Pixie Bob Cats - Forest Hunter Pixie Bobs

How Rare Is The Pixie Bob Cat Really?

January 9, 2022/in Buy A Pixie Bob Kitten, Pixie Bob Cats, Pixie Bob Information

The rare Pixie Bob Cat – but what constitutes a rare Pixie Bob cat?

“Rare” refers to any breed with few breeders and few cats. In comparison to the very popular Maine Coon or Bengal, the Pixie Bob cat is extremely rare.

What makes a rare Pixie Bob cat?

Right off the bat, there are just around 40 active breeders worldwide, and the number continues to decline.

Needless to say, given the low number of active breeders, the overall number of active, breeding cats is also very low.

The written standard only allows one color for the Pixie Bob cat – brown spotted tabby. Therefore, even though plenty of cats fit the standard perfectly in that respect, the Pixie Bob cat is still considered rare.

What different colors and patterns are there?

Because of its barn cat heritage, you will occasionally see a kitten or cat that doesn’t quite fit the standard advertised as “rare” with a matching price tag.

For instance, the rare Pixie Bob cat also comes in melanistic, pointed, and dilute coat colors and classic pattern. All these traits are considered non-standard. The classic pattern looks a lot like a swirly pound cake and is similar to the marble pattern in Bengals.

Recently, a newborn “rare” Pixie Bob cat made its way onto the world stage, introduced by a newbie breeder as “melanistic” and “rare.” However, the kitten was, in fact, a brown spotted tabby, albeit a very dark one.

Shaggy-coated kittens are born almost black. As they mature, their color will lighten up considerably.

That begs the question: “What in the world is a melanistic kitten? And is that kind of Pixie Bob cat rare?

What is melanism?

Melanism is the opposite of albinism. Albinism is the utter lack or complete absence of pigmentation, while melanism is the presence of excessive melanin production, especially as a form of color variation in animals. The word derives its origin from the Greek word “melan,” meaning “black pigment.”

A melanistic rare Pixie Bob cat may show very faint tabby markings, but only if sunlight hits their body just right. In other words, melanistic cats have almost black markings on a completely black bodies.

Melanistic kittens are born completely black with no discernible smidgen of tabby markings anywhere on their bodies. There are no face marking, no white chin, no eye liner. You will not find a single hair on a melanistic kitten that is not black.

Rare also infers to a breed with a limited gene pool. With a mere 40 breeders worldwide, you can imagine that the gene pool may not be as diverse as that of a breed that has well over 200+ breeders worldwide. It takes careful pedigree study and planning pairing several years out to ensure that genetic diversity remains stable and within an acceptable level.

Only very few Pixie Bob breeders currently introduce found cats into their program. One could argue that improvement of type is one of the reasons; however, this is mostly done to ensure genetic diversity. Forest Hunter Pixie Bobs takes genetic diversity extremely seriously as it is paramount to producing kittens that are healthy and remain that way throughout their life span.

So there you have it. The Pixie Bob cat is rare in itself. Melanistic, pointed, and dilute colors even more so as well as the classic coat pattern. But keep in mind that only a brown spotted tabby can enter the show ring.

A breeder marketing a kitten with a color or pattern that does not fit the standard (tail length aside) as “rare” with a price tag to match, does so to capitalize on the kitten’s appearance rather than striving to improve type, health, and vigor.

The kitten’s exotic looks may be intriguing; however, this type of behavior should be a reason to more closely examine the breeder’s intent. And perhaps you would be better off finding a Pixie Bob breeder who breeds for the right reasons.

What are cat registries and how can they help you?

January 9, 2022/in Buy A Pixie Bob Kitten, Pixie Bob Cats, Pixie Bob Information

This is the third article in our series of tips and tricks and the #1 Comprehensive Kitten Buying Guide. Today we will talk about cat registries, what they are, what they are not, and how they can help you when researching breeders who you consider buying from.

What is a purebred cat registry?

