Pixie Bob, A Cat Similar To The Bobcat
Would you like to have a wild-looking cat but with a character similar to that of a dog? Well, these are the main characteristics of the Pixie Bob, a kitten that is also polydactyl – it has more fingers than usual – and has a short tail.
Meet the cat reminiscent of the bobcat
The breed originated in the northeastern US in the mid-1980s. It was created to resemble the bobcat, a felid that lives in the coastal mountains of that region, so an animal was searched and found that had the poise and gaze of a wild cat, but with the personality of a domestic pussycat.
Although it was thought that the cats that gave rise to the Pixie Bob were interbred with the lynxes that inhabit the area, there is no conclusive genetic evidence to affirm this. However, the physical characteristics of the breed seem to indicate otherwise.
Physical characteristics of the Pixie Bob
The Pixie Bob is a muscular and robust cat, medium to large in size and weighing around five kilograms. It stands out for its wild look and its elongated body. It also has the following physical characteristics:
- Head: inverted pear-shaped ; it has a prominent forehead, long snout, and strong chin.
- Ears: medium set and wide base, rounded tip and with markings typical of lynxes.
- Eyes: oval ; the color matches the coat.
- Legs: long and heavy, with toes also long and thick. The rear ones are slightly higher than the front ones.
- Tail: it can be almost non-existent, short or even long. It is thick and usually measures between 5 and 15 centimeters.
- Coat: Resistant and waterproof. There are short-haired and long-haired specimens. They have a thick double coat, with a woolly texture.
- Color: brown to reddish with small or medium spots.
Remember that polydactyly is said to be present in half of the specimens of this breed. It usually has between six and seven fingers on the front limbs, and between 5 and 6 on the back.
A pussycat with a doggy personality
Aside from its loyalty and attachment to humans, the Pixie Bob is listed as a ‘disguised’ dog because it can be trained to walk on a leash. He also gets along very well with children and other pets.
Intelligent, affectionate, manageable, sociable and reliable are also ideal adjectives to describe this pussycat who, despite his hunting skills and being very active, prefers the comfort of home. For this reason, it is an animal that can live without problems in an apartment. And, in addition, it does not have destructive habits.
Another of its peculiarities is that it likes to play with water and can even swim. On the other hand, it is not a very meowing cat, but it does communicate with different sounds, especially with some characteristic squeaks that it emits and with the occasional growl.
Care required by the breed
The Pixie Bob has a life expectancy of between 12 and 16 years. It is a healthy and strong animal that, so far, does not seem to present health problems typical of the breed.
In relation to the care of his coat, it will depend on its length. Long-haired specimens need regular brushing to avoid the formation of knots and to aid in a good shedding. In the case of short-haired animals, brushing them once a week will suffice.
On the other hand, as with the rest of the pets, it is necessary to give him a diet according to his characteristics, make periodic visits to the vet, deworm him and vaccinate him.
