Pixie-Bob
Encyclopedia
The Pixie-bob is a breed of housecat. The breed was claimed by breed founder Carol Ann Brewer to be the progeny
of naturally occurring bobcat
hybrids; While some DNA tested Pixiebobs showed wild markers, few if any contributed to breeding programs. These cats are considered wholly domestic for the purposes of ownership, cat fancy
registration, import and export.
(Washington State - Cascade Range). This male had a short bobbed tail. In January 1986 , she rescued another male cat. This cat was very large, had a bobbed tail, and was reported to have been sired by a bobcat. While this cat was starving, it still weighed 17 pounds, and was so tall it reached up to Brewer’s knees. Shortly after she had acquired this large male, it mated with a brown spotted female cat next door. In April 1986, a litter was born from this mating. Brewer eventually kept one of the kittens, named "Pixie", and after a year started a breeding program with Pixie as the foundation cat. Over the next couple of years, Brewer introduced into her program 23 cats from around the Cascade Mountains area that were believed to be born from naturally occurring matings between the bobcat and domestic cat. She coined the term "Legend Cat" to refer to such cats and has since registered a trademark in the U.S. to limit the term to describe permitted outcrosses used in her breeding program. At the same time, other breeders in the U.S. were working with distinctly wild looking barn cats and collaborated with Ms. Brewer to establish a broad genetic base and to develop the foundation of today's Pixie-bob.
Led by Ms. Brewer, they succeeded in registering their new breed with The International Cat Association
(TICA)and eventually into ACFA (American Cat Fancier's Association). The Pixie-bob was accepted into the "Exhibition" category by TICA in 1993, promoted to "New Breed and Color" status in 1996 and eventually gained Championship status in 1998. The Pixie-bob was classified by TICA initially as a "Native New Breed", defined as "A new breed which has been identified through selection of phenotypically
similar individuals from a naturally occurring population indigenous to a particular geographic region." but it is now classified as a "Newer Natural/Regional Breed" also known as N.N.R.B.
A limited number of Pixiebobs are now across the globe in every continent except Australia and Africa.
Pixie-bobs can be large but on average reach around 5 kg (11 lbs), similar to good sized domestic cats, with only very few breeders producing consistently large cats. Males are usually larger than females. The average domestic cat weighs about 8 lbs.or 4 kg. Pixie-bobs grow for 4 years instead of 1 year like most domestic cats.
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). Bobcat-like fur pattern, but often have reddish tones mixed in. Most are short-haired, but some are long-haired. The brow should be heavy and the eyes should have a triangular shape. Eyes are blue when kittens, then change to green or gold when several months old. Tails can be non-existent (rumpy), or 2-4 inches (desired - TICA required), or long tails (Pixie was a long-tail). The head is pear shaped. The head is considered to be the most important characteristic.
They are also known for their "chirps", chatters, and growls; most don't meow often, and some don't meow at all. Chirping is essentially their "language", and some of their chirping actually sounds like purring.
Most Pixie-bobs are highly sociable around both their owners and 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 include the following:
Progeny
Progeny can refer to:*A genetic descendant or offspring*An academic progeny Other uses*Progeny Linux Systems*Progeny - an episode of the television series Stargate Atlantis...
of naturally occurring bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
hybrids; While some DNA tested Pixiebobs showed wild markers, few if any contributed to breeding programs. These cats are considered wholly domestic for the purposes of ownership, cat fancy
Cat Fancy
Cat Fancy is the name of a popular North American monthly magazine dedicated to cats, owners of cats, and breeders of cats published by BowTie Inc.-The magazine:...
registration, import and export.
History
In the spring of 1985, Carol Ann Brewer purchased a Polydactyl from the base of Mount BakerMount Baker
Mount Baker , also known as Koma Kulshan or simply Kulshan, is an active glaciated andesitic stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the North Cascades of Washington State in the United States. It is the second-most active volcano in the range after Mount Saint Helens...
(Washington State - Cascade Range). This male had a short bobbed tail. In January 1986 , she rescued another male cat. This cat was very large, had a bobbed tail, and was reported to have been sired by a bobcat. While this cat was starving, it still weighed 17 pounds, and was so tall it reached up to Brewer’s knees. Shortly after she had acquired this large male, it mated with a brown spotted female cat next door. In April 1986, a litter was born from this mating. Brewer eventually kept one of the kittens, named "Pixie", and after a year started a breeding program with Pixie as the foundation cat. Over the next couple of years, Brewer introduced into her program 23 cats from around the Cascade Mountains area that were believed to be born from naturally occurring matings between the bobcat and domestic cat. She coined the term "Legend Cat" to refer to such cats and has since registered a trademark in the U.S. to limit the term to describe permitted outcrosses used in her breeding program. At the same time, other breeders in the U.S. were working with distinctly wild looking barn cats and collaborated with Ms. Brewer to establish a broad genetic base and to develop the foundation of today's Pixie-bob.
