Pixiebob: Features And History Of The Breed, Character And Care Of The Cat, Photos, Reviews Of The Owners, The Choice Of A Kitten

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Pixiebob - Domestic Mini Lynx

Pixiebob cats, or "short-tailed elf", differ from their relatives in their exotic appearance. This domestic fluffy beauty is very similar to the wild lynx. Pointed ears, spotted color, short tail really make you think that a wild cat from the taiga is walking around the house. But cat lovers value this breed not so much for its exotic appearance as for its docile nature.

Content

• 1 History of the origin of the pixiebob breed

• 2 Breed characteristics

  • 2.1 Photo gallery: appearance of pixiebob cats
  • 2.2 Character and behavior
  • 2.3 Health and life expectancy
• 3 How to choose a kitten

• 4 Maintenance and care

  4.1 Nutrition

• 5 Breeding
• 6 Castration and sterilization
• 7 Video: acquaintance with the pixiebob breed
• 8 Owner reviews

The history of the origin of the pixiebob breed

There are several assumptions about how the pixiebob cat breed appeared. According to one of them, it arose through the spontaneous crossing of a lynx and an ordinary mongrel cat. Those who adhere to this position, to prove their words, cite the records of Ernest Hemingway, in which he mentions wild cats with short tails that live in the forest belt of Canada and North America. This hypothesis was not confirmed by scientists, since even if mating of animals of two different species could occur, then their offspring would be sterile.

A characteristic feature of the pixiebob cat is its physical resemblance to a lynx.

Another version is more plausible. According to her, the first pixiebob was bred by breeder Carol Ann Brever. Once she accidentally discovered an unusual kitten with polydactyly (an increased number of fingers compared to the norm) and a short tail and bought it from the owners. A little later, in 1986, Carol found a lynx cat with a short tail, which had an impressive size.

As a result of mating these two individuals, a cat with a characteristic color and a short tail was born. She was given the nickname Pixie, which means "elf". It was with this kitten that the birth of the pixiebob breed began. A little later, the standard was approved, in 1995 Pixiebobs were recognized as an independent breed. Pixiebobs are recognized by the World Cat Federation, and the International Cat Federation refused to recognize the breed.

Breed characteristics

Pixiebob cats differ in their by no means small size. An adult male weighs about 7-9 kg, and females 4-6 kg. They have a strong physique with well-developed muscles, powerful, wide chest. There is a slight crease on the abdomen. The head is quite large, but proportional. It has a pear-shaped shape, whereas a normal cat has a wedge-shaped head. Sideburns on the cheeks make these cats even more lynx-like.

Pixiebobs have a strong physique and well-developed muscles.

The ears are wide, with a rounded top. The standard allows both the presence of lynx tassels on them, and their absence.

The eyes are of medium size, deep set. A distinctive feature is a sullen gaze, the so-called wild gaze. Experts believe that a real pixie bob must have it. Eye color can be green or gold to brown.

The nose of these cats is wide, slightly convex, with a slight hump. Paws are long and strong, hind legs are longer than front ones. The finger pads are round. Polydactyly is allowed with a maximum number of 7 toes on each foot.

The tail is a characteristic feature of pixie bobs and should be short, from 5 cm to the hock. Kinks and bends are allowed on it.

The hock is located on the cat's hind legs

There are both long-haired (hair length about 5 cm) and short-haired (up to 3 cm) representatives of pixiebobs. The coat of both varieties is soft to the touch. Allowed brown, red or gray color with ticking (hair coloring alternately with dark and light stripes). The presence of darker spots and stripes, which imitate the color of a lynx, is obligatory. On the belly, chest and inside of the paws, the coat is lighter. Paw pads are black or dark brown (dark chocolate shade). The color of the tip of the tail should be the same as the pads. Dark stripes extend from the outer corner of the eyes towards the cheeks, and a pattern in the form of the letter M can be seen on the forehead.

Photo gallery: the appearance of pixiebob cats

The so-called "wild look" of pixiebobs is their trademark

Shorthaired pixiebobs are more common than longhaired cats

Long-haired pixie bobs can grow up to 5 cm in length.

Pixiebob kittens have blue or light blue eyes

There are pixiebobs in brown, red or gray.

Character and behavior

Despite its formidable appearance, the pixiebob is a very friendly cat. She treats children very well. This cat is characterized by play without releasing its claws, which prevents scratches on the human body. Pixiebobs require constant attention and do not tolerate long separation from the owner. Representatives of this breed are reasonably talkative and in rare cases give voice.

They treat strangers with caution, they are unlikely to allow themselves to be fondled, but they will not attack either. Despite the friendliness of pixie bobs, the presence of another pet in the house often leads to the fact that the furry pet begins to show aggression towards the neighbor due to jealousy of the owner.

These cats are very intelligent, trainable. The high energy of pixiebobs suggests space for freedom of movement. Ideally, this breed should live in a private home to follow their hunting instincts. In an apartment, it is necessary to provide the cat with a sufficient number of toys and often play with it.

Playful pixie bob needs toys and attention

Health and longevity

On average, pixiebob cats live 13-15 years. They are distinguished by good health. No genetic predisposition to certain diseases has been identified at the moment. However, sometimes individuals of this breed react to vaccination with an allergic reaction and suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickening of the ventricular wall).

How to choose a kitten

A pixiebob kitten is not cheap, so you shouldn't risk buying it from dubious breeders. It is best to purchase it from a trusted cattery that has documents for breeding cats of this breed.

