Pixie Bob Proud Foot- Pixie bob cat
photograph ©copyright Helmi Flick 
Introduction This is a cat breed that is large (look at Proud Foot's paws above) but not quite the largest domestic cat breed, intelligent (leash trainable if training starts early), often polydactyl (see Proud Foot again above, he has one extra toe), quiet with a chitter, friendly and above all dog like in character. And I love Proud Foot's serious and intense face.
Pixie bob - Origin You wouldn't necessarily have thought that Pixie-Bob is the name of a cat breed. The "Pixie" element originates in the name given to a particular cat by the person who lived with her, namely, Carol Ann Brewer.
The Bobcat is one of the 4 species of Lynx and is the smallest of the 4. This cat is not threatened with extinction (perhaps because of her adaptability and resilience) but regulated. The Bobcat is hunted but has maintained her population despite this. I cannot see the pleasure humans get in killing fellow creatures. The photograph, courtesy Wikipedia, show you her size and appearance. The link above shows more. The 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica talks of the possibility of wild cats mating with domestic cats to form or modify breeds and of course the Bengal cat is a successful cross between a wild cat and a domestic cat. The Savannah is another but it is a tricky business producing an F1 Savannah. Being widespread in American it seems possible that the Bobcat could mate with the domestic cat to create the Pixie-Bob. However, apparently DNA evidence indicates that the breed does not originate from the wild. So, back to Carol Ann Brewer, who, in the mid 1980s, acquired 2 cats that had the appearance of being a cross between the Bobcat and a domestic cat. Breeding from these cats she produced a female called, "Pixie", the founding cat of this breed. Pixie, by the way had a long tail and was bred with a Manx (a short tailed cat). The other part of the name ("Bob") is obvious, being a reference to the bobbed tail, which is usually 2-6 inches long. The Pixie-Bob is bred to cats of the same breed now and the main registry (TICA) that registers this breed does not permit Bobcat hybrids. The other registry is the CCA (Canadian Cat Registry), which accepted the Pixie-Bob as NBC (New Breed and Color) in 1998. The CFA is yet to recognize this breed (the same as for the Bengal). The CFA's stance in relation to this breed (and in relation to the Bengal) is in-line with the type of cat it prefers (it seems) namely brushed, shampooed and highly domesticated which is manifest in its preferences in relation to the appearance of Maine Coon Cats. Unlike the American Bobtail cat, this cat is always a Brown Tabby - brown spotted tabby for showing (see a comprehensive post on tabby cats).  Pixie bob cat photo ©copyright Helmi Flick Pixie bob - Characteristics Carol Ann knows this cat. I have selected some notable characteristics:
 "Bear" photo ©copyright Helmi Flick Pixie bob - Docking The founder Carol Ann Brewer make a nice point on her website about breeding this cat. You get both long tailed and bob tailed cats in a typical litter. The long tailed cats don't necessarily sell as well as the short tailed. This is to be expected as the classic appearance is a short tail, hence the name.In the past she used to dock the tail but now does not. Instead she relies on the other standout feature, the wild looking face and does not price cut for long tailed cats. She also recognizes buyers who she believes will have the tail docked after purchase. In other words she is being careful with who she sells to and is proud to prioritize the interests of the cat and not profit (i.e. the interests of the person). Ethics A similar issue presents itself, for example, in respect of the dwarf cat, as some cats in the litter are not dwarf. This can drive breeders for commercial reasons to breed dwarf with dwarf cat which is dangerous as it can lead to embryos dying in the womb. The same competing interests exist.Carol Ann Brewer's website International Pixie Bob Journal Pixie bob - Sources:
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