Led by Ms. Brewer, they succeeded in registering their new breed with The International Cat Association
The International Cat Association
The International Cat Association, commonly known as TICA, is the world's largest genetic cat registry. Originally a North American organization, it now has a worldwide presence...
(TICA)and eventually into ACFA (American Cat Fancier's Association). The Pixie-bob was accepted into the "Exhibition" category by TICA in 1993, promoted to "New Breed and Color" status in 1996 and eventually gained Championship status in 1998. The Pixie-bob was classified by TICA initially as a "Native New Breed", defined as "A new breed which has been identified through selection of phenotypically
Phenotype
A phenotype is an organism's observable characteristics or traits: such as its morphology, development, biochemical or physiological properties, behavior, and products of behavior...
similar individuals from a naturally occurring population indigenous to a particular geographic region." but it is now classified as a "Newer Natural/Regional Breed" also known as N.N.R.B.
A limited number of Pixiebobs are now across the globe in every continent except Australia and Africa.
Breed Description
Physical characteristics and size
Pixie-bobs are a fully domestic breed of cat bred to resemble the North American Bobcat. For a cat to be considered a Certified TICA Pixie-bob cat, one of their parents must be traced back to StoneIsland Pixie, the original inspiration for the breed.Pixie-bobs can be large but on average reach around 5 kg (11 lbs), similar to good sized domestic cats, with only very few breeders producing consistently large cats. Males are usually larger than females. The average domestic cat weighs about 8 lbs.or 4 kg. Pixie-bobs grow for 4 years instead of 1 year like most domestic cats.
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). Bobcat-like fur pattern, but often have reddish tones mixed in. Most are short-haired, but some are long-haired. The brow should be heavy and the eyes should have a triangular shape. Eyes are blue when kittens, then change to green or gold when several months old. Tails can be non-existent (rumpy), or 2-4 inches (desired - TICA required), or long tails (Pixie was a long-tail). The head is pear shaped. The head is considered to be the most important characteristic.
Temperament
Pixie-bobs are highly intelligent, social, active (but not hyper-active), bold, and enjoy playing with other animalsThey are also known for their "chirps", chatters, and growls; most don't meow often, and some don't meow at all. Chirping is essentially their "language", and some of their chirping actually sounds like purring.
Most Pixie-bobs are highly sociable around both their owners and 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 include the following:
- Head butting
- Ball fetching and playing
- Leash walking (for the most part)
- Highly intelligent
- Capable of understanding some human words and phrases
Health and Vet Information
As the breed is frequently outcrossed to "legend cats", Pixie-bobs are genetically diverse and are not prone to problems caused by inbreeding. Pixie-bob breeders use a disease database to ensure that health information can be recorded and monitored. Some rare genetic diseases includes the following:- CryptorchidismCryptorchidismCryptorchidism is the absence of one or both testes from the scrotum. It is the most common birth defect regarding male genitalia. In unique cases, cryptorchidism can develop later in life, often as late as young adulthood. About 3% of full-term and 30% of premature infant boys are born with at...
- Only a few cases have been recorded since the conception of this breed (1980s). - DystociaDystociaDystocia is an abnormal or difficult childbirth or labour. Approximately one fifth of human labours have dystocia.Dystocia may arise due to incoordinate uterine activity, abnormal fetal lie or presentation, absolute or relative cephalopelvic disproportion, or a massive fetal tumor such as a...
and cystic endometrial hyperplasiaEndometrial hyperplasiaEndometrial hyperplasia is a condition of excessive proliferation of the cells of the endometrium, or inner lining of the uterus.Most cases of endometrial hyperplasia result from high levels of estrogens, combined with insufficient levels of the progesterone-like hormones which ordinarily...
: - A very small percentage of Pixie-bobs do suffer from delivery problems. Those who do suffer from these disease are removed from breeding. - Hypertrophic cardiomyopathyHypertrophic cardiomyopathyHypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the myocardium in which a portion of the myocardium is hypertrophied without any obvious cause...
(HCM) - Since the advent of the Pixie-bob breed in the 1980s only a few cases have been reported. In some of those cases the Pixie-bob was cross-bred with other breeds of cats, such as Bengal and Maine Coon. In the majority of cases, HCM occurred spontaneously. HCM is hereditary in at least 50% of occurrences necessitating annual ultrasound screens to confirm continued health of the cats.
External links
- website from breed creator Carol Ann Brewer
- International Pixie-bob pedigree database