The American Bobtail originated in the late 1960s with a male brown tabby kitten with a bobtail found on an Indian reservation in the Southwest U.S. The couple who found the kitten raised him and later bred him to a longtail female. The subsequent offspring formed the foundation of the American Bobtail breed. Contrary to its rugged appearance, the American Bobtail is not a "wild" cat, but descends from naturally occurring bobtailed cats found in the wild. In other words, you will not find any bobcats (Felis rufus or Lynx rufus) in an accepted breeding program. You will notice an expression of intelligence and alertness in an American Bobtail, as befitting its history of survival. They are described by fond owners as "fun, friendly, talkative, outgoing, and great climbers." American Bobtails are great family cats, and get along well with other animals and children. If you feel the "call of the wild," you might consider an American Bobtail cat as a companion. The American Bobtail is in general a healthy, strong breed with no specific heritable medical conditions. American Bobtails are great family cats, and get along well with other animals and children. If you feel the "call of the wild," you might consider an American Bobtail cat as a companion.