Meneer Janssen
How did the Pixiebob breed come to exist?
The pixiebob came into existence in North America. It is a large house cat with an exotic and wild appearance, bred to resemble the North American red coastal bobcat. It all started in 1985 when the first pixiebob breeder, Carol Ann Brewer, bred two cats that were thought to be the results of a crossing between a farm cat and the red bobcat. Research done in the DNA of the pixiebob never proved that it actually descended from a bobcat. The first cat that resulted from this mating, called Pixie, is the “mother” of the breed and name origin of the Pixiebob. In 1986, the Pixiebob breed was officially recognized in the U.S by TICA. A few years ago the Pixiebob started being bred in Europe as well. At this moment there is a small number of Pixiebob catteries in The Netherlands, of which I am the third and smallest family-cattery .
How does a Pixiebob look?
The Pixiebob is a large breed, with a strong and large build. Females can weigh between 7,7 and 15,4 lbs (3,5 and 7 kilograms), while males can be even larger, ranging between 12,1 and 22 lbs (5,5 and 10 kilograms). In fact, there are male Pixiebobs that weighed even more than 22 lbs (10 kilograms). Both males and females are fully grown after 3-4 years. Their fur can be short, long or semi-long, and can be referred to as a brown/black striped or brown/black spotted tabby pattern. The fur is very thick and soft and has a thick sublayer. Their bellies are a light beige color with dark spots. It is considered very attractive when there are many reddish tints (called rufus) in the fur of a Pixiebob, as well as the presence of lynx-tips on the ears (small black tufts of fur). The length of the tail can range from short to long, but an ideal length is 2 to 5 inches (5,1 to 12,7 cm). The pixiebob can have a normal amount of toes (referred to as straight feet, which is 5 toes on their front paws and 4 toes on the back paws), but polydactyl paws are also common, which means that they have 6 to 7 toes on their front paws and 5 to 6 on their back paws. The Pixiebob is the only breed that can have extra toes and still be a certified Pixiebob. This is because the Pixiebob has very large paws which enhance its exotic appearance.
What is the personality of the Pixiebob?
The Pixiebob is a cat breed with the personality of a dog. Our Pixiebobs are very attached to us and are kind to everyone in the family. They like to cuddle and are very curious and eager to learn. They like to follow us throughout the home and keep a good eye on us. They enjoy keeping us company and can get along well with other pets, as well as children. They can also fetch and like to catch insects, mice and other small animals. They have no problem travelling in the car and it is very easy to train Pixiebobs to walk on a leash. If this is taught to them from a young age, the Pixiebob can be walked outside every day.
The Pixiebob is active, but not hyperactive. Our pixiebobs play, alone as well as with eachother, without breaking things around the house. They also challenge us to play with them when they are in the mood, which they indicate by making a high pitched sound and jumping with in the air with all four paws. They are always very clear about what they do or don’t feel like doing. They are not loud, but do like to communicate with their voices. One of our cats’ favorite things to do is stalk and chase moving objects under a blanket, like toes or feet.
They find water very interesting and like to explore the bathroom. Some Pixiebobs follow their owners under the shower or into the bath. In fact, I’m able to wash our cats under the shower!
The Pixiebob has a very clean attitude towards itself and its environment. Our cats have been housebroken from the very start and keep themselves very clean. They value a good, clean litterbox. When it comes to cutting their nails and brushing their fur, they are very easygoing, although training them to deal with these things from an early age is essential. Brushing their fur is not always necessary, because Pixiebobs do not shed hair very much. A short-haired Pixiebob only requires brushing about once a week, while a long-haired Pixiebob requires it a few times a week. Our cats very much enjoy getting brushed.
For a list of the physical characteristics of a long-haired Pixiebob as defined by TICA, click here and for the short-haired Pixiebob click here.