bobcat [zoom] photo: Sierra Safari Zoo, with our thanks for their kindness	the bobcat: a native true wild cat in the U.S.[zoom] (photo: Back to the wild, wildlife rehabiliatation & nature education center, Castalia, Ohio, with our very special thanks to Mona Rutger)
The bobcat is not domesticated in anyway and cannot successfully be kept as a pet. In fact, it is illegal for any to be removed from the wild and kept in captivity. However, some are legally propagaed from captive generation and sold for private ownership. They, too, change their disposition with age and are pre-programmed to be wild. Unfortunately, the animal loses out, because it is suddenly a problem, dangerous and unwanted, yet it can no longer be returned to the wild because it has been declawed or imprinted on humans.
The bobcat lives in a relatively varied habitat, frequenting the woods but also the swamps, the rocky hills and fields. In winter, it prefers places where the accumulation of snow is not too abundant. (Source: Société de la faune et des parcs du Quebec 2002, with our thanks for its authorisation to use this document)
kitten female bobcat 5 months old photo in: The Incredible Bobcat Hybrid Newsletters - Editor: Carol Ann Brewer The bobcat is an animal of average size differentiated from the Canadian Lynx by its shorter paws, black rings on the tail and shorter hairs on the tips of its ears. Its fur is fawn brown with black spots especially on its belly and the paws have black stripes. bobcat or Gibson of FarWest? ... BOBCAT! :) photo in: The Incredible Bobcat Hybrid Newsletters - Editor: Carol Ann Brewer Bobcat Source: photo: Jim Rang, with our special thanks.

More recently it is the work of several breeders of Washington State to work with this breed to give it a standard and stabilize it's fabulously wild look and beautiful gentle character.

It was in 1985 that Carol Ann Brewer started the program of the Pixie-Bobs. She acquired a kitten supposed to have such a heritage: born of a polydactyl mother (having a number of toes above normal: 6 or 7 instead of 5 on the front, 5 or 6 instead of 4 on the back) and a father supposed to be a bobcat, Sasha, also a polydactyl. She acquired other kittens supposed to have such a heritage. Keba of StoneIsland and Maggie of StoneIsland were two of these legendary cats. They gave birth to Pixie, a female with an incredibly wild look. From these lines was created the Pixie-Bob. Certain Pixie-Bobs kept the polydactyl characteristic of Sasha.
click here... to read the fabulous story of "The original Foundation Lines" by Carol Ann Brewer!

[more pictures of Pixie]

PIXIE Pixie was one of the first cats to be used in the program for the developpement of Pixie-Bobs. Pixie was the progeny of two very special Legend Cats TM. The appearance of that cat was simply ethereal. She gave her name to the breed. Carol Ann Brewer lost Pixie in 1991. Pixie looked like the Coastal Red bobcat. Carol Ann Brewer says that she left for a few hours her cats and her dogs. When she came back, she found the door wide open. All her cats were in the entry, siting in a circle, silent. Pixie had left. She never came back.

So, the Pixie-Bob originate in Bellingham, Washington, and the standard was written to the colony Carol Ann Brewer had, which had Pixie as the matriarch of the group. The standard was written for a unique set a traits that Pixie and her children, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren had/have.... So, without some Pixie lines, a cat cannot look just like the standards intends...

In 1994, the Pixie-Bob entered the category V of TICA (The International Cat Association). In 1995, it entered the NBC (New Breed and Color Category). On May 1, 1998, a new breed was born in the United States: The Pixie-Bob could compete in Championship.

The ancesters of today's Pixie-Bobs: The Pixie-Bobs can, according to TICA be bred:

• either with another Pixie-Bob
• or with a domestic's kittens whose father is believed to be a bobcat. The legend and its appearance say it is the descendant of bobcat : the body and the head close to the description given in the Pixie-Bob standard. These matings in particular should be natural and accidental, of the bobcat's own choosing. They should be the result of living conditions of these barn cats in the great Northwest of the United States who live close to nature, where the bobcats also come. It is rarely the case of bobcats captured and caged to mate with a domestic cat. This would be very cruel to keep captive a wild animal and is contrary to the objectives of the founders of the breed, which has occurred naturally for centuries. The barn cat that has such a legend has to be presented to and approved by three TICA judges. This procedure allows the Legend Cat to be evaluated as to how closely it fits the standard so that it can be registered for use in a breeding program. It is to be noted that no cat that resembles a known breed other than the Legend Cat may be used as an outcross. The new blood that is added helps ensure more healthy and robust Pixie-Bobs.

The question of the hybrid genetic character of the Pixie-Bob. Since the legend mentions the mating between a feral feline, the bobcat, and the domestic cat, there is the question of the genetic character of the Pixie-Bob. Do they have in their genes a trace of their bobcat ancestors? Blood tests on the Pixie-Bob do not bring any proof of a hybrid character.

How the Pixie-Bobs arrived in France:

Though TICA (The International Cat Association) has registred about 2000 Pixie-Bobs in the world, in France, we have only a few of these magnificient cats that have a fantastic intelligence and a kindness that will go to your heart. It was in 1997, thanks to the famous French judge Aline Noël that for the first time, Pixie-Bobs were presented at a show: The "Cat Festival" in Pontoise organised by the French Connection December 6th and 7th welcomed Carol Ann Brewer, the Founder of the breed, and other american breeders, who had come with some of their most beautiful cats, amongst which the very famous NATIVE SON'S EL GATO DE ORO, and his litter mate NATIVE SON'S CHARMINE, and a few kittens. Catherine Bastide (international judge and member of the confirmation commision) worked with some other cats lovers to establish a file to allow Pixie-Bobs to be recognised in France.

The Pixie-Bob is now recognised by the LOOF.This has as a result:

• The possibility to show, non-polydactyle Pixie-Bobs in "traditional shows. Polydactyle Pixie-Bobs can still be shown in TICA show.
• The possibility to obtain LOOF pedigrees for all Pixie-Bobs born in France, including polydactyles.
• Attention: matings between polydactyles are not accepted. Are tolerated matings between polydactyle and non-polydactyle, so as not to install the dominant polydactyle gene.
• The necessary creation of a breed club with the objective to promote the breed and to keep track of reproduction.

last updated: 12/18/2007