It’s actually quite simple. Purebred cat registries are organizations that keep and maintain ancestry records of purebred cats. The largest ones are:

The International Cat Association (TICA)
American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA)
Cat Fanciers Association (CFA)
World Cat Federation (WCF)

All of these cat registries offer memberships, will register cattery names, and of course issue litter registrations as well as individual cat registrations (commonly referred to as papers). It should be noted that you do not have to have a current membership to get litter and individual cat registration papers processed.

Although a registered cattery name does not constitute an endorsement of the breeder by the registry, it can give you an idea of how committed a breeder is to promoting the cat fancy as a whole as well as their level of professionalism.

What are cat registries not?

Purebred cat registries are not a policing body. None of them get involved in contractual disputes nor will they vouch for any of their registered members.

Because a jaded pet buyer represents the potential of negative press for a cat fancy organization, most of them will get involved if a pet buyer does not receive papers or if they report very bad conditions at a breeder’s home.

Unfortunately, they also ask for a hefty fee for filing a complaint with no guarantee of producing the desired outcome. In our opinion, pet buyers are the single most important aspect of the cat fancy, and much more should be done by the various registries to ensure those pet buyers having run into trouble with their purebred cat are treated fairly. Nothing would get an unresponsive breeder going faster than the threat of a fine and/or temporary suspension if they fail to provide papers.

Just call them!

When you have narrowed your search for a breeder to buy a purebred cat to a couple of potential options, pick up the phone and call the purebred cat registry they claim to belong to. You can get the following information:

– Verify the registered cattery name
– Verify when the cattery was registered
– Verify if the breeder is an active member
– Verify if the breeder is currently a member or ever has been a member
– Verify if current membership is in good standing
– Verify if there has ever been a complaint against the breeder
– Verify if a breeder has continuously registered litters with the organization
– Verify if the kitten’s parents are in fact cats registered with the organization

What does this information mean to you?

Let’s use a couple of fictitious breeders to illustrate how this information would be beneficial to a pet buyer.

Breeder #1

Mary Smith claims to have a registered cattery by the name of FunkyCats with TICA and claims to have been a member for 15 years.

When you call TICA, you are told that the cattery name indeed is registered and that Mary Smith is the owner of record. You are told that the cattery name was registered 15 years ago.

You also find out that the breeder is no longer an active member and hasn’t been one in 5 years. Prior to that, she was a member in good standing and has never had a single complaint against her. Furthermore, she does own the registered cats that are the parents to the kitten you want to buy and she also regularly registers litters with TICA.

Breeder #2

Helen Miller claims to have a registered cattery by the name of TopCats with XYZ registry and has been a breeder for 4 years.

When you call XYZ registry, you are told that TopCats is a registered cattery name, that was issued 4 years ago and that Helen Miller is the owner.

Upon further investigation, you find out that Helen has been a member in good standing for the entire 4 years. However; she only has two cats registered to her name and has not registered a single litter to this cattery name. Matter of fact, there is no record of the kitten’s parents being registered within the organization.

It should be noted that all you need to do to be a “member in good standing” is to pay your membership fees and not have had sanctions levied against you.

Although Mary Smith currently does not have an active membership with her registry, she would be considered a breeder you might want to buy from. Some breeders let their memberships laps because they might not agree with some of the politics within the organization or because they simply do not see a benefit.

Helen’s information on the other hand would represent a big red flag. It looks as though Helen is breeding unregistered cats and is using the registered cattery name to lend legitimacy to her backyard breeding ways.

We hope you enjoyed the third article in this series and consider subscribing so you receive our handy dandy reference guide for you to keep via email once this series concludes.

Cat Breeder Interview – The Important Step #2

January 9, 2022/in Buy A Pixie Bob Kitten, Pixie Bob Cat Care, Pixie Bob Cats

Finding ethical breeders is hard. The cat breeder interview is the second step in the kitten buying process and the second article in our “#1 Comprehensive Kitten Buying Guide” series.

At this time, you have zeroed in on a breed or perhaps two and you have found some promising ethical breeders. So what’s next? Well, of course the cat breeder interview!! You need to interview each breeder and ask the same questions so you can compare apples with apples.

