The Toy Bob is a rare exotic breed that looks very much like Siamese cats, but differs from them in its doll size and short tail. As adults, these unique cats still look more like teenage kittens.
Today, toy beans proudly hold the title of the smallest cats in the world. Even their name speaks for itself, because “toy” is translated from English as “toy”.
Origin story
Tiny big-eyed creatures have appeared on the international cat lovers scene relatively recently. A certain Elena Krasnichenko found an emaciated, starved kitten on the street, and, feeling sorry for it, took it home. Misha (that’s the name of the cat, which looks like a Siamese) was fed and raised, and a little later they found a couple - a cat of the same color, Sima.
Kittens that were born regularly were given away to good hands. But one day an unusual kitten was discovered in the litter: he was much smaller in size than his brothers and sisters, and instead of the usual long tail he had a small funny squiggle.
The kitten was named Kutsy. When he grew up and got a girlfriend, it became clear: it was from this couple that a new breed could be obtained. In 1994, Kutsego's descendants were shown at the World Cat Show. The charming fluffy little ones created a real sensation: many wanted to have these miniature, toy-like cats with a lively character and good disposition. In the same year, a standard for the breed was drawn up and a name was invented.
To this day, there is confusion with the name: Scythian Toy Boba is often called Scythian Tay Don. But this is not considered a gross mistake, since the essence is the same: “Scythian” is a reference to the population that lived on the territory of Rostov-on-Don many hundreds of years ago, “Don” is in honor of the city itself, “bob” is a short ponytail, “tai " - in honor of Thai cats (which can clearly be traced in the ancestors) and "toy" - a toy.
The popularity of the breed began to grow exponentially. It was officially recognized in 2021 (ASC, FARUS, AFC, WCC, ICU, AFK, WCF) kittens began to be actively exported abroad: to Europe, Japan, Israel, Belarus and the USA. In 2021, the breed was recognized by the MFA federation (with experimental status) and CFF.
Toy Bob: The smallest cats in the world
Recently, the smallest toy bob cats in the world have begun to be bred in Yekaterinburg. A large adult specimen does not exceed the size of a four-month-old ordinary kitten. In one of the Ural nurseries, cat lover Anna Gromova told how toy beans suffer from a “Napoleon complex” and swim in the pool in the summer.
At Anna's nursery we were greeted by two adult animals and two kittens. At first glance, it seems that babies Holly and Toffee are no more than two months old. But we are wrong.
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“They are about five months old now.” Kittens weigh 600 grams. They will grow for up to six months, and then only gain weight. A maximum adult cat can weigh about two kilograms. It is impossible to “fatten” toy beans - this is a common myth, says breeder Anna.
The Toy Bob breed was bred in Russia quite a long time ago, about 30 years ago, in Rostov-on-Don.
— A woman picked up cats on the street. One had a short ponytail with kinks, and the other had a short pom-pom ponytail. They were mated, and a kitten named Kuts was born. It reached a weight of 900 grams, was very small and had a short tail. From that moment on, breeding began. After some time, breeding was stopped and recently resumed only here in Yekaterinburg,” explains Anna.
A cat gives birth to a maximum of three kittens per litter. Due to her size, she won’t be able to bear any more. But females are considered good mothers. They often bite off the kittens' whiskers to prevent the kids from wandering far.
Despite their small size, toy beans are practically fearless. They are difficult to scare off; photographs are mostly taken with their eyes open, and they are not afraid of flash. Toy Bob can be easily taught to follow simple commands, such as fetching a mouse. Small kittens can make sounds similar to a dog barking. Adults are quite silent, except sometimes they can announce their presence to the owner.
- Our male, for example,
could easily bring slippers. Cats are not afraid of water; on the contrary, they love it. They like to swim. In the summer, the toy beans splash around in the inflatable pool in the yard,” comments Anna.
Toy beans are loyal friends. They are attached to people and when “competitors” appear, they conquer territory. This, according to Anya, is a characteristic “Napoleon complex” - cats do not allow their relatives to “look down” on themselves. They practically do not react to birds, domestic rats and dogs.
