Your guide to finding and caring for an American Bobtail in Sioux Falls
An American Bobtail suits a Sioux Falls apartment well, as long as it has things to climb and someone to play with. In a converted-building unit in the Cathedral Historic District or the old All Saints School apartments, a Bobtail can patrol window ledges and chase a wand toy down the hallway. They're sociable, so they do better with people around than with long empty days. When January cold keeps everyone indoors, that playful streak keeps the place lively.
Bring home an American Bobtail
While we don't have enough cats near Sioux Falls, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 3-7 y., 1251 miles
American Bobtail
M, 4 mo., 1314 miles
Domestic Short Hair, American Bobtail
M, 1 y., 1317 miles
Siamese, American Bobtail
F, 8 y. +, 1319 miles
American Bobtail
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1330 miles
American Bobtail
F, 3-7 y., 1347 miles
Domestic Short Hair, American Bobtail
M, 1 y., 1357 miles
Domestic Short Hair, American Bobtail
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 1362 miles
American Bobtail
F, 0-6 mo., 1376 miles
Siamese, American Bobtail
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1469 miles
American Bobtail
The American Bobtail traces back to the late 1960s and a short-tailed brown tabby stray named Yodie, found in Arizona. The tail is naturally about a third to half of normal length, and the coat comes in short or medium-long versions in nearly any color. Bobtails are muscular, medium-sized cats, usually 7 to 16 pounds, with males larger than females.
Many are clever, playful and people-focused, and some learn to fetch or walk on a harness. They mature slowly, often over two to three years, so a young cat may act like a kitten for a long while. Weekly brushing keeps either coat in shape, and that matters most when winter heating runs for months.
Having an American Bobtail in Sioux Falls
Expect a sturdy, athletic cat that likes company, climbing and games. In Sioux Falls, long indoor winters make daily play, vertical space and a safe window view the main things to plan for.
Many American Bobtails are affectionate, curious and good with children and calm dogs, though each cat differs. Short winter days in Sioux Falls mean more time together indoors, which suits a cat that follows you from room to room. Watch how a particular Bobtail handles being held, noise and visitors.
Plan on several short play sessions a day: wand toys, balls, climbing and food puzzles. Sioux Falls winters keep cats inside for months, so a tall cat tree and a window perch matter. A confident Bobtail may enjoy harness walks in milder weather, always leashed, since city rules require it off your property.
Bobtails are generally sturdy, but the short-tail gene can occasionally bring spine or hip problems, so a veterinarian can check the tail base, hips and gait early. Watch for stiffness, tail pain or litter box changes. Rabies vaccination is required in Sioux Falls from six months, and yearly exams cover dental care and weight.
A Bobtail fits Sioux Falls rentals and houses alike when it has climbing space, scratching posts and a window to watch. Indoor living keeps it safest, since coyotes live inside the city limits. A catio or supervised harness time gives curious cats outdoor enrichment without the risk.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $455 to $1,275 per year | $455 to $1,275 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,205 to $2,825 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, the Sioux Falls cat license, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys and supplies, and home brushing, with more for longhaired cats.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Sioux Falls.
Sioux Falls has an open-admission humane society and foster-based rescues, and the ones listed below help cats find homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Sioux Falls area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether an American Bobtail is coming in.
Yes. Sioux Falls has no breed bans, and South Dakota law forbids local breed-specific rules. You'll need to license your cat with the city and keep rabies vaccination current once it's six months old. Households can have up to four pets over six months, and landlords can still set their own limits, so confirm your lease allows a cat.
Yes, an American Bobtail usually does well in an apartment with daily play, a tall cat tree and a window to watch. Because many Sioux Falls buildings charge pet rent or set pet limits, read your lease first. Bobtails are mostly quiet, chirping rather than yowling, though a bored cat may get vocal.
Yes, an indoor American Bobtail handles Sioux Falls winters well. Keep the cat inside, give it a warm bed away from drafts, and keep up daily play so long snowy stretches don't leave it bored. Skip any harness walks during arctic cold snaps, when exposed ears, paws and tails can suffer quickly.
Often, yes. An American Bobtail suits Sioux Falls households with someone home much of the day, since it's sociable, playful and does best with company. Long winters mean plenty of indoor time, which many Bobtails enjoy as play and lap time. A household away for long hours may need extra enrichment, and each cat differs.
Plan on brushing about once a week, and more often for longhaired Bobtails, whose medium-long coats can tangle. Shedding is moderate. Winter's dry indoor air and spring coat loss are the busiest times. Home brushing is cheap and falls within the $455 to $1,275 yearly Other costs, which also cover litter and dental care.
Cats don't use the city's off-leash dog parks, so the best outdoor option is the paved Big Sioux River Recreation Trail for a harness-trained Bobtail, with a leash required. Go early when it's quiet. Many Bobtails are happier on a secure balcony or catio, away from coyotes and busy paths.
Sioux Falls has Sioux Area Metro buses but no rail. No pet policy is published, so check SAM's current rules before riding with a cat; service animals are allowed. If you do go, use a secure carrier on your lap and keep the trip short.
A bobbed tail is a short tail, either naturally short from birth or, in some dogs, shortened by docking. In cats, natural bobtails come from several different gene mutations found in breeds like the American Bobtail, Japanese Bobtail and Manx. The tail may be straight, curved or kinked and is usually fully mobile and expressive despite its length.
A bobtail cat is any cat with a naturally short tail, from a stub to roughly half normal length. The term covers several breeds, including the American Bobtail, Japanese Bobtail, Kurilian Bobtail and Pixie-Bob, each with its own gene, as well as domestic cats born with short or kinked tails. Shelters often list these cats simply as bobtails.
Plan on roughly $1,205 to $2,825 a year for an American Bobtail in Sioux Falls: food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and other costs of $455 to $1,275. Longhaired coats and dental work push you toward the high end.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Sioux Falls.
