Breed History:

The Pixiebob is a modern cat breed developed in the United States during the 1980s. The breed was created by American breeder Carol Ann Brewer, who began developing cats with a distinctive wild-looking appearance, including a short tail, spotted coat, and muscular body.

One of the foundation cats was a large male named Keba, which Brewer acquired in 1985. Another important foundation cat was a female named Pixie, born in 1986. Brewer selectively bred cats with similar characteristics and named the developing breed after Pixie.

Although the Pixiebob was deliberately bred to resemble the North American bobcat, there is no confirmed evidence that domestic Pixiebobs are descended from bobcats. The breed is considered a domestic cat breed.

The Pixiebob was accepted for registration by The International Cat Association (TICA) in the late 1980s and later received championship recognition. The breed became known for its muscular build, spotted coat, short tail, and unusually dog-like temperament.

Today, the Pixiebob is valued as an intelligent, affectionate, loyal, and playful companion known for its rugged appearance and strong bond with its family.

Gender	Height	Weight
Male	25 to 30 cm	5 to 9 kg
Female	23 to 28 cm	4 to 7 kg

Size: Medium to Large

Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

Breed Appearance:

The Pixiebob is a muscular, substantial, and wild-looking cat with a distinctive short tail.

The breed commonly features:

• Broad, pear-shaped head

• Strong muzzle

• Prominent whisker pads

• Heavy brow

• Medium to large eyes

• Medium-sized ears

• Rounded ear tips

• Ear tufts

• Thick neck

• Broad chest

• Muscular body

• Powerful legs

• Large paws

• Long, short, or kinked tail

Some Pixiebobs have polydactyl paws, meaning they naturally have extra toes. This is a recognised characteristic of the breed.

The coat may be:

• Short

• Medium-length

It is typically:

• Dense

• Soft

• Woolly

• Spotted or broken-striped

The most common appearance is a brown spotted tabby pattern, which contributes to the breed's bobcat-like appearance.

Common coat characteristics include:

• Brown

• Tawny

• Warm beige

• Black or dark brown markings

• Spotted tabby

• Broken mackerel tabby

Eye colours commonly include:

• Gold

• Brown

• Gooseberry green

The combination of the muscular body, spotted coat, ear tufts, heavy facial features, and short tail gives the Pixiebob its distinctive wild appearance.

Breed Type – Companion / Family Cat:

The Pixiebob is affectionate, intelligent, loyal, and highly interactive.

It is known for being:

• Affectionate

• Intelligent

• Loyal

• Playful

• Social

• Curious

• Gentle

• People-oriented

Pixiebobs are often described as having a dog-like personality. Many enjoy following their owners around the home and may learn to walk on a harness or play fetch.

They are generally good with children and other pets when properly socialised.

Despite their wild appearance, they are usually gentle and strongly bonded to their families.

Training:

The Pixiebob is intelligent and responds well to positive reinforcement.

Training should focus on:

• Early socialisation

• Positive reinforcement

• Basic obedience

• Harness training

• Recall training

• Trick training

• Mental enrichment

The breed can learn:

• Basic commands

• Tricks

• Fetch

• Harness walking

• Puzzle toys

• Interactive games

Short, reward-based training sessions work particularly well because Pixiebobs enjoy interaction and problem-solving.

Health & Care:

The Pixiebob is generally considered a healthy breed, although some individuals may be susceptible to common feline health conditions.

Potential health concerns include:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

• Obesity

• Dental disease

• Hip problems

• Kidney disease

• Urinary tract problems

Polydactyly is relatively common in the breed and is generally considered a characteristic rather than a disease, although extra toes require normal nail and paw care.

Routine veterinary examinations, regular dental care, appropriate exercise, a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy body weight help support long-term health.

Living Conditions:

The Pixiebob adapts well to indoor living but benefits from plenty of space and enrichment.

Ideal environments include:

• Apartments with enrichment

• Houses

• Urban or suburban homes

• Families with children

• Homes with other cats

• Homes with cat-friendly dogs

The breed enjoys climbing, exploring, and observing its surroundings.

Sturdy cat trees, scratching posts, window perches, tunnels, puzzle toys, and interactive games are useful.

Because Pixiebobs are social and people-oriented, they generally prefer homes where they receive plenty of interaction.

Exercise:

The Pixiebob has moderate to high exercise requirements.

Recommended activities include:

• Interactive play

• Wand toys

• Chasing games

• Fetch

• Puzzle feeders

• Cat trees

• Climbing structures

• Hunting-style games

• Harness walks

• Short training sessions

Around 30 to 60 minutes of active play and exercise per day helps maintain physical fitness and mental stimulation.

Activities that involve climbing, chasing, retrieving, and problem-solving are particularly beneficial.

Grooming:

The Pixiebob has low to moderate grooming requirements, depending on coat length.

• Brushing once or twice per week

• More frequent brushing for longer-coated individuals

• Increased brushing during seasonal shedding

• Occasional bathing when necessary

• Regular nail trimming

• Routine ear cleaning

• Regular dental care

The short coat is relatively easy to maintain, while longer-coated Pixiebobs require more frequent brushing to prevent tangles.

Extra attention should be given to the paws of polydactyl cats to ensure the nails remain properly trimmed.

Advantages:

• Affectionate and loyal

• Intelligent and trainable

• Dog-like personality

• Good with children and other pets

• Distinctive wild appearance

• Often enjoys fetch and harness walks

• Playful and interactive

• Strong bond with family

• Relatively easy grooming

• Adaptable to indoor living

Disadvantages:

• Requires regular mental and physical stimulation

• Can become bored without sufficient enrichment

• May become strongly attached to owners

• Large size requires sturdy climbing equipment

• Can gain weight without sufficient exercise

• Potential risk of heart and joint problems

• Polydactyl paws require regular nail care

• Relatively uncommon breed

• Not ideal for owners looking for a completely independent cat