Pixiebob Cat Breed Information
Also known as: Pixie-Bob
A US-developed breed bred to resemble the wild bobcat, with a short tail, often polydactyl paws, and a muscular build. Despite the wild appearance, the Pixiebob has no recent wild blood and is fully domestic in temperament.
A highly affectionate, highly trainable, great with young children cat. On the practical side: low grooming demands and minimal drool.
About the Pixiebob.
The Pixiebob is a US-developed breed bred to resemble the wild bobcat. Despite the wild appearance and the breed’s founding mythology of bobcat ancestry, DNA testing has confirmed the Pixiebob is fully domestic. The breed has a short tail, often polydactyl paws (up to seven toes permitted in the standard), and a muscular brown spotted tabby coat.
Personality and behaviour
Affectionate, sociable, dog-like. Many Pixiebobs walk on harness and ride well in cars.
Care and grooming
Weekly brushing.
Indoor vs outdoor in New Zealand
Indoor or catio.
Where to find a Pixiebob in New Zealand
Catz Inc lists registered breeders on an interim basis. NZ litters infrequent. NZD 1,500 to 3,500.
The Pixiebob, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 4.7Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Pets
Physical
avg 2.5Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Social
avg 3.8Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Adaptability
Independence
Personality
avg 3.0Trainability
Energy Level
Vocal Level
Prey Drive
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Pixiebob.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Pixiebob costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Pixiebob costs about
$163per month
$38
$5
$30,100
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$43 / mo
$520/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$37 / mo
$440/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$49 / mo
$590/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$8 / mo
$100/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$25 / mo
$300/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $2,500 + setup $300) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Pixiebob compare?
This breed
Pixiebob
$30,100
14-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,800
- Food (lifetime)$7,280
- Vet (lifetime)$8,260
- Insurance (lifetime)$6,160
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,400
- Other (lifetime)$4,200
Reference
Average NZ cat
$23,600
14-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$500
- Food (lifetime)$7,000
- Vet (lifetime)$5,600
- Insurance (lifetime)$5,600
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,500
A Pixiebob costs about $6,500 more over a lifetime than the average nz cat, mostly highervet and higherpurchase + setup.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZ cat breeders test for these conditions and share results. The bigger health drivers for the breed appear in the Common group.
Occasional
2 conditionsHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
An occasional condition in the Pixiebob. Worth asking about.
Polydactyl-associated nail issues
An occasional condition in the Pixiebob. Worth asking about.
Rare but urgent
2 conditionsGenerally healthy breed
Rare in the Pixiebob but worth knowing the warning signs.
Cryptorchidism
Rare in the Pixiebob but worth knowing the warning signs.
The Pixiebob in NZ.
- Popularity: A rare NZ pedigree breed registered through Catz Inc on an interim basis.
- Typical price: NZ$1500–3500 from registered breeders or rescues
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Coat handles all NZ regions.
- Living space: Houses with vertical and horizontal space.
Who the Pixiebob is for.
Suits
- Families wanting a wild-looking domestic cat
- Multi-pet homes
- Lifestyle blocks with secure containment
Less suited to
- Outdoor-roaming setups
Common questions.
Is the Pixiebob actually part bobcat?
Why are polydactyl Pixiebobs allowed in shows?
If the Pixiebob appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Polycoon
A NZ-developed registration recognising polydactyl Maine Coons as a distinct breed. Polydactyly (extra toes) is a historic Maine Coon trait that some registries (CFA) exclude from the modern Maine Coon standard, prompting separate breed recognition by Catz Inc.
Japanese Bobtail
The cat with the short pom-pom tail. The Japanese Bobtail is the model for the famous Maneki-Neko (beckoning cat) figurine and has been documented in Japanese art for over 1,000 years. Active, vocal, dog-like, and social.
Manx
The tailless cat from the Isle of Man. Athletic, playful, dog-like in temperament, and one of the older recognised cat breeds. The taillessness comes from a single dominant gene with serious lethal and pathological effects in homozygous form, which means responsible breeding is essential.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.