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A pointed, kink-tailed natural breed from the Mekong river region, prized for an unusually dog-like devotion — Mekongs fetch, walk on a lead, and shadow their owners room to room.
- Origin
- Southeast Asia / Russia
- Category
- shorthair
- Lifespan
- 15–18 yrs
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 3.5–6 kg
- Coat
- Short, close-lying, low-shed single coat
- Colours
- Colourpoint (seal, blue, chocolate, red and tortie points)
😺 Temperament
🏡 Best suited to
📊 Personality ratings
📜 History & origin
The Mekong Bobtail is a natural breed descended from the short-tailed pointed cats that have lived for centuries across Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China and the Malay Peninsula — the same regional stock that gave rise to the Siamese. Historically these 'royal' bobtailed cats were said to guard temples and the rings of princesses, who reputedly slipped their rings over the cats' kinked tails. The breed was developed and standardised in Russia and recognised by the World Cat Federation (WCF) in 2004, taking its name from the Mekong river to distinguish it from the separately developed Thai and Siamese breeds.
🧼 Care & grooming
One of the lowest-maintenance breeds going: the short single coat barely sheds and needs only an occasional brush. Mekongs are highly trainable, social cats that crave company and do best when they have a person, another pet, or interactive play to keep them engaged. They take readily to harness-and-lead walks. Each tail is unique — never pull or grip it, as the natural kinks contain real vertebrae.
🩺 Health notes
A robust, long-lived natural breed with no widespread inherited disorders, helped by its undiluted landrace ancestry. The short tail is a natural feature rather than a harmful mutation and is not linked to the spinal problems seen in some tail-suppressed breeds. Routine vaccination, parasite control, dental care and good nutrition are all most Mekongs need to reach a healthy old age.
