Family Concerns

The following article is from a series of caring for cats and kittens articles and tips on breeds of cats …

The prospect of quite exciting. Kittens are all so cute that it might be difficult to choose from the many cat breeds available. Of course, there are the standard Persians and Siamese, but what if you want a feline companion with a more exotic look? You could choose the Abyssinian, with its sleek cougar-like similarities, or you could look at the Pixie Bob.

Pixie Bobs may have a wild look to them, but you couldn’t ask for a more charming, lovable companion. This breed of cat has a reputation for being the Golden Retrievers of the cat world. These cats, first bred in the Pacific Northwestern United States, were thought to be the product of a Bobcat and a feral cat. DNA results have yet to prove any bloodline relation, though. The only “fierceness” this cat breed has is in its loyalty to its owner and family. Breeders have discovered that after a Pixie Bob reaches the age of one or two, they don’t adapt well to new owners.

The Pixie Bob is a medium to large cat that some describe as “big boned”. They have spotted markings and black tufts on their ears. Their tails are either short or full length. If you’re planning on showing your Pixie Bob, make sure that the breeder hasn’t had the tail docked (cut). A docked tail is not acceptable in the show ring. Pixie Bobs also have huge paws that are “straight toed” or “poly toed”. A Pixie Bob with straight toes has paws with the usual number of toes on it (five in the front and four in the back). A poly-toed Pixie Bob will have more than the usual number of toes, maybe six on the front paws instead of five. Unlike most cats, Pixie Bobs take three years to reach maturity as opposed to the usual one year. The males can reach twenty-two pounds and the females top out at 16 pounds.

If you are going to buy a Pixie Bob, make sure to source one from a reputable cattery. Any good cattery will allow you to make a personal visit to meet the parents and siblings of your kitten. Don’t trust anyone who tells you visiting isn’t permissible. A Pixie Bob with quality bloodlines and papers will cost anywhere in the range of $600 to $1,500. The price largely depends on how closely the kitten resembles the standards of the breed. Kittens bred specifically to be show cats will start at $1,500 and the price rises from there. Some catteries will include the cost of altering (spaying or neutering) in their price, and the surgery will be carried out before you receive your kitten. If you can’t go to the cattery in person, inquire as to how they deliver their cats and find out how much the shipping charges are. Don’t be surprised if there is an additional fee upwards of $300 for shipping.

You can expect to sign a contract for the protection of the cattery, the kitten, and you. A contract outlines what the cattery will be responsible for (such as a 72-hour guarantee on the health of the kitten and what records the cattery’s veterinarian will provide), refunds, replacements, and expenses. The contract will also inform you of the buyer’s responsibilities once the kitten leaves the possession of the cattery. Some other things you can expect to find on the contract are holding fees (if you request that a specific kitten be held for you), a promise from you to give the kitten a good home and reasonable care, and advertising rights (the cattery might want to use snapshots of your kitten for advertising promotions).

Now that you have decided that you would like to have a Pixie Bob of your own, where can you find one? It’s highly unlikely that you will be able to find one in a cat shelter, although there are Pixie Bob rescues out there. While most of the Pixie Bob catteries are located in Washington State in the United States, you can find them all over the US and in the UK as well. The International Cat Association (tica.org/html/english/home/) has listings for Pixie Bob catteries and practically every other breed of cat out there.

For more resources on cats and kittens, go here: Cat Breeds