Good breeders welcome questions and will happily answer them. Texting or Facebook Messaging seems to be a new kind of communication tool many fancy; however, it does not convey tone or sincerity and is suitable only for first contact.

Please pick up the phone and talk the to each breeder. Any breeder that tells you they are too busy for an interview are very likely too busy when it comes to lending support to you and your new kitten if things go wrong.

In the previous article, “The Horror of an Impulsive Kitten Purchase“, we talked about questions you should ask:

Now let’s go over each question and explain what answers you should be getting and what answers are “red flags“.

What is your registered cattery name and what registry are you registered with?
What contract do you offer and can you send me a copy to review?
What health guarantee do you offer?
What is included in the purchase price?
When will I receive the papers?
Can I visit your cattery? Or can I pick up my kitten in person (if the cattery is out of state)?
How old will the kitten be when it comes to me?
If I ever cannot take care of the cat any longer, will you take it back?
Do you have more pictures of the kitten and also pictures of the parents?
Do you own both parents?

Now let’s go over each question and explain what answers you should be getting and what answers are “red flags“.

Ethical Breeders – List of Questions

What is your registered cattery name and what registry are you registered with?

The answer is rather simple. Ethical breeders should give you the accurate spelling of their cattery name and let you know which registry they belong to, such as TICA, ACFA, CFA, etc. Please note that REFR or any other pseudo registries are a “red flag”.

What contract do you offer and can you send me a copy to review?

Again, the answer is super simple. The breeder should tell you that they have a purchase contract and be happy to email you a copy for your review. Anything less is a “red flag”.

What health guarantee do you offer?

The breeder should repeat what is guaranteed per their contract. If you hear something that is not listed, ask if it can be added. If the breeder then “back paddles”, you are looking at another “red flag”.

Many so-called ethical breeders “guarantee” their kittens for just the first 72 hours. Keep in mind that many issues have incubation periods of a week or longer. It would be acceptable to guarantee the kitten against FeLV/FIV for 72 hours; however, anything else should be guaranteed for 14 days.

In the case of hereditary issues such as HCM, PKD, etc. a guarantee should span several years.

What is included in the purchase price?

During the cat breeder interview, the breeder should tell you exactly what the purchase price includes. Many breeders unfortunately do not include spay/neuter or rabies vaccines. Offering a kitten with just one FVRCP vaccine is another one of those wonderful “red flags”.

When will I receive papers?

In the event that the breeder practices early spay/neuter, the kitten should come with papers. Otherwise, papers should be provided once proof of alteration has been provided. Kittens offered at a “substantial” discount if you don’t want papers is yet another “red flag”.

Can I visit your cattery? Or can I pick up my kitten in person (if the cattery is out of state)?

As of the writing of this article, COVID19 presents a challenge when it comes to visiting a cattery. However; the breeder should have no issues with the request to pick up the kitten at their home in person. Any breeder insisting to meet you at the local Piggley Wiggley parking lot is a “red flag”.

You can also ask ethical breeders if they offer FaceTime or Zoom or Skype so you can see the kitten “live” before you make a commitment, and they should happily oblige.

How old will the kitten be when it comes to me?

All larger registries such as TICA, ACFA, CFA, WCF, etc. require their breeders to administer at least two inoculations before rehoming the kitten.

The first vaccine is given at 8 weeks of age and the second one follows 4 weeks later. Consider it a “red flag” if a breeder offers to let a kitten go any younger than 12 weeks of age.

If I ever cannot take care of the cat any longer, will you take it back?

Ethical breeders will not only respond to this question with a resounding YES!! but also refer you to the paragraph in their contract that handles the very issue.

They will tell you that you are responsible for any costs, such as shipping and updated vaccines; however, they will absolutely want to take their “kitten” back.

