Mekong Bobtail Cat
Updated July 19, 2026
The Mekong Bobtail is a blue-eyed, colorpointed Asian bobtail standardized in Russia, combining a muscular rectangular body, a short kinked tail beginning at the base, a glossy minimal-undercoat coat, and an affectionate, active nature.
Devoted, Active, Trainable, Conversational, Strong hunter
7-12 pounds
12-18 years
At a Glance
Maintenance Level
Affection Level
Energy Level
Good with Kids
Vocalization Level
Jump to Section
About Mekong Bobtail Cat
The Mekong Bobtail is a blue-eyed, colorpointed Asian bobtail standardized in Russia, combining a muscular rectangular body, a short kinked tail beginning at the base, a glossy minimal-undercoat coat, and an affectionate, active nature.
Coat Length
Short Hair
Breed Group
Pointed
Weight
7-12 pounds
Great For
What Makes Mekong Bobtail Cats Special
The fixed visual combination is intense blue eyes, a pale colorpointed body without white, darker extremities, and a compact kinked tail no longer than one quarter of the body.
Its type is moderate and muscular rather than the extreme tubular modern Siamese outline, with a gently curved profile and distinct Roman nose.
Mekong Bobtail Cat History & Origin
Short-tailed pointed cats have long occurred across mainland Southeast Asia. Cats of this general type reached Russia through diplomatic gifts and later imports; Russian fanciers selected and standardized them during the late twentieth century under the earlier name Thai Bobtail.
The breed's foundation draws on native cats from countries around the Mekong rather than one documented closed source.
Russian felinologist Olga Mironova prepared an early formal standard in 1994.
The World Cat Federation recognized the breed and adopted the name Mekong Bobtail in August 2004.
Mekong Bobtail Cat Characteristics
Individual Variation
Cats are individuals and not all cats, even those of the same breed, will exhibit all the same qualities.
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Grooming Needs
Shedding Level
Mekong Bobtail Cat Appearance
The Mekong Bobtail is medium, rectangular, slender, and muscular, with an almost straight back and rump slightly higher than the shoulders.
Every accepted cat is shorthaired and pointed, with strong contrast developing as the temperature-sensitive pigment darkens the face, ears, legs, and tail.
Physical Features
Ears
Large, broad-based, high-set, slightly outward-opening, and finished with softly rounded tips.
Eyes
Large, oval, set almost straight, and intense deep blue.
Nose
Medium-long Roman nose with a smooth convex arch and a gentle break below eye level.
Coat & Build
Tail
At least three vertebrae with kinks or curves beginning at the base, individually configured and no longer than one quarter of body length.
Mekong Bobtail Cat Temperament
The fixed visual combination is intense blue eyes, a pale colorpointed body without white, darker extremities, and a compact kinked tail no longer than one quarter of the body.
Its type is moderate and muscular rather than the extreme tubular modern Siamese outline, with a gently curved profile and distinct Roman nose.
Temperament Traits
Good With
Health
Reliable breed-specific disease studies are scarce. Population-scale genetic testing found the HES7 short-tail variant prevalent in sampled Mekong Bobtails, but current evidence does not justify assuming that every tail is harmless or that the breed is free from other inherited disease.
Common Health Issues
Preventive Care
Choose breeders who document normal tail mobility, gait, continence, family longevity, cardiac history, and pedigree diversity. Never pull or attempt to straighten the tail; maintain dental care and lean weight, and arrange routine heart, kidney, thyroid, blood-pressure, vision, and mobility screening with a veterinarian.
Caring for Your Mekong Bobtail Cat
Grooming Requirements
The short, glossy, close coat has very little undercoat and needs only light maintenance, with modest increases during seasonal shedding.
Brushing
Brush weekly with a soft bristle brush or grooming mitt, then polish gently with a chamois. Avoid rough work around the kinked tail.
Bathing
Bathe only when dirty with a mild cat-safe shampoo, rinse completely, and dry in a warm room to preserve the coat's close gloss.
