A Worrying New Trait Has Appeared in an Isolated Cat Species on a Japanese Island
Scientists aren't sure what's behind it.
Scientists studying an endangered cat species on a Japanese island have identified an unusual development that could threaten conservation efforts. The Tsushima leopard cat population, which numbers only around 100 individuals, has recently shown evidence of a previously unreported trait: abnormally short tails. Researchers conducting field observations in 2024 and 2025 documented three cats with tails measuring roughly half their typical length, prompting concerns about the cause of this unexpected characteristic.
Given that short-tailed domestic cats are known to inhabit the same island, scientists initially suspected crossbreeding between the two species might explain the phenomenon. A research team from multiple Japanese institutions conducted comprehensive genetic sequencing of one short-tailed leopard cat and compared it against domestic cats from the island as well as other leopard cat populations. Contrary to expectations, the analysis revealed no evidence of recent hybridization with domestic cats in any of the examined specimens.
The actual cause of the shortened tails remains a mystery. While inbreeding is known to produce similar abnormalities in other feline species, genetic testing showed the short-tailed individual was no more inbred than other members of its population. Researchers acknowledge their findings could indicate a rare developmental issue, though they observed no signs of traumatic injury. With such a small sample size and limited data, scientists say additional study of more short-tailed individuals will be necessary to determine whether these cases share a common genetic basis or represent different underlying causes.
Originally reported by Sciencealert →
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