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The origins of the Pixie-Bob are clouded in mystery and Legend. Carol Ann Brewer, the founder of the breed, does not hesitate to proclaim the breed “Legend Cats,” nor to admit there is no verifiable proof that the legend is true: that Pixie Bobs are the result of naturally-occuring matings, e.g., not assisted by human intervention, between the American Bobcat and feral or barn cats. However, the evidence strongly points to the truth of her assertations.

Pixie-Bobs resemble bobcats in many ways, from a muscular, rangy body with a woolly coat standing up from the body, and adorned with the signature spotting pattern in a light tan to rufus coloring, to the medium-wide, inverted pear-shaped face, to lynx-tipped ears. The tail is short, a minimum of two inches, and is carried low. The Pixie-Bob is one of the few breeds that allows polydact toes in its standards, with a maximum of seven toes.

The Pixie-Bob is described as highly intelligent, strongly bonded to its family, curious and playful, but not destructive, and getting along well with both children and other pets. Pixie-Bobs can be leash-trained easily, and love to take walks with their humans. Their vocalization is usually limited to chirps and twitters, although they will meow occasionally.

Carol Ann Brewer, founder of the breed, found a “Legend Cat” through a newspaper ad. The kitten grew up with Brewer’s mother, and eventually bred a neighbor’s cat (another Legend Cat.) The resultant litter included a beautiful female kitten which Carol Ann named Pixie, and which became the foundation of the breed.

The Pixie-Bob breed was accepted into TICA as “new breed and color” in 1995, and for Championship status in 1997. Although the TICA standard cites the resemblance to the American Bobcat, the founding committee is adamant that no “captive” American Bobcats be used in a breeding program. Brewer insists that only “Legend Cats,” i.e. cats believed to be the result of naturally occurring breeding between a bobcat and a barn cat can be legitimately used in breeding Pixie-Bobs.

To reinforce those opinions, the TICA designation of the Pixie-Bob as a “Native New Breed” carries this definition: “A new breed which has been identified through selection of phenotypically similar individuals from a naturally occurring population indigenous to a particular geographic region.” (Emphasis mine.)

To further enforce those goals, the founder has originated the F.T.L.O.P. (For the Love of Pixie) organization, which requires certain standards for breeders to join, including having at least one “Blue List” cat (cats with lineage directly traceable to the original Pixie).

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