ocicat
Energetic, sociable, inquisitive, affectionate
Overview
Origin
United States
Life Span
12-18 years
Height
9"- 11"
Weight
6-15 pounds
Group
Medium-to-large short-haired
Price
$800-$1,200
History
The Ocicat was originally created as a hybrid, when a Michigan cat breeder named Virginia Daly used an Abyssinian and a Siamese in an attempt to produce Abyssinian-pointed Siamese. Among the offspring in matings between second generation cats with Abyssinian points was a spotted kitten named Tonga.
Tonga was neutered and enjoyed life as a pet but breeders who were attempting to produce more Abyssinian-pointed Siamese cats took note of the beautiful spotted offspring that often occurred, and interest steadily increased until separate breeding programs were formed using the formula Siamese to Abyssinian, then by breeding offspring of the first pairing to Siamese.
The first “official” Ocicat was named Dalai Dotson, and was registered with The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) in 1966.
Subsequent generations were the result of breedings between Abyssinians, Siamese, and American Shorthair: CFA made an error when recording breed information, originally noting that Ocicats were produced with Abyssinian and American Shorthair parents. When they sought to correct the error and add “Siamese,” they didn’t remove American Shorthair. The inclusion of American Shorthairs in the foundation ultimately led to larger size and added silver to the list of previously existing colors.
CFA granted the Ocicat provisional status in 1986. In 1987, both CFA and TICA granted Ocicats championship status. Today, many cat breed registries recognize the Ocicat.
Care
Nutrition
Ocicats don’t have any special nutritional needs but they do require high-protein, high-quality diets that focus on real meat and fish.
Grooming
Sleek, short hair makes the Ocicat easy to care for. A once-weekly brushing should be enough to remove any loose hairs and help prevent excess shedding.
Exercise
Ocicats are extremely athletic, and they have no trouble zooming around the house, jumping onto the highest possible vantage points, and climbing whatever they can.
Health
Ocicats typically enjoy good health, however they do have the potential to develop some known health issues including progressive retinal atrophy, renal amyloidosis, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. While these aren’t common concerns, they’re worth watching for.
Breed Standard
Body
Ocicats are medium to large, with well-developed muscles that contribute to an athletic appearance and make the cat feel heavier than it looks. Males are typically larger than females.
Head
The head is a modified wedge shape that displays a slight curve running from the muzzle to the cheek. The chin should be firm and the muzzle should be well-defined, with a somewhat square shape. Mature males may display jowling.
Eyes
The Ocicat’s eyes should be large, with an almond shape. They should angle slightly upward toward the ears. Eyes may be of any color except blue.
Ears
The ears should be fairly large, and should be set at a 45-degree angle. Ear tufts sometimes appear but are not required.
Color
Ocicats occur in a vast variety of spotted color patterns, with distinctive markings that stand out from the ground color. Individual hairs should be banded, with the exception of those on the tip of the tail, which is also the darkest portion of the coat. The hair is typically lightest on the face around the eyes, as well as on the lower jaw and chin.
Coat
The coat should be smooth and lie close to the body. The texture should be satiny and soft.
Tail
An Ocicat’s tail should be long and slim, with a slight taper at the end, and a dark-colored tip.
Legs & Paws
The legs should be of medium length, well-muscled, and in proportion to the body. The feet should be compact, with an oval shape.
Personality & Temperament
Despite its wild appearance, the Ocicat is one hundred percent domestic, so it’s ideal for those who long for a cat with exotic looks and a tame, friendly personality. Named for its remarkable resemblance to the ocelot, the Ocicat has a short coat that’s easy to care for, and its temperament is so gregarious that it’s often referred to as a dog in a cat’s body.
The Ocicat gets its cheerful, outgoing personality from the breeds that formed its foundation, namely Siamese and Abyssinian. This fantastic cat is capable of walking on a leash, playing fetch, and learning tricks and commands that are typically associated with dogs rather than cats.
This fun-loving cat seeks good times above all other things and will happily follow its people wherever they go. Nowhere is off limits: Many Ocicats love water and enjoy following their human friends at shower or bath time, poking curious paws into the water to make sure that everything is as it should be! Ocicat owners with koi ponds and aquariums must often go to great lengths to cat-proof or risk having their finned friends become targets for fishing.
Like Orientals and other breeds descended from Siamese, Ocicats long for human attention and can become despondent if they are ignored or neglected. Families who must spend lots of time away at work and school find that their Ocicats tend to regain their cheerful nature when they have another pet to play with. These cats typically get along well with other friendly felines and they’re equally capable of forming lifelong bonds with well-behaved dogs.
Ocicats have a reputation for greeting visitors and getting on well with entire families. At the same time, they have a tendency to choose a favorite person.
Similar to other breeds with Siamese heritage, Ocicats can be quite vocal. They love to chat back and forth with their favorite people and the more you talk to them, the more they’ll “talk” back to you!