Toy beans live like regular cats, 15-18 years. They are unpretentious in food. According to Anya, such cats are often purchased by owners of small apartments. Now experts are trying to make the toy bean even smaller and more compact: according to their calculations, soon the weight of an adult individual will not exceed 1200 grams. True, you will have to pay a considerable amount for such a pet - from 25 to 60 thousand rubles.
Standards
The average weight of these babies is the same as that of five-month-old kittens, and does not exceed 2 kg. Breeders have still not given up hope of making the animals even lighter, so work is in full swing.
Despite their tiny size, cats of this breed are proportionally built, without defects.
| Standard | Description |
| Head | Trapezoidal, with smoothed corners. The chin is strong, cheekbones are neat, the nose is small. |
| Ears | Medium in size, set high, their tips rounded. |
| Eyes | Round, open, large. The color of the iris is sky blue or dark blue. |
| Torso | Body with well-developed muscles and strong bones. The back is level, the chest is wide, the neck is short, not thin. Both the front and hind limbs are well developed (the hind limbs are slightly longer), the paws are elastic and rounded. |
| Tail | Short, looks like a tassel or pompom. |
| Wool | Short and elastic, fits tightly to the skin. The undercoat is clearly visible. |
Significant defects in appearance:
- Long tail (more than 1/3 of the body length);
- Narrow eyes;
- Dwarfism;
- Exhaustion;
- Developmental anomalies of the chest, joints and spine;
- Big size.
Character and behavior
Skiff-toy-beans are not just “decorative” cats. They are good hunters, dexterous and fearless. That is why you should think: is it necessary to house a cat and a budgie in the same apartment? Skiff will not be able to calmly pass by the cage; he will try to get the feathered creature over and over again, so it is better not to risk it. The same applies to small rodents.
But the Scythian will get along well with other cats, especially if the neighbor is similar to him in temperament. The Scythian will not divide territory or fight from scratch, but he will be able to stand up for himself. He is also dog friendly.
For the Scythian Bob, man is the most important creature. Once in the house, he becomes attached to the members of the household for life, not choosing one leader, but loving all family members equally. He is completely human-oriented and adapts to the human rhythm of life with all his might. He is not afraid of strangers: he boldly approaches all guests and unfamiliar animals, so you always need to be on your guard.
They treat small children very kindly and, even if they make loud noise, do not run away. They love to play and race with them, but you must make sure that the child does not injure the fragile little skiff. Do not leave children alone with cats of this breed for long periods of time.
Explorers and inquisitive kids: they won’t miss a single corner in your apartment, they will climb into all the drawers and boxes, and sniff every object.
Skiff toy beans definitely need toys, they spend a lot of time playing, and if they don’t have special gizmos, they will play with whatever comes under their paw: keys, spools of thread, wrapped candies, tin cans (pushing them off shelves onto the floor ). Think about it: maybe it would be easier to install a cat play set in the corner of the room so that your kitten doesn’t get bored and start acting up.
These cats are very smart and grasp information on the fly. From childhood they can be taught simple commands “come”, “place”, “eat”, “give”. Scythians easily carry small objects in their teeth, like dogs.
Scythian beans are not only pleasing in appearance: these amazing creatures can also heal! In their hometown, cats participate in the rehabilitation program “Little Cats to the Rescue,” helping children with disabilities.
Feeding the cat
Breeders do not give specific instructions regarding feeding toy bob cats. For these animals, the same diet rules apply as for cats of other breeds.
The main thing is to provide your pet with a balanced diet so that he receives the required amount of protein, vitamins and microelements.
Of the purchased feeds, it is better to give preference to well-known brands:
- Acana;
- RoyalCanin;
- Hills.
And of course, do not forget that the Toy Bob is a small cat, its daily food intake is at least 20% less than that of larger breeds.
Those who prefer to create their own menu for their pet should remember that approximately 80% of the diet consists of lean meat:
- rabbit meat;
- turkey fillet;
- chicken breast;
- veal;
- beef.
The remaining 20% of the Toy Bean cat's diet consists of cereals, vegetables, sea fish, eggs, low-fat cottage cheese, and sour milk. The list of prohibited foods includes sweets, potatoes, processed foods, sausages, salty and spicy foods.
