text reprinted courtesy
of FogForest
Pixie-Bobs
photo courtesy of KopperKats
Cattery
The
Legends...
Some challenge the Legends
that surround the Pixie-Bob are just tall tales created
to explain the breed's naturally bobbed tail. Others speak
to their own experience with strange litters of bob tailed
barn cats. What cannot be denied is that this Native North
American breed of domestic cat bears a remarkable resemblance
to the Bobcat. It is this
resemblance that FogForest and other reputable
breeders of this remarkable cat are striving for... not
some kind of blood quantum. In fact, the intent upon the
breed's founding was very specific: to capture the look
of the Coastal Red Bobcat. This is the smallest of 23
species of felix rufus (a family including the Lynx) and
a species that is found only in the Pacific Northwest.
Though they have the look
of their wild cat cousins, Pixie-Bobs are remarkable for
their thoroughly domestic, outgoing temperament. Whatever
the Legend of natural crosses behind the origin of the
Pixie-Bob says, it has never been proven. In fact, the
Legend is somewhat beside the point. The aim of all reputable
Pixie-Bob breeders is not to work from hybrids but to
acheive the look of the Bobcat in a thoroughly
domestic breed.
Breed
Description...
This new cat on the
block has risen from virtual obscurity in the early
1980s to profiles in both Cat Fancy magazine in 1999 and
TICA's Trend magazine in 2000. In fact, the breed is rather
unique in its ability to capture the hearts of many people
who had never before thought of themselves as cat lovers.
It has been called the canine of cats both because
it is a loyal family member that trains to walk on a leash
(if you start early) and because it travels so well in
a car.
The Pixie-Bob has developed
a reputation for being an over-sized cat, especially among
the males. However, most breeders consider it a medium-large
feline. Certainly, there are numerous examples of mixed
breed cats and other breeds which will match its weight.
However, this is a heavily muscled breed with heavy boning
and it often looks larger than it is. Males are generally
15-20 pounds (some, but not all, reach 25 pounds) while
females are about a third smaller, generally 8-12 pounds.
The short to medium-long
coat of the Pixie-Bob is heavily ticked (agouti) and they
are only accepted for show as Brown Spotted Tabby. The
breed standard looks for a random spotted or broken mackeral
pattern. It has a naturally bobbed tail, usually between
two and 6 inches. Being polydactyl is such a dominant
trait that this is the only breed accepted for show with
more than the usual number of toes. Many Pixie-Bobs also
have Lynx tufting on their ear tips.
Breed
Temperament...
As a breed, Pixie-Bobs
are renowned for their quiet nature. Many will rarely
call out and they tend, instead, to voice what they want
with musical chirrups. This is not to say they don't communicate
a lot, however. The Pixie-Bob has a unique way of gesturing
with a raised paw as if to emphasize some point they are
delivering through a mind-meld.
Pixie-Bobs are affectionate
and gregarious cats, but you would not call these highly
independant beings lap cats. They would rather be with
you on their own terms and tend to sit beside you.
While some are cuddlers, most will resist being picked
up and carried. However, the family bond of this breed
is so strong that they do not easily transfer owners after
the age of one or two years. Still, they are gregarious
and friendly, even tending run to the door to welcome
visitors to their home. They get along well with children
and they also live comfortably with dogs and other pets.
In fact, breeders speak of Pixie piles because
these cats love to curl up beside and drape themselves
over their companions... human, feline, or even the family
dog.
