion. The Mekong Bobtail preserves its ancient heritage and symbolism, remaining a true embodiment of nobility and devotion. Its appearance, gentle manners, and emotional connection with humans highlight its individuality, while adherence to strict ICCF standards makes it a model of Eastern style and harmony.
