Toybob Cat Breed

History

In 1983, the Toybob was first documented in the Rostov Region, Russia, when Ms. Elena Krasnichenko adopted a stray seal-point cat from outside her home. According to her, this particular cat looked very much like the traditional Siamese, except for their kinked shortened tail.

This cat was later bred to another bobtailed seal-point Domestic Shorthair female cat. In 1988, these two cats' produced an oddly small bobtail kitten, which they named “Kutciy,” It became one of the foundation cats for the breed Krasnichenko called “Skif-Thai-Don”, also known in the longer form, Skif-Thai-Toy-Don.

The cat breed has been known under numerous different names and is an essential component of its history. In 1994, the Toybob breed name was suggested by a Russian feline book author and WCF judge Dr. Olga Mironova to be given to all the cats in development.

The cat breed expanded internationally in 2004, when Toybobs were imported to the United States by a Burmese cat breeder. Four years later, the cat breed entered the Experimental state within TICA or The International Cat Association.

In 2015, the ITCC or the International Toybob Cat Club was formed with the commitment to promote the cat breed worldwide, mentor new cat breeders and unite the Toybob standards across all Cat Fancy associations.

Today, the Toybob cat breed has achieved full Championship status in its native country, Russia, World Cat Federation (WCF), the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA), and the Cat Fanciers’ Federation (CFF).

Appearance

These cats are thought to be the smallest cat of all breeds. Adult Toybobs only grow to the size of a three to six month old standard breed kitten. Aside from their size, another striking physical trait of a Toybob is their short, bobbed kinked tail. It results from a spontaneous, natural mutation they got from the feral cats in Russia, which they have in their ancestry.

Toybobs have a small, solid body that is well-muscled. They have a solid chest, broad rib cage with a little depth to their flanks that adds to their solid and balanced appearance. Toybobs have almost straight backs when they are seen from the side when walking. Their legs are strong, being moderately proportioned with their compact bodies. Their back legs are just a bit longer than the front ones. Their feet are round with elongated toes on their back legs.

Their head is a modified wedge of medium-size with rounded contours and a flat plane just above their eyebrows. Their heads are a bit longer than they are broad, with nice round cheekbones that curve towards the inside of their faces to their mid muzzles. This gives the impression of having a slight or no whisker pinch. Moreover, making their muzzles appear to be modified, square-shaped with adult male Toybobs having more prominent jawlines.

When it comes to their beautiful coats, Toybobs can be short haired or semi-long haired, which can come in all colours and patterns. Shorthair cats have soft, luxurious, dense coats, with undercoats being as long as their outer coats. The hair on their stomachs is shorter and softer, but their coats' texture along the spine is a little rougher and denser.

In contrast, semi-long hair coats are softer with a slight ruff and ear and feet furnishings. Toybob kittens frequently have coats that are somewhat woolly.

Personality

The Toybob’s small, cuddly size and loving personality makes this cat breed a popular feline companion. They are cheerful, amiable, and playful. However, Toybobs are less active than some of the high energy cat breeds so their maintenance needs are not too bad.

Don’t be surprised to discover your Toybob perched high on top of your furniture. They are athletic climbers, and, like most cat breeds, they are light and agile on their feet. They enjoy being a lap cat, too as they are a lover of comfort. They particularly enjoy snuggling into soft pillows.

Because of their intelligence and affectionate nature, Toybobs will follow their owners from room to room like they are supervising you. Toybobs make an excellent family pet with their gentle, playful and very loving personality.

This gentle cat breed enjoys interaction and attention, making it a great feline companion for senior citizens and children. The Toybob is very friendly and peaceful with other pets. In fact, they love being in the company of another cat when left alone at home for extended hours.

Trainability

Toybobs are intelligent and love human interaction. They are easily trained and love to engage in interactive training sessions. Start them young, and they will thrive into a well-rounded and well-mannered feline companion.

You can keep Toybob busy with interactive and puzzle toys. Sit with them and teach them a new trick or two, or maybe a game of fetch to keep them mentally stimulated. Don’t forget to reward them with small treats and kibbles after every training session, especially if they behaved well.

Coat & Care

Toybobs can have a short, close-lying coat or a semi-long coat. Shorter haired cats need less grooming than their longer coated counterparts. Weekly combing or brushing and a wipe over using chamois leather is typically all you need to keep their coats in excellent condition. Like other cat breeds, they tend to shed the most during Spring and then again in Autumn when more regular brushing or combing is needed.

Be sure to brush their teeth at least once a week to help prevent tooth and gum diseases. Keep their nails clean by trimming them twice a month or when needed. To clean their eyes, wipe the corners with a clean, soft, moistened cloth to eliminate any dirt or discharge.

Every week, check their ears for dirt and wax to ensure that their ears don’t develop any infection. If dirty, clean them using a cotton ball and a vet-approved ear cleanser. Ask your veterinarian for tips on correctly cleaning their ears to avoid hurting the insides. If you smell a foul odour, contact your vet for care and treatment.

Like many other cat breeds, Toybobs are very specific too about their bathroom hygiene. So, be sure to keep their litter boxes clean at all times. With a clean litter box, their gorgeous coat will stay clean of any grime or dirt. Furthermore, Toybobs can develop a behaviour of using other areas of the house if their litter boxes are left soiled.

It is sensible to keep your Toybob an indoor-only cat because of their size. Should you allow them to wander the outdoors, always supervise their outdoor adventures. It will protect them from getting attacked by stray cats or other free-roaming animals in the area, which will likely be much bigger than them.

Health

Toybob’s are generally a healthy and hardy breed, thanks to the harsh environment from which they originated. Also, the constant use of native Russian Domestic cats in the breeding development preserves the excellent genetic diversity and good health of the cat breed. Toybobs have no known health or genetic problems, and they are known to have a life expectancy of fifteen years plus.

Even so, like with all other cat breeds, it is highly recommended to choose a breeder who runs DNA health checks on their Toybobs. This will give you peace of mind that your tiny feline will live a long and healthy life, and also proves that your new cat has been raised in a good environment.

Children & Other Pets

Because of their docile, easy-going, gentle, and affectionate nature, Toybobs make excellent pets for families with children and the elderly. They are an ideal match for children as they are playful and can play fetch and follow commands. Still, always supervise any interactions between your Toybob and child to avoid any mishaps that may occur. For the elderly, Toybobs make loyal lap cats that will keep them company all day.

Toybobs are known to get along well as a single pet or part of a pack. They can live pleasantly with other cat-friendly dogs, other cats, especially their kind, and other pets in the same household. Just be mindful when letting them meet for the first time. Make sure to gradually introduce them in controlled environments to guarantee that they will get along well.