Pixie Bob cats and their Background
Pixie Bob cats originate from the US. They resemble a miniature Bobcat with ear tufts and many have a short, bobcat tail. Pixie Bobs are known as being very "dog like". They become attached to a favourite human and they like to follow your every step. They are a very social cat and delight in your company.
Their wild face is the most important aspect in the breed standard. The muzzle and chin should be fleshy and the nose broad. In profile, a convex nose is important and the little bump on the bridge is desirable. The muzzle should be squared and blunt. The eyes should not be too large and have that characteristic, triangular shape. The Pixie Bob breed standard provides more detail.
The Pixie Bob is a medium to large size breed, sturdy, muscular and with heavy bones. The ideal tail length is to the hock, although kittens are born with short and long tails. (Some breeders dock longer tails, others do not. For the record, we do not agree with docking). Kittens with longer tails usually grow larger than their short-tailed siblings. Their paws can be much larger than a domestic cat with polydactyl feet being acceptable.
They have a spotted coat, heavily muted by ticking. Pixie Bob cats can have either a short coat, where the spots are more noticeable, or a medium length, shaggy coat.
The history of the breed is long and interesting. Over 20 years ago, several breeders in the US were breeding from what they believed to be naturally ocurring offspring of bobcat and domestic cat matings. They started to work together and eventually one of them, Carol Ann Brewer, registered a standard with TICA. Her site has much information about the breed, its standard and history. Weikpeida also has a description of the Pixie Bobs.
Exotic Catz Network have a very informative article by Paul Woods on the history and bobcat content of the Pixie Bob and other breeds, which have, or claim to have, bobcat bloodlines.
More photos of bobcats