Pixie-Bob Cat: Info, Pictures, Temperament & Traits

Though they may look like something you’d see on Safari or reigning over mountainous regions, the Pixie-bob is a gentle giant with a big heart. The Pixie-bob has been a great source of fascination amongst cat fanciers and cat lovers, due in no small part to the breed’s mysterious origins. Though originally believed to have descended from American bobcats, DNA testing has found no trace of bobcat genes in the Pixie-bob.

Breed Overview

In the 1990s, the Pixie-bob was classified as a “native new breed”, which means that a natural genetic mutation was responsible for the Pixie-bob’s unique appearance. Today, a fully established breed, the Pixie-bob is a popular family pet and companion. In this post, we’ll explore what makes the Pixie-bob such a special cat breed.

Pixie-Bob Characteristics

Pixie-bob Kittens

This depends on the manner in which you acquire your Pixie-bob. Buying a Pixie-bob from a breeder will range in price, with the most expensive Pixie-bobs being of show quality. Show cats can be very expensive! An alternative to spending all this money is to adopt a Pixie-bob from a shelter, adoption agency, or someone who needs to rehome their Pixie-bob.

Shelters and adoption agencies may ask for a donation to cover the costs of any medical care or treatments or to contribute towards keeping their services going. This varies depending on the shelter you get your Pixie-bob from, though.

If you’ve decided that you definitely want to adopt a Pixie-bob, you’ll need to move fast if you see one available for adoption. They’re not the easiest to find in shelters and get snapped up pretty quickly because of their rarity and uniqueness. Another idea is to join social media groups for cat adoption or rehoming and keep an eye out for Pixie-bobs there.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Pixie-bob

Pixie-bobs are known for having fantastic personalities and for being great companions to anyone ready to show them plenty of love and attention. They’re a very extroverted breed and love to be around their people, often following them around the house and chatting away with them as they complete their daily tasks. Pixie-bobs form strong attachments to their families and so appreciate lots of love in return.

A highly intelligent breed, the Pixie-bob loves to be mentally stimulated with both fun, interactive toys and simple games that allow them to release pent-up energy. They’re the perfect combination of playful and chill—Pixie-bobs aren’t usually destructive by nature, but they do need exercise and entertainment to prevent them from getting bored.

Are These Cats Good for Families? 👪

Most certainly! Pixie-bobs love to be around people, so as long as children are taught how to gently interact with them, they’ll have a great time playing with and helping to take care of the Pixie-bob. Many Pixie-bobs enjoy cuddles and are gentle in nature, which makes them the perfect companion for sensible kids who will treat them with respect.

In short, Pixie-bobs do well in any kind of loving family, whether that’s with a single person, couple, or large family. If you decide to invite one into your home, be prepared for your Pixie-bob to involve themself in pretty much every aspect of family life!

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Pixie-bobs generally get along well with other pets, including dogs. As long as the Pixie-bob is paired with an easygoing dog that won’t intimidate them (or the other way around, in some cases!), there shouldn’t be an issue.

A word of caution, though—as chilled-out as Pixie-bobs are, they’re still cats. This means that it may not be the best idea to let your smaller furries like rats or hamsters loose around your Pixie-bob. Some cats cohabit perfectly well with rodents and even befriend them, especially if they’ve grown up alongside each other, but there’s no guarantee your Pixie-bob will do the same.

Things to Know When Owning a Pixie-bob:

Food & Diet Requirements

The dietary requirements of Pixie-bobs don’t differ from those of other cat breeds. Pixie-bobs are obligate carnivores, so they need nutrients derived from meat and a low-carbohydrate, high protein diet. Whether you feed dry food, wet food, or a combination of the two is completely up to you unless, of course, your vet has advised a special diet for your Pixie-bob.

All you need to do is make sure you’re choosing a high-quality commercial cat food with all of the appropriate nutrients your Pixie-bob needs to thrive and provide ample clean drinking water. It’s important to monitor your Pixie-bobs eating habits, as with any cat breed, to make sure they don’t become obese.