Pixie Bob Traits – Top 5 Reasons Why They Are Simply Perfect

January 9, 2022/in Buy A Pixie Bob Kitten, Pixie Bob Cat Traits, Pixie Bob Cats, Pixie Bob Information

You might ask yourself if the Pixie Bob traits make this breed a good fit for your and your family. Look no further. Here are the Top 5 reasons why to choose a Pixie Bob cat (TICA or ACFA registered of course) as your next family member:

One of the top Pixie Bob traits – they are afraid of nothing

You’ve come to the right place! One of the most memorable Pixie Bobs traits is their dog-like behavior and view any family not as a group of individuals but rather as their pack. Well, pride since we are talking about the feline species.

These cats bond strongly to not just one member of your family but to all of them. It is not uncommon for them to start the “night shift” in your bedroom only to move on to your kids’ bedroom halfway through the night. The Pixie Bob love is divided evenly among all members of a household.

Pixie Bobs thrive on human contact and will follow you around your home wherever you go. They must be near their humans. Even a vacuum won’t scare them off as this breed is quite self-assured and not afraid of much. Unlike other cats, water is not a deterrent and neither are noisy kids.

More Pixie Bob traits – you want a minimal maintenance cat

Another major Pixie Bob trait is the low maintenance this breed requires. Regardless of what type of coat your kitten/cat has, all you need is an occasional brushing every other week and that’s it. Add to that a monthly nail trim and your grooming “chores” are done.

You want a quiet cat – not a talker

Pixie Bob cats are not known for being talkers. They are mostly quiet and will communicate with little chirps. Only if something is of real importance to them will use their “louder” voice.

One of the best Pixie Bob traits – their intelligence

Pixie Bobs are very smart cats. Most of them are self-taught fetchers. You may throw a little fuzzy ball once or twice but that is all it takes for them to catch on. Next thing you know, your cat will initiate play by bringing his fuzzy ball to you.

Pixie Bobs know the meaning of the word “NO”! If you do not want them to jump onto that kitchen counter, simply take them off and firmly tell them “NO”!.

You might need to repeat this a couple of times but that is really all it takes for them to understand that kitchen counter surfing is not a bona fide pastime.

You want a cat that has little to no known health issues

Barn cats are the origin of the Pixie Bob breed. And as it goes with barn cats, only the fittest survive. This directly translated into a hardy breed with very little known health issues. Pixie Bobs are not prone to joint issues, glandular issues or heart disease. Most of them tend to live well into their teens if not even twenties.

Veterinary Care – Read This Before Your Next Vet Visit

January 9, 2022/in Pixie Bob Cat Care, Pixie Bob Cats, Pixie Bob Information

Pixie Bob veterinary care need not be a mystery or scare you. Some veterinarians may tell you that your kittens/cats need more vaccines. That can be dangerous. Over-vaccinating causes severe adverse health issues.

What can you do?

There are few vaccines an indoor-only cat needs. Also, the frequency is far less than some veterinarians make you believe.

Let me introduce you to the AAFP – American Association of Feline Practitioners.

Who are they?

They are an association of cat veterinarians who are “dedicated to advancing the field of feline medicine and surgery by setting the standards of feline veterinary care through the publication of practice guidelines, position statements, and by providing continuing education.”

But what exactly does that mean?

The AAFP took notice of a large number of cats developing tumors and lymphoma at a young age. After years of research, they identified over-vaccination as the root cause. Furthermore, they discovered that cats develop immunity that lasts far longer than a year.

As a result, the AAFP developed a vaccine guide – the holy grail of today’s veterinary medicine.

Pixie Bob Veterinary Care – Core Vaccines

There are only two core vaccines. These are vaccines that must be given and are not subject to debate.

FVRCP(Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) and RABIES:

Rhinotracheitis is an upper respiratory disease caused by the ever-present Herpes I virus.
Calici is a virus that causes ulcers in the mouth and, at times, the eyes. It leads to excessive drooling and an inability to consume food (it just really hurts).
Panleukopenia is the medical term for distemper. This is a dreadful and almost always fatal viral disease characterized by massive bloody diarrhea and vomiting.

