History of the Pixie Bob Cat
Originating in the Northwestern United States, the loyal Pixie bob is muscular, brawny cat bred to resemble the wild Coastal Red Bobcat found in the coastal mountains of the area. It is the only breed that accepts polydactyl (cats with extra toes) and comes in two coat lengths. These intelligent cats replicate the look of the wild bobcat but have the loving personality of the domestic cat. Often called dogs in disguise, the affectionate Pixie bob is devoted to its family and can be taught to walk on a leash to participate in family outings. These sturdy cats have the presence and stature of the bobcat with the personality of the domestic cat.
Pixie-bobs are a fully domestic breed of cat bred to resemble the North American Bobcat. For a cat to be considered a Certified TICA Pixie-bob cat, one of their parents must be traced back to Stone Island Pixie, the original inspiration for the breed.
The active, social Pixie bob is doglike in its loyal devotion to its family and makes a great companion for children while embracing the company of other pets. They bond strongly with their families and easily learn to fetch and to walk on a harness and leash. While the Pixie bob is an active cat wanting to take part in all your activities, it is also a very laid-back relaxed cat participating calmly in the family. They are an inquisitive, companionable cat that wants to be with you and to communicate with you in their own language of chirps, chitters and the occasional growl.
Pixie-bobs are said to be highly intelligent, social, active (but not hyper-active), bold, and enjoy playing with other animals they are also known for their "chirps", chatters, and growls; most don't meow often, and some don't meow at all. Most Pixie-bobs are highly sociable around both their owners and strangers. Almost all Pixie-bobs like to be in the same room as their owners, and will follow their owners around the house.
Other personality characteristics include the following
Head butting
Ball fetching and playing
Leash walking (for the most part)
Highly intelligent Capable of understanding some human words and phrases
Pixie-bobs are a fully domestic breed of cat bred to resemble the North American Bobcat. For a cat to be considered a Certified TICA Pixie-bob cat, one of their parents must be traced back to Stone Island Pixie, the original inspiration for the breed.
The active, social Pixie bob is doglike in its loyal devotion to its family and makes a great companion for children while embracing the company of other pets. They bond strongly with their families and easily learn to fetch and to walk on a harness and leash. While the Pixie bob is an active cat wanting to take part in all your activities, it is also a very laid-back relaxed cat participating calmly in the family. They are an inquisitive, companionable cat that wants to be with you and to communicate with you in their own language of chirps, chitters and the occasional growl.
Pixie-bobs are said to be highly intelligent, social, active (but not hyper-active), bold, and enjoy playing with other animals they are also known for their "chirps", chatters, and growls; most don't meow often, and some don't meow at all. Most Pixie-bobs are highly sociable around both their owners and strangers. Almost all Pixie-bobs like to be in the same room as their owners, and will follow their owners around the house.
Other personality characteristics include the following
Head butting
Ball fetching and playing
Leash walking (for the most part)
Highly intelligent Capable of understanding some human words and phrases
Breed Standard For The Pixie Bob Cat
Pixie-bobs can be large but on average reach around 5 kg (11 lbs), similar to good sized domestic cats, with only very few breeders producing consistently large cats. Males are usually larger than females. The average domestic cat weighs about 8 lbs.or 4 kg Pixie-bobs grow for 4 years instead of 1 year like most domestic cats. Most Pixie-bobs have black fur and skin on the bottom of their paws, tipped ears, heavy ear hair, black lips, and white fur around the eyes but with black eye skin. Their chins have white fur, but often have black skin under the white fur. Some of their whiskers change from black (root - about 25%) to white (to the tip - about 75% of the whisker). Bobcat-like fur pattern, but often have reddish tones mixed in. Most are short-haired, but some are long-haired. The brow should be heavy and the eyes should have a triangular shape. Eyes are blue when kittens, then change to green or gold when several months old. Tails can be non-existent (rumpy), or 2-4 inches (desired - TICA required), or long tails (Pixie was a long-tail). The head is pear shaped. The head is considered to be the most important characteristic.
It is not presently known what genetic similarity there may or may not be between the Pixie-bob and other breeds with suppression of the tail, such as the Manx, American Bobtail, and Japanese Bobtail.
Pixie bobs come in longhair and shorthair versions. They have a thick double coat with a woolly texture that stands off from the body giving it a padded feel when petted. Longhairs have a medium coat up to 2 inches in length with a softer, silky texture. Like the wild bobcat they are bred to resemble, some Pixie bobs have lynx tips on their ears.
