The Pixiebob is not a *breed created from the addition of many different breeds, although a few breeders have done the breed a disservice by adding in the above cats in order to rapidly achieve some of the traits they wanted to see increased. This is why we request the judges to “WITHHOLD ALL AWARDS to cats that resemble another breed”.

The genetics of a breed found originally in the foothills, mountains and even rural valleys of the most western parts of the Pacific Northwest is very complicated, because in each cat found, there are many traits sought after and many traits that must be bred out.

What is most important is the head….we search for cats having a compressed face, having all their features below the imaginary line drawn across these cats' faces….from the base of one ear to the other: all features, from the eyes down, must sit below this line. This is the MOST important part of the Pixiebob.

* (A breed comprised of several other recognized breeds is often referred to as a “recipe breed” in Pixiebob jargon.)

Not all the cats brought into the breeding program today have the compressed face, as some breeders are simply looking for spotted coats and short tails in the cats they find to use in their programs. However, short tails are not a must, when considering bringing home a wild cat having unique bobcat-like traits, though a spotted coat is quite important.

It takes two generations after breeding a new cat, (having a completely new line), to a Pixiebob to produce a very acceptable, and even possibly show quality Pixiebob, depending upon the cats chosen. Obviously, the more Pixiebob traits a found cat has, the more successful will be the mating/litter. The Legend Cat is the source of our genetic material that provides the wild bobcat-like appearance AND the genetic diversity that the breeders are so proud of. Without the continual influx of new lines that are close to meeting the standard, the Pixiebob breed would perish in short order.

However, we have been very happy with the system currently in place whereby 3 all-breed judges must accept each found kitten/cat for the Pixiebob breeding program, through comparison of each cat to the Pixiebob standard, for initial registration as an 01T, or first generation Pixiebob. Since the breed is in Category II, or Regional Breeds, in TICA, the first generation, usually being in a “raw” form of the breed, nevertheless, is a Pixiebob and may be shown IF the cat meets the standard. There is no benefit to any breeder to take a cat of their own breeding, denying it's pedigree to call it a “Legend Cat”, or found, first generation cat. In fact, this would cause the breeder loss for their program to do this, so there is no worry on the part of ethical breeders that showing a first generation found cat, IF it meets the standard, that this is detrimental to the breed.

Since most first generation Pixiebobs have something wrong with them, that is not allowed by standard, such as white feet that must be bred out; a long tail that must be bred out and perhaps other traits that are not desirable, the judges will not be seeing MOST of the found cats. Therefore, they will not be “first generation Pixiebobs” though they will be unofficially recorded on personal pedigrees, their names will not be found on official pedigrees if the cats have not been accepted by 3 all-breed judges. In this case, the progeny of such a cat, IF it meets the standard enough for 3 judges to accept it into the program, will be the starting point for a new bloodline.

Therefore, the ancestry of every single Pixiebob must go all the way back to found or unknown cats. Cats shown in the ring in ACFA must fit the standard, not resemble another breed, and be descended from cats of unknown ancestry. This is why it is SO important that all new cats/bloodlines brought into the Pixiebob breeding program be accepted by 3 all-breed judges, when compared to the standard (or their progeny)….which will prevent breeders from mating a Bengal or a Maine Coon to a Manx, trying to pass it off as a Pixiebob. The judges, who have a great eye for characteristic traits notably found in recognized breeds, will be able to spot an imposter and have already done so.

To conclude:
The Pixiebob is a naturally occurring breed, found in it's natural state in the rural areas of the North American continent.

First generation found cats, IF meeting the standard well, may be accepted as being a first generation Pixiebob IF accepted by 3 all-breed judges, and signed off by these judges as meeting the standard, whereby these cats can then receive registration papers as first generation cats.

If a found cat does not meet the standard sufficient enough to be passed by 3 judges and given first generation registration papers, then this cat must be bred to a currently registered Pixiebob in order to produce kittens that WILL meet the standard enough to be passed and accepted by 3 all-breed judges for entrance into the Pixiebob breeding program as a first generation cat.

If acceptable by standard, the second generation cat then will receive registration as a Pixiebob and is eligible to be shown in the ring, if it meets the standard.

Found cat to Pixiebobs matings are uncommon but necessary. More common breedings today consist of Pixiebob to Pixiebob ( 2 nd to 4 th generation and more).

No other breeds are ever acceptable for outcross. The Pixiebob may never resemble another breed, either in its first generation form or any generation thereafter.

The Pixiebob breed, because of it's unusual genetic diversity, carries no genetic flaws to this date.

The genetic traits we seek are found in cats roaming the rural areas of the North American continent: a wild face, resembling a bobcat; a large frame; long legs; spotted coat; and abbreviated tail preferably from 2 inches to the hock, in length. Therefore, the Pixiebob is a NATURAL BREED.

That we can find cats not uncommonly having these traits is a mystery in itself. Because of the large number of specific bobcat-like characteristics found in what we call The Legend Ca, the standard was written to reflect the appearance and concentration of these characteristics, since so many of these cats having similar traits have been found.

The Pixiebob breeding program and standard state that the found cats to be used may never resemble another recognized breed.

The breed, being developed from cats that have a wild bobcat-like appearance, whivch were collected over the years from these rural areas, must not display the strong identifying traits belonging to another breed. Therefore, judges must withhold all awards to cats that resemble another recognized breed.

Particularly noteworthy traits to disqualify for are:

 

A ruff around the neck, belonging to the Maine Coon

Extremely long and too heavy lynx ear tipping, belonging to the Maine Coon

Coat color and pattern (high spotting, high rufus ground color, little or no ticking),

belonging to the Bengal

A lithe body, belonging to the Bengal

A box-like muzzle belonging to the Maine Coon and the Bengal

Tailless-ness, belonging to the Manx

A roach-back, belonging to the Manx

Lack of spotting and facial markings as is found in the Jungle Cat

Lack of ticking

A face resembling a Jungle Cat (Chausie),

being scooped out under it's eyes, (no cheek bone) and a tall ridge of a nose, that is not part of it's muzzle

A frown rather than “the Bobcat smile”

Ears on top of the head, like a Jungle Cat

Fine boning

 

Since there are some breeders currently bringing other recognized breeds into the Pixiebob, it is the recommendation of the breeders who breed with a purist's attitude, (who are using selective breeding to bring up the traits they seek, rather than to take a short cut by bringing in cats which have the desired traits), that you investigate pedigrees and bloodlines carefully. If you are not sure of what you are looking at, call me, or any person on the FTLOP list, on this website.

 

Carol Ann Brewer

360-815-1304