Pixie Bob Veterinary Care – Other Vaccines

There are other vaccines your vet might try to talk you into. These are Feline Leukemia (FeLV), Feline Aids, FIP, Bortadella, Chlamydia, and Giardia.

Generally, FIP and Giardia vaccines are not recommended. They have dangerous side effects while not truly protecting your cat.

It would be best if you only considered these vaccines for a cat at risk. A cat at risk is one that you allow outside or gets in contact with outside cats. No indoor-only cat runs the risk of contracting Feline Leukemia, Feline Aids, FIP, Chlamydia, and/or Bortadella.

If you board your cat when you are on vacation, the facility might require you to provide proof of Bortadella, Chlamydia, and FeLV. Boarding is quite stressful for a cat. I am sure that you are fully aware that stress lowers the immune system. We suggest hiring a trained, licensed, bonded, and insured pet sitter instead to care for your cat in its familiar surroundings.

You no longer vaccinate cats every year. Instead, the AAFP recommends vaccinating as follows:

Series of 3 baby vaccines
Booster one year after the last vaccine
After that, only every 3 years.

We recommend stopping FVRCP vaccines at the age of 10 years. It would be best if you continued Rabies as it is the law. The next time you visit the vet with your Pixie Bob cat, insist only on vaccinations meeting the protocol’s guidelines. You will be glad you did.

Our Vet Cheat Sheet – An Invaluable Resource

January 9, 2022/in Buy A Pixie Bob Kitten, Pixie Bob Cat Care, Pixie Bob Cats

Knowing how overwhelming a vet visit can be, I have developed a Vet Cheat Sheet for your Pixiebobs to make things easier on Fluffy’s next check-up visit.

Let’s face it – a vet visit can be more stressful than a visit to a human doctor. There are so many acronyms. Just like human doctors, veterinarians are often rushed and do not take the time to explain everything.

Or worse, they tell you horror stories to justify why your cat needs all these vaccines. Low and behold, you’ll end up with a large vet bill containing at least 3-4 vaccines and other preventative treatments.

And of course, as soon as you leave, you feel borderline railroaded. You ask yourself if “all that” was really necessary. And you might even worry if what you just did to your Pixie Bob cat might now actually be harmful.

Chances are it was not necessary and might indeed be harmful in the long run.

Help is on the way!

Our handy dandy and free “Pixiebobs Vet Cheat Sheet” for indoor-only cats is sure to make things easier. It is a simple list based on recommendations established by AAFP – American Association of Feline Practitioners.
These recommendations will do three things:

Prevent disease.
Eliminate the potentially fatal effects of over-vaccination.
Protect your pocketbook.

Yours – free! The Pixiebobs Vet Cheat Sheet

Just right-click on the picture to save it. Then print this out and take it with you to your next visit. This will let you know what your Pixie Bob cat needs each year.

I hope you find this simple list helpful, and it will take the stress out of Fluffy’s next “V E T” visit.

Purebred Rescues in Shelters – Myth vs. Reality

January 9, 2022/in Pixie Bob Cats, Pixie Bob Information, Pixie Bob Rescues

There are so many purebred rescues in shelters” and “Adopt, Don’t Shop!”

Today’s animal welfare and animal rights organizations are eagerly explaining to anyone that buying a purebred cat is politically incorrect and even equates to animal abuse. Their social media posts and pictures relate this mission like a battle cry.

Unfortunately, these efforts have led to many misguided policies/laws aimed at painting all breeders with the same stroke. The emotions these comments evoke in me are best likened to what most people experience when someone drags their fingernails across a chalkboard. I HATE IT!

The Claim

According to the ASPCA, on average, 1.5 Million shelter cats and dogs across the United States are euthanized each year. They claim that many of these are purebred rescues in shelters.

Some organizations report far higher numbers; however, they fail to substantiate these numbers with facts. They do not reflect reality but are rather used to elicit shock, disbelief, and …….. lots of donations from you, the outraged public.

Rescue Reality

Large “animal rescue” organizations, such as ASPCA, PETA, and HSUS, raise nearly $300 Million in donations each year to “help save animals.”

