The Kurilian Bobtail cat is a rare cat breed beyond Russia. It is a natural breed, meaning that humans played no part in their development. The Kurilian's short tail is as a result of a genetic mutation.  The wild Kurilian Bobtail cat roamed these islands for decades prior to becoming domesticated. They were first identified in the 1950's and then found their way to the Russian mainland in the 1980's - it is believed that scientists or military personnel brought them to Russia. Russian Cat Breeds