The true phenomenon of the Kurilian Bobtail is the pom-pom appearance of their tail. Every Kurilian Bobtail has a unique tail structure giving each its own unique signature. It is impossible to find two identical tails on the Kurilian Bobtail and such a diversity of tails gives even more charm to the breed. The short, busy tails can be shaped like a whisk, a spiral, or a snag that consist of anywhere between 2-10 vertebrae kinked many times in various directions and with different degrees of articulation.

The body is medium to large, compact and semi-cobby, with a broad chest. The head is large, a moderate modified wedge with rounded contours and wide at the cheekbone. Eyes are walnut shaped, oval on the top and rounded on the bottom. The ears are medium sized, triangular in shape, wide at the base and slope slightly forward. On first seeing, Kurilian Bobtail you may think that the cat is not particularly heavy, but upon lifting the cat it becomes apparent that these marvelous creatures are very solid and brawny. Mature males can weigh as much as 15 pounds, however females are generally smaller weighing between 8 and 11 pounds.

The coat is soft and silky, generally non-matting and pleasant to the touch. The Kurilian Bobtail comes in a variety of traditional colors in solid or tabby, and these colors with any amount of white on their body. Some of the most stunning Kurilian Bobtails also exhibit silver highlights.