Are they really part bobcat? The Pixie-Bob is a new
domestic breed having what is believed to be possible bobcat ancestry.
Do they look like bobcats? Yes, but in varying degrees.
Through careful selective breeding, the physical characteristics
of the bobcat are brought to the surface. It is not unusual to see
a wild appearance to the face, a light colored spotted and heavily
ticked woolly coat, large boning and a short tail. They should remind
one of a small bobcat.
How large are they? Male cats range in weight from
12 to 22 pounds. The females range between 8 to 15 pounds. The males
are typically more heavily muscled than the females. Keep in mind
that they continue to grow and fill out for the first four years
of their life.
Where did the name come from? The first kitten produced
from the original breeding was named Pixie. She became the namesake
for the breed. She also is the namesake for our F.T.L.O.P. TM (For
The Love Of Pixie) "Breeders of Distinction" program. It is her
face and coat that we are attempting to copy over and over again.
How old is the breed? This type of cat is literally
centuries old, as legends recorded in old books say that the North
American bobcat began breeding with domestic cats that arrived with
the first European immigrants. More recently, in 1985, Carol Ann
Brewer began working with cats believed to be of this heritage.
Soon, several breeders joined in her endeavor to work with what
occurred naturally; to capture, for all time, the wild look and
to maintain the gentle nature for which they are known.
Is the Pixie-Bob accepted by a major registering association?
Yes, in October 1994, they began to be registered by T.I.C.A. (The
International Cat Association) as an experimental breed and in September
1995 they were accepted for NBC (New Breed Color) which allowed
them to compete against each other in the ring. In August 1997,
they were accepted for Championship status, making them a full-fledged
breed which will compete with all other breeds in the ring.
What is the lifespan of the Pixie-Bob? Under optimum
conditions they live just as long as any other breed of cat. Since
the breed is officially only 13 years old, it is difficult to say
if they will live as long as the bobcat does.
How much does one cost? Pets range in price from $500.00
to $1500.00 with an occasional kitten priced lower. Breeders start
at $1500.00 and rise in price dependent upon how closely they resemble
the T.I.C.A. standard and whether they may be shown in the ring
or not.
What is the difference between a pet quality, a breeder quality
and a show cat? Pet or breeder quality is determined by
how closely the kitten fits the Pixie-Bob standard; in type, coat
quality, color and pattern, and most of all, head and facial characteristics.
In order to be a show quality kitten, it must not only fit the standard,
but must also be an SBT, or 4th generation cat.
What is their personality like? We believe that the
Pixie-Bob's temperament closely resembles the canine species. Being
quite dog-like in devotion, intelligence and trainability. They
are a unique cat, bonding strongly to a single individual and/or
family for life.
Are they ever wild like the bobcat? First of all,
let's make it clear that from what we know about the bobcat, it
has a very shy disposition, and is not aggressive whatsoever. It's
reputation for being wild stems from it's incredible ability to
fight animals much larger than itself, for defense purposes only.
They are remarkably intelligent, yet, because of this, they are
also intuitive and somewhat apprehensive in situations where they
are not completely comfortable. Likewise, the Pixie-Bob is extremely
intelligent and intuitive, and not completely comfortable when strangers
arrive in their home. Their usual habit is to retire to the bedroom
furthest away from the excitement, and stay there until the coast
is clear. Their natural tendency is to be sweet, affectionate and
gentle with their own family. However, in the evenings, they often
display that "wild" exuberance that is so entertaining. A life of
Pixie-Bob ownership can never be dull!
How are they with children? The Pixie-Bob is more
gentle and patient with children than anyone else! Incredibly, they
seem to be able to distinguish between babies, children and adults
and adjust their behavior appropriately. Pixie-Bobs have been known
to allow "their own babies to maul them unmercifully, though their
general temperament is to refuse to allow an adult stranger to even
touch them. They make cognitive decisions all day long and it is
fascinating to see the thought processes right in front of your
eyes. So many times we have heard that owners couldn't believe what
they were seeing.
I hear that bobcats are very destructive. Will a Pixie-Bob
destroy my house? No, the Pixie-Bob is a superb house cat
and fares well even in the smallest apartment. They are very clean
and are easily litter box trained. They prefer to scratch wood rather
than furniture, carpet or traditional cat scratchers. We recommend
that a new Pixie-Bob owner acquire an interesting piece of wood
to place in a corner where the cats can freely access it. Regarding
the litter box, keeping it continually clean will prevent any accidents
from occurring. As clean as they are naturally, the Pixie-Bob is
a model roommate.
Are they noisy? On the contrary, the Pixie-Bob is
considered to be a very quiet breed. This is not to say that they
do not talk, however. Most Pixie-Bobs have a series of chirps, chittering
noises and gutteral sounds as well as the very infrequent raspy
or hoarse meow. These are all used in play and expressing affection
as well as during "the hunt".
Can I let my Pixie-Bob outside? It is not wise to
leave your friend outside where it is often helpless to protect
itself from cars, dogs, coyotes, snakes, birds of prey, disease,
poisoning, cat fights, theft and just plain getting lost. However,
Pixie-Bobs are easily trained to walk on a harness and leash. They
love to ride in the car, too!
