Pixie-bob

The Pixie-bob is a large domestic cat bred to look like the North American bobcat while holding on to a gentle house-cat nature. Adults commonly weigh between 3.6 and 7.7 kg (8 to 17 lb), with toms sitting at the heavier end. The breed is recognised for its muscular build, its short bobbed tail, and a heavy-boned frame that lends it a rugged outline.

For all the wild looks, the Pixie-bob is settled and fond of company. Owners regularly call it devoted and loyal, and the breed forms a close attachment to one household rather than keeping its distance. A good many follow their people from room to room, travel in the car without fuss, and take to walking on a harness.

The coat runs from short to medium in length and usually shows a brown spotted tabby pattern. Polydactyl feet, meaning extra toes, are accepted in the breed, which is uncommon among pedigree cats.

Who the Pixie-bob suits

The Pixie-bob fits households that want an interactive, affectionate cat and can give it daily attention. Its sociable streak makes it a poor match for homes where it would be left on its own for long stretches. Families with children and other easygoing pets tend to get on well with the breed, as do owners who enjoy training and lead walks.

The breed goes back to the Pacific Northwest of the United States in the mid-1980s. Carol Ann Brewer, a breeder in Washington State, took in short-tailed, spotted cats from the area and set out a programme to settle their wild appearance into a domestic line.

A female kitten from this early work, named Pixie, became the foundation cat that gave the breed its name. Brewer worked with Pixie and similar local cats to fix a steady type: a heavy build, a spotted brown coat, and a short tail.

The International Cat Association (TICA) accepted the Pixie-bob for registration in 1994 and later granted it championship standing. Early promotion claimed bobcat ancestry, yet DNA studies have never confirmed any wild bobcat genes, so the breed is regarded as fully domestic.

The Pixie-bob stays fairly scarce. Breeding programmes cluster in North America, with smaller numbers across Europe, Ireland included, and other regions.

The Pixie-bob carries a substantial, muscular body with a broad chest and long hind legs that produce a slightly rolling walk. The head takes the shape of an inverted pear, with full, heavy cheeks and a pronounced brow. Many cats wear lynx-like tufts at the tips of the ears. The tail is short, usually 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in), though the odd cat has a longer or shorter one.

Coat and colours

The accepted colour is brown spotted tabby, running from light fawn through tawny to a deep reddish brown, with small to medium spots broken across the body. A pale or white belly and ticked guard hairs turn up often. The standard allows both a short coat and a medium woolly coat. Polydactyl feet, carrying up to seven toes, are permitted and count nothing against the cat in the show ring.

The Pixie-bob is one of the more dog-like cat breeds in the way it behaves. It attaches firmly to its household and will often pick out one favourite person to shadow. Plenty learn to fetch, answer to their name, and walk on a harness.

Around the family the breed is affectionate and even-tempered. It shows patience with respectful children and is usually easy about cat-friendly dogs and other cats, above all when introduced young. With strangers the Pixie-bob is reserved rather than nervy and comes round in its own time.

The breed is quiet. Rather than meowing, many Pixie-bobs chirp, chitter, or growl softly, and a few are all but silent. This calm, low-noise manner suits flats and shared living space.

Grooming

• Brush short coats once a week; brush the medium woolly coat two or three times a week to head off matting.
• Step up brushing during the seasonal moult in spring and autumn.
• Trim nails every two to three weeks, and check polydactyl paws for extra nails that can curl into the pad.
• Clean the ears when they look grubby and brush the teeth several times a week to keep dental disease at bay.

Exercise

• Set aside 20 to 30 minutes of active play each day with wand toys or fetch.
• Give a sturdy cat tree and high perches for climbing.
• Use puzzle feeders and training sessions to stretch the breed's cleverness.
• Many Pixie-bobs take to harness and lead walks, which add extra activity.

Environment

The Pixie-bob settles into houses and flats alike, so long as it has company and vertical space. It fares poorly when left alone for long spells and may do better with a second compatible pet. Keep it indoors or limit outdoor access to a secure run, sheltering it from traffic and theft.

The Pixie-bob is an obligate carnivore and does best on a complete diet with animal protein as the leading ingredient. Because the breed is large and muscular, portion to body condition rather than to a one-size cup measure. Fresh water should always be on hand, and wet food helps keep the cat hydrated.

Treats and supplements

Hold treats under 10 percent of daily calories and favour single-ingredient meat treats. A balanced commercial diet usually calls for no extra supplements; add omega-3 or joint support only on the advice of your vet. Cut portions back if the cat puts on weight, since the large frame can mask creeping obesity.

The Pixie-bob is a robust breed with a usual lifespan of 13 to 16 years. The gene pool is small, so reputable breeders screen their breeding cats and keep records of any inherited problems. Routine veterinary care, weight control, and dental hygiene are the chief factors in a long, healthy life.

Preventive care

• Yearly veterinary exam, with twice-yearly checks for senior cats.
• Core vaccinations and parasite control kept up to date.
• Yearly dental assessment and tooth brushing at home.
• Weight and body-condition check at every visit.
• Neuter or spay unless the cat is in a planned breeding programme.

The Pixie-bob sits among the more trainable cat breeds. Its cleverness and wish to stay near people leave it open to short, positive sessions. Many owners teach fetch, sit, recall, and harness walking. Keep sessions brief, a few minutes at a stretch, and stop while the cat is still keen.

Basics

1. Start litter training early; most kittens pick it up fast with a clean, reachable tray.
2. Bring in a clicker or a marker word paired with a treat.
3. Teach name recognition and recall using food rewards.
4. Build up to simple cues such as sit and come.
5. Add harness training in slow steps before any outdoor walk.

Pixie-bobs come to sexual maturity later than many cats, often around 9 to 12 months, and some lines keep filling out physically over two to three years. Queens generally produce small litters of two to four kittens. Mothers tend to be attentive, and kittens stay with the litter until at least 12 to 14 weeks before heading to new homes.

Because the breed carries a narrow gene pool, breeding is best handled by registered breeders who screen for heart disease, track polydactyly, and steer clear of close inbreeding. Kittens should meet people and household sounds from an early age to keep the breed's confident, devoted character. Buyers should expect health records, registration papers, and a written health guarantee from a responsible breeder.

Registering a Pixie-bob in Ireland

Cats sit outside the 2015 chipping law, so whatever record your Pixie-bob has is the one you make yourself. Make it a free one: the United Pet Club profile carries your details, her photo, and her chip number for the whole of her life. Registering your cat costs nothing, now or ever.

The fifteen digits on your Pixie-bob's vet paperwork want a registry. United Pet Club lodges them free, keeps them current through every move, and leaves the record findable whenever a scanner asks. Microchip registration plus a free account: both sorted in one cup of tea.