American Bobtails are a very sturdy breed that can have both short- and long-haired coats. Their bodies are moderately long and stocky. Their hind legs are longer than their forelegs, with large round feet that may have toe tufts. The head is a broad wedge shape, with a concave curve from the nose to the brow or a rise to a prominent brow, prominent whisker pads, a gently sloped wide nose, and strong jaws. Their ears are medium-sized, wide-based, and have rounded tips. The eyes are almost almond-shaped, and the eye color varies with the coat color. The tail of the American Bobtail can be straight or curved, slightly knotted, or have bumps. Their coat is shaggy rather than dense or fluffy. American Bobtails come in many colors and patterns, including black, blue, brown, calico, chocolate, cinnamon, fawn, lilac, red-and-cream, peach, or orange tabby or tortoiseshell, with varying amounts of all-white fur on the chest, neck, legs, or underside. The "bobcat-" or "ocelot"-like spotted coat patterning is the most basal coloration. Female American Bobtails are typically smaller than males. They reach maturity in 2 to 3 years, which is later than many other domestic cat breeds.
