Pixiebob Cat Breed Guide
Outgoing | Sociable | Friendly. The Pixiebob cat is bred to resemble a wild North American bobcat. And although there are rumours that these cats have some wild DNA in their mitts, this is more of a fairytale than fact. Pixiebob cats look wild but their purrsonality couldn’t be further from the truth. Let’s dive into the (not so) wild history of the Pixiebob cat so that you can decide whether one of these beauties may be the next best addition to your fur fam.
PIXIEBOB CAT BASICS
Average Lifespan: 13 - 18 years
Average Weight: 3.5 - 7.5kg
Coat Length: Short - Long
Colouring: Brown spotted tabby that resembles a wild Bobcat
Shedding: Moderate - High
WHAT IS THE ANCESTRY OF THE PIXIEBOB CAT?
Carol Ann Brewer, a breeder from Washington USA developed the Pixiebob cat in the 1980s with the vision of breeding a kitty with all the features of a wild bobcat but with a domestic temperament. She picked up a large spotted cat that stood as tall as her knees and had a bobbed tail. Rumour had it that this guy was the result of an interspecies love story between a domestic moggie and a wild bobcat. She named him Keba and mated him with the next-door neighbour’s cat, producing a litter of spotted kittens that resembled miniature bobcats. Carol kept one of these kittens, a female named Pixie, who became the champion of the breed.
Carol went on to scout out more kitties that resembled wild bobcats to add to her clan and progress the breed. Some of these had more toes than the usual five on the front paws and four on the back (polydactyl) which ended up being permissible in the Pixiebob breed standard. They gained TICA recognition in 1994, however, due to these cats being polydactyl, unfortunately, they’re ineligible for recognition by the GCCF.
WHAT DOES A PIXIEBOB CAT LOOK LIKE?
Pixiebob cats are bred to look like miniature versions of the North American bobcat. They have a thick double coat which can be short or long that covers their muscular bodies. Their tails are small and stubby, with some Pixiebobs having no tail at all.
Their face is pear-shaped with two large tufted ears similar to that of a lynx. Some of these kitties have more toes than normal, a genetic anomaly known as polydactyly. This abnormality can make their paws look like mittens with a large thumb-looking toe on the side. Although they look a little strange, they have no negative impact on the Pixiebob’s health.
WHAT IS THE PURRSONALITY OF THE PIXIEBOB CAT?
Although they look a lot like wild Bobcats, the purrsonality of a Pixiebob couldn’t be further than their feral cousins. These kitties are highly sociable and thrive on time spent with their hoomans. They make great companions for children, often following them around desperate to join in on the fun.
They’re intelligent and share many qualities with doggies, learning to walk on a harness as well as learning simple commands. Although they lurve human company, they’re not overly demanding and cope well when left alone for a few hours if their pawrents are heading out to pick up their lip-smacking dinner.
Nevertheless, if you’re going to be away from your Pixiebob cat for hours on end, they will benefit from having another fur brother or sister around as well as plenty of games and toys to keep their big brains stimulated.
DO PIXIEBOB CATS SHED A LOT?
Pixiebobs have thick double coats so tend to shed quite a lot. They will shed more heavily at the change of seasons in Autumn and Spring. Make sure to groom your cat at least once per week. A slicker brush is particularly useful when they’re moulting to remove excess hair, but week to week a rubber brush will work wonders.
PIXIEBOB CAT FEEDING REQUIREMENTS
Pixiebob cats have a wide gene pool so are not linked to any hereditary cat diseases. They generally live long and healthy lives if fed nutritionally dense diets and encouraged to exercise regularly.
Like wild bobcats, Pixiebob cats are obligate carnivores meaning they need a diet high in animal meat to maintain their general health. They also need a purrfect balance of 41 essential nutrients to keep them purring. Look for a cat food that hits the mark on these nutritional cornerstones to keep your Pixiebob living well on into their nine lives.
SCRUMBLES, THE PAWFECT FOOD FOR PIXIEBOB CATS
Scrumbles gut-friendly cat food goes above and beyond when it comes to cat nutrition and gut health.
Here’s why:
- Gut Healthy Recipes: Your Pixiebob’s gut doesn’t just digest their delicious cat food. It’s responsible for maintaining their immune system and plays an impawtent part in managing their mental health. This means that purrfect cat health really does start in the gut! That’s why we avoid common allergens that commonly upset floofy stomachs, and we use prebiotics or probiotics to improve digestibility and power up your Pixiebob’s gut.
- Nutritionally Dense: Our complete dry cat food and wet cat food recipes contain the purrfect blend of essential vitamins and nutrients that cats need to be fed each day to keep them in ideal health. Our recipes are FEDIAF-approved meaning you can have the confidence that you’re Pixiebob cat is getting all they need each day.
- High Levels of Meat: With at least 60% human-grade delicious poultry or fish in all of our recipes, they’re sure to satisfy your carnivorous fur baby.
- Pixiebob Cat Approved: Even the fussiest Pixiebob cats love the taste of our meaty recipes, just read the thousands of five-star reviews from happy kitty-cat customers across the UK!
- Climate Pawsitive: We use eco-friendly packaging, are proud to be the second EVER pet food brand to be certified B-Corp and we’re committed to reducing our carbon footprint making Scrumbles the purrfect choice for climate-positive pet pawrents.
