Toybob
The Toybob is one of the smallest cat breeds in the world, with adults weighing between 1.5 and 2.5 kilograms — genuinely cat-sized in miniature rather than merely small.
It originated in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, in the 1980s from naturally occurring small colourpoint cats with short tails.
It is compact and well-proportioned, most often colourpointed with blue eyes, and carries a short kinked tail of typically two to eight vertebrae. Importantly, its small size does not come from dwarfism: the Toybob is proportionate, with normal-length legs, unlike the Munchkin-derived dwarf breeds. It is recognised by TICA and the WCF and remains rare outside Russia.
- Origin
- Rostov-on-Don, Russia, 1980s
- Size
- 1.5–2.5 kg — one of the smallest breeds
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Short, usually colourpoint with blue eyes
- Tail
- Short and kinked, typically 2–8 vertebrae
- Build
- Proportionate — not dwarfism, unlike short-legged breeds
Related: Munchkin
2 toybob photos, newest first
Living with a toybob
The small size is proportionate, not achondroplasia. That distinction matters: a Toybob has normal limbs and normal reach, and none of the skeletal considerations that come with the dwarf breeds.
Small cats are easy to overfeed by eye and easy to injure by accident. Measure food, and be careful about doors, chairs and being underfoot.
The tail is short and kinked with real vertebrae and should be handled gently.
The breed is rare outside Russia and the population is small, so ask breeders about genetic diversity and what testing they do.
The short coat needs a weekly brush. They are sociable and playful and generally do well with other pets.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual cats vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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