In the ASPCA case, well over 35% of the $42 Million in donations go to salaries, bonuses, and pension plans. That’s about $15 Million. They manage to kill thousands in their shelters each year but see nothing wrong with asking your money to do the dirty deed while paying their CEO over $850,000 per year.

Nearly 99% of the over $100 Million yearly donations PETA obtains go to salaries, bonuses, lavish pension plans, and of course, criminal defense costs. In other words, $99 Million of your donations help them, never an animal. Additionally, their “shelter” euthanasia rate exceeds 97% in most years.

HSUS does not even have a shelter and gives around 0.5% of the $142 Million in donations to animal rescue organizations. Consequently, just over $700,000 will actually help animals.

Other than sheer and unobliterated greed, these organizations have one more thing in common – they are all blaming me!

Who is Responsible for Purebred Rescues in Shelters?

Yes, you got that right! I am responsible for the many purebred rescues in shelters. And, of course, all those cats being euthanized each year.

In theory, for every kitten I sell, a cat is put down in a shelter because it cannot find a home. Additionally, they claim that shelters are “overflowing with purebred animals from irresponsible kitten/puppy mills.”

Unfortunately, some local, smaller shelters are happily tooting into the same horn of misinformation to increase their donations. However, all of this information is lacking something substantial – FACTS.

Purebred Rescues in Shelters

Many “shelters” and “rescues” fail to mention that 95% of all shelter animals are not purebred. They advertise them as a specific breed, but they are domestic animals of unknown ancestry that find themselves in a shelter because of irresponsible owners failing to make a lifetime commitment, not because of any breeder.

NAIA (National Animal Interest Alliance) researched this claim back in 2015. What they found was nothing short of amazing; however, not at all surprising to me. Previous “research” found that at least one-third of dogs in shelters are purebred. The reality hovers around five percent. That’s right – only 5%. The numbers for cats are even lower.

Purebred Cats in Shelters

Here is just one of the many examples of “purebred rescues in shelters” we found on Petfinder:

This cat was advertised as a “Pixie Bob”

The first cat was advertised as a “Pixie Bob”. The second cat is actually a Pixie Bob. Can you see the difference?

Why do you see these cats advertised as something they are not? It’s simple. They find a home quicker that way. Now, I do not have an issue with this practice if it helps a cat find a new home quickly.

I have issues with people telling me that I am responsible for cats dying in shelters or that they rather adopt a “purebred Pixie Bob” from a shelter than buying one from a “kitten mill.” They have been led to believe that many purebred animals are sitting in shelters awaiting a new home. Consequently, any breeder is nothing other than a glorified animal abuser who produces animals to sell at a maximum profit, which equals minimum care.

Purebred Rescues Today

These organizations also fail to mention that each year roughly about 1 Million animals are imported from other countries. Say WHAT?? Yes, you read this correctly. 1 MILLION animals (mostly dogs) are imported to major metropolitan areas because shelters have more demand for YOUNG animals or kittens/puppies than they have supplied.

Metropolitan shelters have done a fantastic job raising awareness of early spay/neuter benefits while providing low-cost options to the public. Therefore, the influx of unwanted domestic kittens/puppies has dramatically decreased over the last couple of decades. Consequently, kittens/puppies or very young cats/dogs are harder and harder to come by. This is great news.

Purebred Rescues in Shelters – The Money Maker

Yes, it is – but not so fast. Let’s take a closer look at what this trend means to a shelter or rescue organization.

Right off the bat, the public wants to adopt babies or very young animals. Most are not interested in giving a 10-year old senior cat a few more nice years. They want a kitten – anything under a year of age.

Baby or young animals also fetch considerably higher adoption fees than older animals. In the Seattle area, the fee to adopt a kitten is around $200. A 5-year old cat fetches a mere $50. A senior goes for even lesser.

Young animals get adopted faster. Therefore, their shelter stay is short, and the cost to take care of them while in the shelter is lower. Their adoption fee is 4+ times that of an older cat. That means PROFIT!

