Did You Know?
The Ocicat was the first cat that was crossbred with the spots of a wildcat while keeping the characteristics of a pet.
Size
Ocicat females weigh 6-9 pounds and males may weigh between 9 and 15 pounds
Coat
Short, smooth, satiny
Color
12 colors
Life Span
10-15 years
Despite her large, athletic appearance, which may create the impression of a wildcat, an Ocicat is a warm, affectionate animal. The social feline loves her people and is perfect for people who love her and treat her politely. The Ocicat may live up to 10-15 years.
Physical Characteristics
The muscular feline resembles a wildcat. Although they are large cats, some Ocicats are medium in size. She has a muscular body structure and athletic build. The agouti spotted cat has a short, smooth, and soft coat with rows of markings running all over her body. You can easily spot large dark thumbprint-like markings across the side of her belly.
Some of their favorite activities include opening doors, retrieving toys, undoing latches, and learning to walk on a leash. Her distinctively beautiful almond-shaped eyes are angled slightly upward and large ears are tucked on their wedge-shaped head. Their eyes may be of any color, leaving blue. Some members of the cat breed come with tufts of fur that extend straight from their ear tips. They have a long tail with a dark tip. The tail comes with horizontal brushstrokes, alternating with spots. She stands out with her spotted coat, with the color varying from brown and silver to blue and lavender.
Markings around her cheeks and eyes make the kitty look cute. There are small spots covering the neck and shoulders.
Ocicat Pictures
Personality and Temperament of Ocicat
A dream cat for pet lovers, the Ocicat is active and playful. She loves attention and is devoted to her family. With a larger-than-life personality, an Ocicat is friendly and affectionate and craves for companionship. The cat breed is not aggressive, though they can get mischievous if they feel too bored. Since the feline has high energy levels, so she needs enough physical exercise to keep them active and busy. The highly intelligent kitty is playful and mental challenges keep them busy and happy. They are quick to learn tricks. Puzzle toys keep them occupied. She likes to play fetch and may happily learn to walk on a leash.
You should carefully put away something that you do not want the Ocicat to play with or touch. The kitty will easily understand your behavior.
The devoted and graceful Ocicat loves to trail the footsteps of her favorite people through the house. Do not be surprised to see your furry feline showing interest in riding on your shoulders. They do not mind being carried around by their favorite people. As a social cat, the Ocicat welcomes guests, viewing them as a new opportunity for petting or lap sitting. Many members of this cat breed are shyer compared to others.
Ocicat Health and Care
The Ocicat is a generally healthy cat breed and may live up to 10-15 years. However, she may inherit some health issues, such as periodontal disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and renal amyloidosis. Keep your Ocicat active to prevent common health problems, especially obesity. A healthy male of this breed weighs 9-15 pounds, and a female of the same breed weighs 6-9 pounds.
By keeping your kitty active and busy, you can help keep your cat at an appropriate weight and protect her overall health.
History and Background of Ocicat
The birth of Ocicat was the surprise result of a cross breeding between a Siamese female and ruddy Abyssinian male. Breeder Virginia Daly was looking to develop a Siamese breed with Abyssian-like points. One of the females from the litter was bred to a chocolate point Siamese.
Repeated crossing between breeds resulted in Aby-pointed Siamese, with one kitten bearing an ivory-colored coat with gold spot markings. The cat was named Tonga, who was sold later. Repeat breeding resulted in spotted kittens, which became the foundation of this new breed, which came to be known as Ocicat.
The Cat Fanciers Association gave recognition to this cat breed in 1966. The International Cat Association recognized the breed in 1987 when the Ocicat earned the championship status.