Exercise 🐈

Though not the most hyperactive breed, Pixie-bobs need exercise to help keep their weight down and release pent-up energy. Setting aside around 20 minutes per day to play with your Pixie-bob is a good rule of thumb, as is providing toys that they can entertain themselves with if you’re not around.

Though they stay in one place, cat trees are a great way to keep your Pixie-bob exercising, as they need to climb up several tiers to reach the top and most cats love being up high. Many cat trees come with toys and scratch posts attached to make things a bit more interesting.

Training 🧶

The whip-smart Pixiebob shouldn’t present too many problems training-wise. This breed is known for being quick to learn, easy to litter-train, and can even be trained to walk on a leash if necessary.

If your Pixie-bob makes mistakes like using the bathroom outside the litterbox, avoid punishing them. This simply makes matters worse and can damage the special bond your Pixie-bob has with you. Though they’re famed for being easy to train, some may just need a little more time than others. For the Pixie-bob, training is just another excuse to spend time with you, so they’re unlikely to protest!

Grooming ✂️

Pixie-bobs have thick double coats that come in two varieties—long and short. For short-haired Pixie-bobs, weekly brushing should suffice to keep shedding under control and keep their coats in tip-top condition. Long-haired Pixie-bobs are a little more prone to matting and tangles, so it may be a good idea to brush them daily.

In addition to brushing, all cats need to have their claws trimmed regularly to prevent them from becoming overgrown. Providing scratch posts can also help to keep your cat’s claws dull.

Health and Conditions 🏥

Due to outcrossing in breeding, Pixie-bobs tend to avoid health conditions caused by inbreeding. That said, there are a few conditions that have been linked to Pixie-bobs that you should keep an eye out for.

Minor Conditions

Serious Conditions

Male vs Female

Pixie-bobs are pretty large cats in general, but males are bigger than females. Even though the average size of a male Pixie-bob is approximately 11–15 lbs, they can weigh as much as 25 lbs in some cases! Females are a little lighter at around 8–12 lbs on average. Unneutered or unspayed males and females behave differently, too, but this is normal in all cat breeds, not just Pixie-bobs.

Unneutered males have a tendency to mark their territory by spraying and sometimes become more aggressive than usual. Conversely, females in heat are more likely to become super clingy, extra vocal, and will rub up against objects to deposit their scent. These behaviors calm down once your cat has been spayed or neutered, though.

Apart from this, there are no real differences personality-wise between male and female Pixie-bobs. It’s impossible to guess what an individual cat’s temperament may be like based on gender—they’re all unique! Both males and females have the potential to be excellent companions for the right humans.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Pixie-Bob

1. Some Pixie-bobs are polydactyls.

Some Pixie-bobs have more than five toes on each foot, with the maximum allowed by the breed standard being seven on each foot. This varies, with some Pixie-bobs having more toes on one foot than another, and some having a whopping total of 28 toes!

2. The first Pixie-bob was called “Pixie”.

Carol Ann Brewer founded the Pixie-bob breed. In the 1980s, Brewer adopted a very large male cat with a bobcat-like appearance, who she named “Keba”. Keba was then mated with a neighbor’s cat and Brewer adopted one of the litter—a female she named “Pixie”, who is largely accepted to have been the first Pixie-bob. Today’s Pixie-bobs are descendants of Pixie.

3. Pixie-bobs have a unique method of communication.

Pixie-bobs are famous for the cute “chirping” vocalizations they make. This adorable trait means that you’ll often hear a Pixie-bob chirping, chirruping, and chattering away rather than meowing.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a super mellow furry friend that never tires of your company yet looks like they should be prowling forests or mountains, the Pixie-bob could be for you! Enthusiasts for this bob-tailed delight have even likened Pixie-bobs to dogs on account of their loyalty and devotion to their people. Dog-like or not, though, it seems clear that Pixie-bobs are very much a joy in their own right!

Featured Image Credit: COULANGES, Shutterstock