Their facial hair grows downward giving them the appearance of a man's mutton chop sideburns. The ideal Pixie bob is a brown spotted tabby ranging in shade from tawny to a reddish brown. The spots are small and are muted by heavy ticking-the ticking is heavier in the winter months and may be more silvery in tone as well. Their eye color can be golden brown or gooseberry green.
These medium to large cats have substantial boning and muscular, rangy bodies that gives them a rolling gait like a wild cat. They have long heavy legs, with the hind legs slightly longer than the front, and big paws with long thick toes. Males weigh between 12 and 17 pounds while the slightly smaller females range from 8 to 12 pounds. Their faces are similar to the wild bobcat with the shape of an inverted pear, a thick fleshy chin and puffy nose leather. They also have a heavy brow over a medium-sized soft triangular eye.
The minimum tail length of a Pixie bob is 2 inches and can be as long as the hock however some cats will have tails shorter or longer than these proportions. The tail is frequently kinked or knotted but should be completely flexible and move naturally.
Cats normally have 5 toes on their front paws and 4 on the back. Polydactyl cats have more than that number of toes. They may have more on one foot than on the others and the extra toes tend to appear on the front feet before the back feet. The Pixie bob is the only breed allowed to have polydactyl and the maximum number of toes allowed is seven.
As the breed is frequently outcrossed to "legend cats", Pixie-bobs are genetically diverse and are not prone to problems caused by inbreeding. Pixie-bob breeders use a disease database to ensure that health information can be recorded and monitored. Some rare genetic diseases include the following:
Cryptorchidism - Only a few cases have been recorded since the conception of this breed (1980s).
Dystocia and cystic endometrial hyperplasia - A very small percentage of Pixie-bobs do suffer from delivery problems, and are removed from breeding.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) - Since the advent of the Pixie-bob breeds in the 1980s, only a few cases have been reported. In some of those cases the Pixie-bob was cross-bred with other breeds of cats, such as Bengal and Maine Coon. In the majority of cases, HCM occurred spontaneously. HCM is hereditary in at least 50% of occurrences necessitating annual ultrasound screens to confirm continued health of the cats.
It is not presently known what genetic similarity there may or may not be between the Pixie-bob and other breeds with suppression of the tail, such as the Manx, American Bobtail, and Japanese Bobtail.
Pixie bobs come in longhair and shorthair versions. They have a thick double coat with a woolly texture that stands off from the body giving it a padded feel when petted. Longhairs have a medium coat up to 2 inches in length with a softer, silky texture. Like the wild bobcat they are bred to resemble, some Pixie bobs have lynx tips on their ears.
Their facial hair grows downward giving them the appearance of a man's mutton chop sideburns. The ideal Pixie bob is a brown spotted tabby ranging in shade from tawny to a reddish brown. The spots are small and are muted by heavy ticking-the ticking is heavier in the winter months and may be more silvery in tone as well. Their eye color can be golden brown or gooseberry green.
These medium to large cats have substantial boning and muscular, rangy bodies that gives them a rolling gait like a wild cat. They have long heavy legs, with the hind legs slightly longer than the front, and big paws with long thick toes. Males weigh between 12 and 17 pounds while the slightly smaller females range from 8 to 12 pounds. Their faces are similar to the wild bobcat with the shape of an inverted pear, a thick fleshy chin and puffy nose leather. They also have a heavy brow over a medium-sized soft triangular eye.
The minimum tail length of a Pixie bob is 2 inches and can be as long as the hock however some cats will have tails shorter or longer than these proportions. The tail is frequently kinked or knotted but should be completely flexible and move naturally.
Cats normally have 5 toes on their front paws and 4 on the back. Polydactyl cats have more than that number of toes. They may have more on one foot than on the others and the extra toes tend to appear on the front feet before the back feet. The Pixie bob is the only breed allowed to have polydactyl and the maximum number of toes allowed is seven.
As the breed is frequently outcrossed to "legend cats", Pixie-bobs are genetically diverse and are not prone to problems caused by inbreeding. Pixie-bob breeders use a disease database to ensure that health information can be recorded and monitored. Some rare genetic diseases include the following:
Cryptorchidism - Only a few cases have been recorded since the conception of this breed (1980s).
Dystocia and cystic endometrial hyperplasia - A very small percentage of Pixie-bobs do suffer from delivery problems, and are removed from breeding.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) - Since the advent of the Pixie-bob breeds in the 1980s, only a few cases have been reported. In some of those cases the Pixie-bob was cross-bred with other breeds of cats, such as Bengal and Maine Coon. In the majority of cases, HCM occurred spontaneously. HCM is hereditary in at least 50% of occurrences necessitating annual ultrasound screens to confirm continued health of the cats.