You are out of luck if you are “old”

Older cats/dogs remain in shelters longer while incurring higher costs for upkeep. Their adoption fees usually do not offset these costs thus representing an operating loss rather than profit or, at a minimum, breaking even.

It should also be mentioned that fees for “purebred rescues in shelters” are much higher, hence the desire to declare as many cats as possible to be “purebred.” This again, is done for increasing profit. “Purebred” adult cats have $250+ adoption fees associated with them.

“Rescue” As an Industry

Purebred Rescues in the United States shelters has turned into a multi-billion-dollar industry. Yes, billions!! In light of all this information, making my cattery responsible for this seems to be quite fantastic.

When a potential pet buyer talks about feeling guilt for buying a purebred kitten, I always tell them the same:

“Two cats are better than one anyway. Get your purebred kitten and then get it a friend from the shelter. This accomplishes three things – you get what you want, you save a life, and you have two cats that are never lonely.”

I take rescue very seriously. Many don’t know that I have been rescuing for well over 25 years – far longer than I have been breeding. As a matter of fact, I breed and rescue (yes, you can do both). My furry entourage comprises purebred cats as well as Heinz 57 magnificent shelter moggies. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Did you know?

January 9, 2022/in Pixie Bob Cat Care, Pixie Bob Cat Traits, Pixie Bob Cats

What are typical Pixie Bob cat traits? Read on to find out some fun facts that you might now know.

Although the breed is considered wholly domestic, when it comes to kittens there are some noticeable differences between the Pixie Bob cat traits and its non-pedigreed cousins. So here are some fun facts that you might not know.

Reproduction

Females give birth approximately after 65-67 days of gestation. Domestic house cats are pregnant for around 63-65 days. The average size of a Pixie Bob litter is about 3-4 kittens. Litters with only one kitten and as many as 10 kittens have been reported (yes, that happened, and they all survived).
Pixie Bob kittens weigh around 4.5 ounces at birth. That is slightly larger than the average domestic kitten birth weight of 3.5 ounces. Birth weights as high as 6 ounces have been reported although they are the exception and not the norm.
Just like any other kitten, Pixie Bob kittens are born blind and deaf. The hearing starts to develop at 1 week of age, eyes start opening at days 10-14.
Polydactyl Pixie Bob kittens are slower to start walking. Those big paws just require a tad bit more coordination.·
They weigh around 3-3.5 lbs. when they are 10-11 weeks old. An average domestic kitten would weigh 2-2.5 lbs.

pixie bob cat traits — Pixie Bob cats are so silly

Diet

No special diet is required. They can eat regular, high-quality kitten kibbles and wet food and ideally a combination of both.
They should stop eating kitten food when they turn 6 months old. Kitten food is high in fat and can cause adult obesity if fed past 6 months.

Pixie Bob Cat Traits – Paws, Tails & More

50% of all Pixie Bob kittens are born with a long tail.
Two straight-footed parents cannot produce a polydactyl kitten. However, two polydactyl parents can produce a litter of kittens with just straight feet.
Long-haired kittens have only about double the coat length of short-haired kittens and no longer than 2 inches.
The pattern on a Pixie Bob coat goes through to the skin. If you shave a Pixie Bob, you can still see the spots/stripes on the body.
The life expectancy of a Pixie Bob kitten is the same as any domestic cat at about 13-17 years (if kept inside exclusively).·
Distemper and rabies vaccines are not an issue with this breed. All other vaccines are considered non-core and should be avoided.·
One of the most distinguishable Pixie Bob cats traits is their intelligence. Most can follow basic commands such as “come,” “no,” “get off” (that kitchen counter), and most know their name. But because they are a cat, after all, don’t blame them for trying….to get on that kitchen counter.·
This breed enjoys water. It’s not unheard of that they welcome a small wading pool during the hot summer days or play with their water fountain.·
Have a dog? No problem! Pixie Bobs like dogs – even if they were not raised with dogs. That’s why we call them “dogs in disguise.”