Eye Care
Wipe minor discharge with a separate soft damp cloth for each eye; persistent tearing, redness, cloudiness, pain, or vision change needs veterinary care.
Nail Care
Every 2-3 weeks.
Essential Grooming Tools
Exercise & Play
Mekong Bobtails are athletic, clever, social cats that enjoy jumping, retrieving, and shared exploration rather than a sedentary routine.
Daily Requirements
Provide about 40-50 minutes of interactive play in several sessions, plus secure climbing routes, scratching surfaces, and independent puzzles.
Mental Stimulation
Rotate puzzles and prey-like toys, teach targeting and retrieval, provide window observation, and hide part of the measured ration. Stop activity if tail, back, or hind-limb discomfort appears.
Recommended Activities
Nutrition & Feeding
Feed a complete-and-balanced life-stage diet that preserves the breed's firm elegant muscle and defined waist without allowing free-fed weight gain.
Daily Amount
Start with the manufacturer's feeding guide, measure the total daily ration, divide it among two or more meals, puzzles, and training rewards, and adjust with a veterinarian using body-condition scoring.
Special Considerations
No breed-specific diet is supported by research. Wet food and several fresh-water stations can aid hydration; use measured enrichment instead of adding unbalanced meat, fish, or supplements.
Living Environment
Space Requirements
Adapts to apartments or houses with vertical territory, running room, scratching surfaces, hiding places, and frequent family contact.
Climate Preferences
The close minimal-undercoat coat offers limited insulation. Keep indoors with warm beds in cold weather and cooling, shade, airflow, and water in heat.
Ideal Lifestyle Match
Best for an interactive household seeking an affectionate active companion. Often compatible with respectful children and friendly pets after gradual introductions, but hunting drive makes small prey animals unsafe without secure separation.
Colors & Patterns
The WCF standard accepts all Siamese-style point colors without white. Body color is pale and the mask, ears, legs, and short tail are distinctly darker.
Solid Colors
Patterns
Eye Colors
Intense blue only, with deeper color preferred
Fun Facts About Mekong Bobtail Cat
Mekong Bobtails were formerly shown under the name Thai Bobtail.
The breed was standardized in Russia from Southeast Asian pointed bobtail cats.
WCF recognized the Mekong Bobtail in 2004.
Its standard requires blue eyes and point restriction without white.
Tail kinks must begin at the base rather than only at the tip.
The standard tail contains at least three vertebrae but is no longer than one quarter of the body.
The HES7 short-tail variant is prevalent in sampled Mekong Bobtails.
CFA, TICA, and FIFe do not currently recognize it as a separate championship breed.
Training Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mekong Bobtail recognized by every major registry?
No. The World Cat Federation recognized it in 2004, but CFA, TICA, and FIFe do not currently list it as a separate championship breed. Registry recognition should always be stated explicitly.
Is a short-tailed colorpoint cat automatically a Mekong Bobtail?
No. Natural tail kinks occur in many Asian domestic populations. Breed identity requires a documented pedigree and conformity to the relevant registry standard, not appearance alone.
What should a Mekong Bobtail tail look like?
Under the WCF standard, kinks or curves begin at the base, the tail contains at least three vertebrae, and its length does not exceed one quarter of the body.
Specialized Care Guides
Kitten Care
Verify a genuine WCF-recognized pedigree and family health records, confirm normal gait, continence, and comfortable tail anatomy, and introduce dental care, weekly brushing, carrier skills, and positive training early.
Senior Care
Arrange veterinary checks every 6-12 months as advised, monitoring teeth, heart, kidneys, thyroid, blood pressure, eyes, tail, spine, weight, and mobility; add warm easy-access perches as needed.
First-Time Owner Tips
Possible for an engaged first-time owner who verifies the uncommon pedigree, respects the sensitive tail, accepts a talkative active companion, and understands the limited breed-specific health evidence.
Looking for a Mekong Bobtail Cat?
Connect with responsible breeders, rescue organizations, and pet adoption services in your area.