When buying a kitten, you should pay attention to its behavior: kittens of this breed are active and playful. Health signs are also:

• soft tummy;
• eyes without discharge;
• shiny coat.

You should definitely pay attention to the color: even at a young age, characteristic spots and stripes should appear. Six to seven toes on the front paws can also indicate belonging to this breed, but this is not required, 5 toes are acceptable. The head should be pear-shaped. And of course, you need to pay attention to the tail, which should be short.

Pixie Bob kittens are very playful and active

When choosing the sex of an animal, you should think about what is expected from this pet in the future. Females are more expensive, but further breeding is possible for profit. The cats are a little cheaper, but they are more playful. The price for kittens of this breed ranges from 20 to 100 thousand rubles, depending on the cattery, the number of awards from the parents and the sex of the animal.

Maintenance and care

Pixiebob requires minimal personal care, which is expressed in the following:

• regular brushing (1-2 times a week);
• brushing your teeth to prevent the formation of tartar, which can lead to serious problems in the oral cavity (once a week);

• periodic cleansing of the eyes and ears;

  

  The cat needs to clean its ears and eyes as needed.

• clipping of nails (if necessary).

Often you shouldn't bathe a pixiebob, but if the need arises, there is no difficulty in washing: pixiebobs love to swim.

These smart and clean pets get used to the toilet very quickly. It is important to choose the right place for the cat litter box: it should be located where no one will disturb the cat, away from the food bowls. At the same time, its location should not bother the people living in the apartment with its smell, since even with careful and timely cleaning, a small smell is still possible.

The choice of tray should also be approached thoroughly. For cats as large as the pixiebob, a large, high-sided litter box is required. You can choose any litter for kitty litter: clumping or absorbent. The main thing is that there are no flavors in it, which not all cats love. You can also use paper towels or toilet paper as filler. But when using such materials, you must immediately wash the tray after the cat goes to the toilet, since if it is wet there, she will not step into it.

Food

An adult cat should be fed no more than 2 times a day, making sure to keep an eye on the portion size, as the pixiebob breed is prone to overeating.

Pixiebob is a picky cat. Experts recommend giving preference to premium ready-made dry and wet food so that the calorie content and nutritional balance are not in doubt. But if the owner prefers natural products, then the cat's diet must include:

• meat;
• offal;
• fish;
• vegetables;
• cereals;
• eggs;
• vegetable oil;
• fermented milk products: cottage cheese, yogurt, yogurt.

Prohibited are products such as:

• alcohol (even in the form of wine vinegar in which meat was marinated);
• cocoa and chocolate;
• tea and coffee;
• avocado;
• broccoli (in large quantities);

• onion and garlic;

  

  Sometimes a small piece of food that is not allowed to feed cats is enough to seriously harm your pet's health

• rhubarb;
• tomatoes;
• raw potatoes (cooked will not harm the cat, but it will not be beneficial either);
• beans;
• seeds and seeds of fruits;
• grapes and raisins;
• citrus
• persimmon;
• nuts;
• mushrooms;
• milk;
• raw eggs;
• fat meat;
• bread and pasta;
• salt and sugar;
• fried, smoked, spicy, salty dishes.

Serving size depends on both the age of the pet and the type of food that the furry friend is eating. Also, the amount of food is affected by the activity of the animal. The food consumption rate is written on the packages of the finished food, but it may not be suitable for the individual characteristics of a particular cat (for example, pregnant or neutered). Feeding natural foods can also make it difficult to determine the optimal serving size. Therefore, it is advisable to consult with a veterinarian for advice on how much food a cat should eat.

You should not alternate between ready-made food and natural products, as the digestive system of cats is very difficult to change from one type of food to another, which can lead to serious health problems

Breeding

The period of pregnancy and childbirth, as a rule, passes without any difficulty in pixiebobs. There are usually 2-3 kittens in a litter. The best age for mating is 2–2.5 years. A pixiebob cat can produce up to 3 litters in 2 years.

Usually cats of this breed have 2-3 kittens

Mating should be carried out 3-10 days after the onset of estrus, which can be determined by the following signs:

• change in appetite (decrease or, more rarely, increase);
• anxiety;
• increased licking of the genitals;
• swelling of the genital loop.

Pregnancy lasts 2 months. It does not imply any special changes in pet care, except for an increase in the diet of proteins, fats and vitamins. Childbirth also usually goes without complications, but if the owner has no experience of participating in the delivery of cats, then it is better to consult a professional.

Castration and sterilization

The notion that neutering only applies to cats and neutering refers to cats is false. Castration involves the complete removal of the genitals in both males and females. Sterilization is the ligation of the seminal canals in cats and the fallopian tubes in cats, which prevents pregnancy, but does not stop the production of sex hormones.

All operations to interfere with the genital area of animals must be done at a favorable time for this, namely, before the onset of puberty, which in pixiebobs occurs at 6-8 months. Most veterinarians recommend sterilization before the onset of the first estrus to prevent memorization of the behavior pattern that is characteristic of sexually mature animals during sexual activity. Castration can be performed later. It is advisable to interfere with the reproductive sphere of a cat before he reaches 1 year. Optimally - at the age of eight months.

Video: getting to know the pixiebob breed

Owner reviews

Pixiebob cats conquer not only with their exotic appearance, but also with their uncharacteristic character, unpretentiousness and ease of care, which are unusual for these four-legged pets. They do not have any genetic predisposition to diseases, therefore, proper nutrition and optimal physical activity can prolong the life of a fluffy pet for a long time.