Care instructions
Wool
There are no difficulties in care. The Scythian needs to be combed once a week, and during shedding – 2-3 times. Bath - when dirty, before an exhibition or before giving birth.
Does your cat like to swim?
Not really
Teeth
If the cat eats natural food, its teeth can be brushed once a month. When feeding with ready-made food - weekly, using toothpaste for cats and a silicone brush (or a baby brush with short bristles). If you notice your pet has tartar, bleeding or reddened gums, do not hesitate and take him to a doctor for examination. An advanced disease leads to tooth extraction, which can be dangerous for the animal.
Ears
But the ears require special attention: sulfur secretions quickly accumulate in them. Excess sulfur should be removed every week with a cotton swab or swab dipped in cleansing lotion or chlorhexidine (can be replaced with boiled water). Do not pour anything into the ear and act very carefully so as not to damage the eardrum.
Expert opinion
Dusheba Vera Ivanovna
In 2010, she graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Scriabin with honors, specializing in veterinary medicine. I regularly attend veterinary conferences, congresses, and webinars.
Do not use human products and cosmetics when caring for your cat: shampoos, gels, pastes and foams. Even regular wet wipes are prohibited. Components that are harmless to humans can be deadly to animals. While licking, the cat swallows them, and this leads to stomach upset, ulcers, and poisoning.
Catering
Scythians are omnivores, so you can feed them both natural and prepared food. But breeders do not recommend a mixed type of nutrition.
Natural products
A natural menu should consist of the following products:
- Lean meat: beef, veal, turkey, rabbit, lamb;
- By-products chicken necks and stomachs, hearts, liver (stewed);
- Sea fish: flounder, hake, trout;
- Porridge: rice, buckwheat, millet, rolled oats;
- Dairy products: kefir, fermented baked milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, natural yogurt;
- Stewed vegetables: carrots, beets, pumpkin, zucchini, lettuce, broccoli, green salad, dill, parsley.
- Clean water at room temperature (it should be changed 2 times a day).
Much from the human table is absolutely unsuitable. Large and small bones (even boiled), fatty foods, foods with dyes and flavor enhancers, sweet, smoked, salty, pickled – the list is long.
Chocolate and eggplants are poisonous; potatoes and legumes cause flatulence and intestinal upset in cats. If you have a question about whether a cat can eat this or that dish, contact your veterinarian for advice.
Recommended food
When choosing industrial ones, stop at food from holistic groups: Applaws, Farmina N&D, Grandorf. Super premium: ProSeries, Savarra, Summit. They are made from high-quality products (meat, fish, vegetables, berries) and contain a complete vitamin and mineral complex, while the premium and economy food lines are of lower quality.
Below are recommended super-premium foods. Links with the names of the food are clickable, on them you can, within our website, get acquainted with the descriptions of the food and read reviews from owners of cats of the Skif Toy Bob breed.
| Holistic | Super premium | Super premium |
| Canagan | Karmy | Pronature Original |
Expert opinion
Dusheba Vera Ivanovna
In 2010, she graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Scriabin with honors, specializing in veterinary medicine. I regularly attend veterinary conferences, congresses, and webinars.
It often happens that under the guise of a Scythian toy bob, scammers sell ordinary Siamese kittens. If you do not have experience in choosing a breed, and you do not know its basic characteristics, do not take risks and do not buy an animal from your own hands. Contact a specialized nursery, which will provide you with all the necessary documents confirming your pedigree and a veterinary passport indicating vaccinations and diseases (if any). The cost of a kitten is high: from 70,000 rubles for a baby “for the soul”, i.e. pet class, and from 250,000 per show class individual.
Cost of a kitten
Due to the small number of these animals in the world, the cost of kittens of the Skif Tai Toy Don breed is very high. Pet-class pets will cost about 70 thousand rubles, the price of breeding animals is about 300 thousand.
In nurseries in the United States of America, the cost of Toi bean starts from 5 thousand dollars. And particularly outstanding show pieces are sold for much more.
Despite the high price, miniature Skif Thai Toy Don beans are in demand. But breeding them is a very difficult task. Kittens of the required proportions are not always born, and due to the small size of the female, there are usually few babies in the litter.
Photo gallery of skif tai dons:
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