Pixie-bob
| Pixie-Bob |
|---|
|
| Country of origin |
| United States |
| Breed standards (external links) |
| CCA, TICA |
The Pixie-Bob is a breed of cat. According to legend, it is a hybrid offspring of a domestic cat and a bobcat, but DNA testing has failed to prove that these cats are indeed related to the bobcat. The Pixie-Bob has a large body with big feet, a very short, bobbed tail and a gentle personality. Its markings resemble those of a bobcat or lynx, with spots, stripes and swirls. This breed is currently the only one accepted by any major club to allow polydactyls, cats having more than the usual number on toes on each foot (five for the front paws, four for the back). Adult males weigh 16–22 lbs (7–10 kg), and females weigh 8–12 lbs (3.5–5.5 kg).
Breed Description
Pixie-Bobs are approximately 50% larger then most domestic cats (5.5–16 lbs or 2.5–7 kg). Personality Characteristics: They are highly intelligent and very socialble. They are bold and courageous; Sometimes try to get other animals to like them and play with them; Known for their chirps, chatters, growls, and some don't meow (sometimes create a substantial vocabulary of sounds); Act almost like dogs; Love to chase mini-nerf balls and ping-pong balls. They grow for 3 years instead of 1 year like most domestic cats. Known for heat bunting; Owners fall in love with them almost instantly; Two kinds of personalities (1) Love-Bugs that are highly social, and think that everyone loves them (2) Shy and Elusive which are very social around their owners, but disappear when strangers appear. Physical characteristics are: Black fur and skin on the bottom of their paws; pear shaped heads; tipped ears; heavy ear hair; White fur around the eyes, but with black eye skin; Eyes are blue when kittens, then change to green, and finally to gold when several months old; Their chins have white fur, but often have black skin under the white fur; Lips are black; Tiger like fur pattern, but often with reddish tones mixed in; Stomach is often reddish-gold in color with some ticking; Eyes are almond shaped and tilted; tails can be non-existent (rumpy), or 2-4 inches (desired - TICA required), or long tails (Pixie was a long tail). Can be either short haired or long haired, but most are short haired. The head and tail are considered the important characteristics. Pixie-Bobs are erily like Bob cats in physical appearence and personality without the undesirable wild characteristics, which some call the "Perfect Domestic Cat". While Pixie-Bobs are considered to be domestic cats, Pixie-Bobs have been used to create exotic hybrids, such as, Desert Lynx, Jungle Bobs, some other exotic hybrids. Pixie-Bobs are legal in all 50 states without a license, and are legally considered domestic cats, despite the fact that they appear to have a bobcat heritage.
Breed history
Carol Ann Brewer is credited with the creation of the Pixie-Bob breed in the mid 1980s. She took two different "legend cats", believed to be the result of natural breeding between bobcats and domestic cats, and bred them to create the first Pixie-Bob domestic cat. This first cat was named Pixie, hence the name Pixie-Bob. DNA testing shows that Pixie-Bob cats are domestic, and not exotic hybrids, as the early advertisements had alleged, but many are still unsure if this is entirely true. Pixie-Bob cats share some physical and personality characteristics with bobcats, except they are approximately half the size, and do not have some of the wild characteristics. For a cat to be considered a Certified TICA Pixie-Bob cats, they cannot be bred with bobcats, and one of their parents must be traced back to Pixie the cat.
See also
External links
- Pacific Northwest Pixiebobs – Carol Ann Brewer's webiste about Pixie-bobs
- Hybrid Exotics – Other hybrids bred from Pixie-bobs
- Pixie-Bob Info