The Pixie-bob Cat Breed: Everything you need to Know

Pixie-Bob cats are a particular species in appearance, and, surprisingly, many do not know them. They are stunning and have distinctive colors.

Pixie-bob cats are unique; in fact, these specific cats have a genetic feature to be polydactyl. 

This cat normally has two front paws of 5 toes and two back paws of 4 toes. However, pixie-bob cats can have up to 7 front paws. They could then have 28 toes.

Their color is remarkably similar to Bob-cats. They have a dark undercoat and specific black spots on their front. Another feature pixie-bobcats have is that they love water. This has been attributed to their wild nature. 

It has been said that pixie bobcats are essentially dogs in cat clothing. Meaning they look and act socially as a dog might. They like to go for walks on leashes, and they are also the type of cat to greet you at the front door.

This rare cat was made when an imported barn cat was mixed with a pixie bobcat. It was later remanded to attribute its features to its ancient heritage.

This cat is a brilliant family animal to bring home. It is a great social animal and enjoys scratches and attention. It is also protective, as it has repeatedly shown a defense nature to hostile people. A pixie bobcat was shown to have defended a family from a physically aggressive neighbor.

Owners of these cats have said that they were always “too cute” or said it was “very gentle and calm but still wanted attention.” “It would always be greeting guests at the door.”

The Pixie bobcats also have other features representative of bobcats. Such as their short tail and tall ears. They also have a double-thick coat that can be very short or long. They also don’t need much healthcare besides routine brushing and good quality food.

The pixie bobcat needs little healthcare and is a cuddly appearance to the family. You only need to trim long hairs on extra toes. Then give it Attention when it is hanging around you.

Origin

United States

Health

Dr. Adedapo Adisa:

Many believe the Pixiebob cat breed may appear related to the wild cats’ because of their spotted appearance.

However, in the real sense, the genomic composition of the Pixiebob cats is not in any way related to those of wild cats.

Known for its size and a spotty pattern that gives them their famous wild looks, the PixieBob cat crosses American Bobcats and domestic cats. The Pixiebob cats have a 13-15 years life expectancy, making them a healthy breed.

Although not much research has been carried out on the inherited conditions affecting the Pixiebob cat breed because they are new, they have been known to come down with few reproductive medical conditions.

One medical condition noticed in the Pixiebob cat breed is; Cryptorchidism in the male Pixiebob cats. However, the females have been seen to come down with dystocia and cystic endometrial hyperplasia.

Cryptorchidism, also known as undescended testes is a condition seen in the Pixiebob cats where one or both testes have failed to descend into the scrotal sack or scrotum. The undescended testes are lodged in either the abdomen or the inguinal region.

In some Pixiebob cats, the testes may eventually descend into the scrotum. If one testis fails to descend into the scrotal sac, this condition is called unilateral cryptorchidism. In a situation where both testes don’t descend into the scrotal sac, the cat is said to have bilateral cryptorchidism.

It is best to report to your veterinarian if this condition has been noticed in the Pixiebib cat as it could affect breeding, lead to testicular torsion (twisting along itself), or testicular cancer.

The female Pixiebob cats have been found to have difficulty in birthing their kittens, known as dystocia. Dystocia in Pixiebob cats can be grouped as maternal or fetal. This means the cause might be from the mother, or the difficulty in birthing might come from the kittens themselves.

Difficulty in birthing kittens in the Pixiebob cats can be classified as obstructive dystocia. In this case, dystocia results from an obstruction along the birth canal due to a small pelvic size or one or more kittens. The other form is called functional dystocia, which arises from little or no uterine contractions.

Pixiebob cats with dystocia should be treated as an emergency case and taken to the veterinarian for assessment.

Another medical condition seen in the female Pixiebob cats is cystic endometrial hyperplasia, which affects the uterus of the Pixiebob cats. In this condition, the uterine lining thickens from hormonal changes post estrus.

In heat periods of a healthy cat, the uterine lining thickens in preparation for pregnancy due to a hormone called progesterone.

However, in a situation where there is no pregnancy, and the thickening continues, this eventually leads to cystic endometrial hyperplasia and could progress to the uterine infection or pus forming in the uterus (pyometra).

If the Pixiebob cats show any of these medical conditions, it is essential to report to your veterinarian, who would have to assess the situation.