Pixie-Bob

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 show that Pixie-Bobs are directly related to bobcats.

Directly related would indicate identical Y-Chromosomes or limited Marker match testing. Therefore, Pixie-Bob are legally designated as domestic cats, even if they might have Bobcat heritage.

The Pixie-Bob has a large body with big feet, and usually a short, bobbed tail and a gentle personality. Most Pixie-Bobs are short-haired.

There is also a less common long-hair Pixie-Bob. Often the long- haired Pixie-Bob has a face that look more like a Bobcat's, but the long hair can also obscure the cat's spots.

 A Pixie-Bob's markings should resemble those of a bobcat, with spots, stripes and swirls.

 This breed is currently the only one accepted by any major club to allow polydacts, 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 lb (3.5–5.5 kg).

Breed Description

Physical characteristics
Pixie-Bobs are approximately 50% larger than most domestic cats (which weigh 5.5–16 lb or 2.5–7 kg).

Most Pixie-Bobs have black fur and skin on the bottom of their paws, tipped ears, heavy ear hair, black lips, and white fur around the eyes but with black eye skin. Their chins have white fur, but often have black skin under the white fur.

Some of their whiskers change from Black (root - about 25%) to White (to the tip - about 75% of the whisker).Tiger-like fur pattern, but often have reddish tones mixed in.

 Stomach is often reddish-gold in color with some ticking (broken stripes). Most are short-haired, but some are long-haired.

Eyes are almond shaped and tilted. Eyes are blue when kittens, then change to green, and finally to gold when several months old (some don't change completely to Gold, but have a Gold with a green tint).

Tails can be non-existent (rumpy), or 2-4 inches (desired - TICA required), or long tails (Pixie was a long tail).

The head is usually-pear shaped. The head and tail are considered the important characteristics. They grow for 3 years instead of 1 year like most domestic cats.

Temperament

They are highly intelligent, social, active (but not hyper-active), bold, courageous, and enjoy playing with other animals. Known for their chirps, chatters, and growls.

 Some Pixie-Bobs can be highly sociable around their owners and strangers, while others are highly social around their owners, but shy around strangers.

 Almost all Pixie-Bobs like to be in the same room as their owners, and will follow their owners around the house.

Other personality characteristics, are head bunting; Chirping "language" (communicating with owners and other Pixie-Bobs) by different chirps; Most don't meow often, and some don't meow at all;

Ball fetching and playing;

Some can be walked on a leash;

 Highly intelligent (Dog analogy would be intelligent like a Golden Retriever) and capable of understanding some human words and phrases.

Some of their "chirping" actually sounds like purring.