Compare
American Bobtail vs Pixie-bob
Both are bobtailed, wild-looking American cats; the Pixie-bob is larger, more active and brighter, the American Bobtail more easygoing.
Verdict
These two are close. Both are wild-looking American cats with short bobbed tails and a sociable, family-friendly nature, and both score top marks with children. The Pixie-bob is larger, at 8 to 17 lb depending on sex, scores higher for energy and intelligence, and likes room to play. It has a longer health watch-list that includes a heart condition. The American Bobtail is smaller, calmer and a little easier to fit into an ordinary home. Pick by energy and size.
Choose the American Bobtail if
- You want the calmer, more mellow cat.
- Your home is ordinary in size.
- You have other pets, as it scores top marks for getting along.
- You want a shaggy coat in short or long hair.
Choose the Pixie-bob if
- You want a large, spotted cat with a woolly coat, sometimes with extra toes.
- You enjoy training a sociable, quick-learning cat.
- You have room for it to play.
- You will ask your vet about its heart and breeding-related watch-list.
Where they are alike
Both are medium to large, friendly cats with quiet voices and short, easy coats. Both are bright and sociable, so each does best with people around.
Side by side
| American Bobtail | Pixie-bob | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Shorthair |
| Origin | United States | United States |
| Size | Medium | Large |
| Typical weight | — | Males about 12-17 lb (5.4-7.7 kg); females about 8-12 lb (3.6-5.4 kg) |
| Lifespan | — | Often reported as 13-15 years; few studies |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Shaggy, medium-dense coat in both short-haired and long-haired forms | Dense, woolly short coat with a spotted tabby pattern; a long-haired form also exists |
| How common | Rare | Uncommon |
| Affection | 4 | 4 |
| Energy | 3 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 4 | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 2 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 2 |
| Shedding | 3 | 3 |
| Good with children | 5 | 5 |
| Good with other pets | 5 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 3 | 3 |
| Trainability | 4 | 5 |
| Suits a small home | 3 | 3 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The shaggy coat sheds in moderation, and people who react to cats may react to this breed. | — |
| Suits | A family or multi-pet home that wants a sturdy, adaptable cat with a mellow temper and a short tail. | A family or a home with other pets that wants a large, sociable and trainable cat with a wild look and has room for it to play. |
| Less suited to | Anyone who wants a very small cat, a fully tailless cat, or a cat that is easy to find. | A very small flat, or a home where the cat would be alone for most of the day. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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| Health conditions to watch | — |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026