Will a Pixie-Bob get along with my other pets? It
will take a short adjustment period, but once the other pets understand
that the Pixie-Bob is happy to be their friend there should be no
more problems. They love dogs and own them, just like the rest of
the family. Because they are territorial, all cats and dogs will
need to obey them, but they are benevolent rulers.
I have heard that the Pixie-Bob is very sensitive. Is there
anything that I should know about the breed as an owner?
Yes, the Pixie-Bob should never receive a feline leukemia vaccine,
in any form, EVER! It has been proven over the last 13 years that
this vaccine is quite deadly to our cats. Also, specifically, the
distemper vaccine is the only vaccine that is recommended by this
breeder and Dr. Pitcairin, and it should never be given until the
kitten is 16 weeks of age. If you decide that you would like to
vaccinate your kitten for upper respiratory disease, (at your own
risk) a 3-in-one KILLED vaccine is the only one that should ever
be administered. The Pixie-Bob has an immune system that works better
without all the diseases implanted on it. Never give a rabies vaccine
unless it is the "ONE YEAR KILLED". It is preferable to give a homeopathic
remedy right after to antidote any bad effects of the vaccine. Never
vaccinate a sick or unthrifty cat; (the same goes for worming);
wait until it is well before attempting to plant an immunity to
disease. Remember, F.I.P. vaccines are still experimental and have
had numerous ill effects amongst the average cat population. Your
best protection is to not allow your Pixie-Bob to run. It is as
simple as that.
My children want to have kittens in the house. Should I try
breeding? No, we do not advise that anyone "try" breeding
unless they are prepared to have a major life change. Breeding is
a very expensive and serious hobby and it takes a very dedicated
person to do it properly. Kittens at a very young age are extremely
susceptible to disease and death so casually trying a hand at breeding
could possibly cost you more money and emotions than you had planned
to expend. However, if you are seriously interested in making this
enormous life change, talk with an F.T.L.O.P. TM breeder and they
can help you to determine whether this is what you really want to
do. A new breeder must have a mentor in the Pixie-Bob Association,
so it is a good idea to work closely with the person who has sold
you your first breeder quality kitten. You should look to them for
advice.
What if I decide that I want to show my kitten? First,
check with the person than you bought your kitten from: you may
not show your kitten unless you purchased a "show quality cat".
Be aware that you could, again, spend enormous amounts of money
showing a kitten that might not be top show quality or might just
be too young. Rarely can a young kitten stand up against the "big
boys" and take home a ribbon. However, an excellent quality kitten
CAN get some attention so if you like the action and confusion of
the show hall, then showing just may be for you. It takes the right
kind of person to really have fun: not too competitive, yet, enough
to take it seriously. If you really like showing, then you might
find yourself traveling to shows all over the country, and eventually
to other countries, as often as even once a month. So purchasing
a show kitten often spells commitment for quite some time. It's
fun and challenging, but you can't take things to heart or it won't
be any fun at all.
Speaking of other countries, is the Pixie-Bob legal in every
city, state, province and country? The Pixie-Bob is technically
legal everywhere, since we are registered as a domestic breed and
blood testing done on the cats to find bobcat DNA was unsuccessful
at this stage. Therefore, it has been agreed that the cats must
be registered as domestics. However, it is always unwise to speak
"lightly" to officials whom you are unfamiliar with, relating that
the cats are "part bobcat" or worse, to state that you have "a hybrid"
(which most certainly isn't so). People who want attention have
found themselves in the unique position of having more attention
than they needed, having to defend the ownership of their cat and
prove why they should be allowed to keep it in the area in which
they live. The same with traveling: do not speak "lightly" of what
you believe your cat to be...it only complicates matters if an official
does not understand what the breed is all about. When you are getting
on a plane is not the time you want to be educating someone. To
prevent problems, you have a Pixie-Bob, or if they don't know what
that is, a new domestic brown spotted tabby breed that resembles
a bobcat, that's all. Another word of advice: before you talk about
your rare, expensive and intelligent Pixie-Bob to strangers, please
consider that theft is, to date, the biggest cause of loss to an
owner in the breed.
There are some interesting aspects to consider in your quest to
see if the Pixie-Bob is for you. We poor souls are breeding and
showing these cats because we are addicted to being owned by one
(or many more). We joke about the addiction, but soon enough, new
owners discover that it's really not a joke at all. We dearly love
these cats and do not wish to see the world live without the Pixie-Bob,
so we dedicate ourselves to the promotion of the breed with all
that it entails. If you have never met a Pixie-Bob fanatic yet,
just take a good look at the person who gave you this information.
He or she is happier than they have ever been. Is it for you? Just
pick up and hold a Pixie-Bob close. Then look into those eyes.
All rights reserved 1997 Carol Ann Brewer. No portion of this
article may be reproduced without the author's permission.
STONE ISLAND CATTERY...
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.
Originator and Breed Chair to T.I.C.A. F.T.L.O.P. President and
Charter Member Cattery Of Excellence Certificate
Stone Island Cattery, est. 1985 William and Carol Ann Brewer 1225
E. Sunset Dr. Box #395 Bellingham, Wash. 98226
(360) 815-1304 phone (360) 592- 3020fax