Pixie Bob Cats: Smart, Athletic and Wild, Yet Oh So Tame

What are Pixie Bob Cats That's what I asked when breeder Sandra Janoski offered to send me information on this fascinating breed. There are two main aspects to the appeal of the Pixie Bob.

First, these cats are said to have dog-like personalities. Some hybrid cat breeds that have wild origins retain some undesirable wild traits. This is not so with Pixies, as they are very sweet natured.

Second, their exotic appearance resembles that of a wild cat. Like the Bengal cats favored by so many, they have a wild appearance. Pixie Bobs are said to be of probable bobcat heritage, and they are bred to look like small bobcats. Some have lynx-tipped ears, giving an even more wild look resembling the lynx.

Some Pixie Bob Cats have long tails, but these are not show quality cats. The standard in show quality is a short tail. Those that are born without tails are also not show quality, and may resemble the tailless Manx cat bread. One thing to note is that these tail-less Pixies may have trouble with incontinence.

Some cats get attached to one person and sometimes shy away from others, while Pixies tend to like everybody. If your cat is properly socialized, she will be the life of the party, begging for some attention from anyone who'll give it. Their personalities allow for leash training in many cases.

Sandra Janoski has been raising Pixie Bob Cats for 12 years. She tells us about these interesting house cats...

Carol Ann Brewer started the pixie bob breed in 1985 when she got her first cat she called Keba. He was found traveling with a dog in the foot hills of Mt. Baker. He was a big cat at about 17 lbs., with a hock length tail that wagged like a dog, and a very different attitude. Keba became the sire of the breed's namesake, "Pixie". Maggie was the dam to Pixie, who looked very much like the coastal red bobcat. Both Keba and Maggie were very wild in both their looks and temperament. Pixie was the first cat in the breed to be recognized by TICA.

Pixie Bobs are unusual in personality as cats go, and they are definitely not content to be lap cats. In Sandra's experience, they've been known to play in the water while you're taking a shower, play fetch like a dog, and some even love a car ride (without a kennel to hide in).

They're very curious cats and don't let anything go by them without inspecting it first. Sandra warns us that sometimes that's good, and sometimes that's bad! Interestingly, Pixie Bob Cats tend to be very careful when walking around in places they don't really belong. She's never had to put breakables such as knicknacks out of their reach.

Pixie Bob Cats are great with kids, and very caring and careful, even when near a young baby. They tend to get along well with other animals in the house, but they typically have a take charge attitude over the other pets.

They're also very smart, and will get the hang of opening cabinets and getting into places you wouldn't expect. They're very devoted to their human family, and enjoy spending time with people. They own you of course, you don't own them.

Being more than just people oriented, "they seem to sense your moods and can be very loving when you're in a down mood," Sandra said. They love to jump, and when they do, they leap like a bobcat, and love to jump up high.

While many cats have a unique meow, Pixie Bobs are more like howlers.

One caution Sandra has about vaccinations, "regular shots can kill your Pixie Bob!" What is recommended is either 'the dead virus shots, or homeopathic pills called "Mixed feline nosodes".' Also, feeding them tuna is a mistake, as it can make them very sick. This is something that Sandra learned first hand with her cats.

As far as the feet and toes are concerned, Pixie Bob Cats can be "straight footed" or polydactyl (with seven toes maximum for show quality.) A straight footed Pixie has 4 or 5 toes in the front, and 4 in the back. A polydactyl cat is many-toed, which essentially means more toes than "normal." Back feet with more than 4 toes are considered polydactyl, and are sometimes called "rabbit feet."

Polydactyl front paws are of two types. The first type looks as though the cat is wearing mittens or has thumbs sticking out. Appropriately, these are called "thumbs" or "mittens." The second type has extra toes, but the toes do not stick out since they are of fairly even length. These are called "patties."

The short haired version of the Pixie Bob Cat is soft and wooly, with denser, longer hair in the belly area. For the longer haired version, the coat is soft and lays a little closer to the body. In both short and long hair varieties, the coat is weather resistant and separates easily. The ground color is intensified in hot weather, and cold weather will give a frosted appearance to the coat. Some long haired Pixie Bobs have been bred with Maine Coons, so check with the breeder you choose to be sure of the line.

With respect to coat color, most Pixies are some variety of cream with either red or silver highlights. They may be spotted, tabby striped, marbled, or solid color.

Coat patterns for Pixie Bob Cats include small spots with or without rosettes, with the coat having a "ticked" pattern. Ticking refers to having several colors on each strand of fur. Ticking tends to mute out the spots a bit. Random spotting is actually preferred in this breed.

Perhaps you're ready for the challenge of a smart cat with good athletic ability, or maybe you'd like a social cat. If you'd like a wild looking people oriented cat, then the unusual Pixie Bob Cat might just be for you.