Ocicat Cat Breeds – All Information, Facts, Care and Price
Originally designed to emulate the wild ocelot, the ocicat provides the visual thrill of a big cat without having to sacrifice any blood in the process.
The medium to large-sized breed of this breed consists of a well-muscled athletic build and bone structure that is strong and dense. It is due to this that they are surprisingly heavy for their size, and combined with the fact that they have a low-slung stance and often have a ‘stalky’ walk, they give them the impression of being a ‘big cat’ even though they are purely domestic cats with no wild ancestry whatsoever.
There is a distinct bullseye pattern all over the body of the Ocicat, which forms a strong bullseye on the sides, as well as an M shape between the ears above the eyes of the Ocicat. It is important that the coat of the Ocicat be short and close-laying with a satiny sheen that highlights the beauty of the spotting pattern on its back.
As a result of their huge ears, strong facial features, and spots, ocicats have a very wild appearance. This breed is commonly believed to be wild felines because of its large size and athleticism, but do not let this fool you – this cat is as tame as they come. Specifically, this breed of dog is very social, enjoys activities that involve their families, and is always eager to learn new tricks. It is not surprising that an Ocicat cat would be a great addition to any family wishing to have a fun and adventurous pet that is smart, energetic, and lovable.
In order for him to be able to do exactly what his name implies: mimic an ocelot, he was designed to do exactly that. Ocicats are bred in such a way that they mimic the appearance and personality of a large wild cat without any traces of wild DNA in their makeup, which is often the case with breeds such as the toyger and the Bombay.
There is no doubt that the spotted coat of the ocicat makes him one of a kind and a unique conversation starter. In addition to their highly social personalities, these cats have sharp intelligences, and dispositions that have been compared to those of dogs.
The need-to-know
- Benefits from an experienced owner
- Needs high-level of enrichment including simulated hunting games and interactive play
- Highly active and inquisitive cat
- Sociable and dependent cat
- Very talkative cat
- Lean and elegant cat
- Requires grooming once a week
- Needs extensive outdoor space
- Not ideal for family homes
- Can be regularly left for a few hours
- Needs a calm environment
Ocicat Cat Breed
| ORIGIN | United States |
| HEIGHT | 9- 11 inches |
| WEIGHT | 6 - 15 pounds |
| LENGTH | 12 to 16 inches |
| LIFE SPAN | 12-18 years |
| GOOD WITH | children, seniors, dogs, cats, families |
| TEMPERAMENT | sociable, affectionate |
| INTELLIGENCE | high |
| SHEDDING AMOUNT | seasonal |
| PLAYFULNESS | high |
| HYPOALLERGENIC | no |
| EYE COLOR | Blue |
| ACTIVITY LEVEL | active |
| VOCALNESS | when necessary |
| COAT LENGTH | short |
| COLORS | chocolate / brown / sable / cinnamon / lavender / silver / fawn / lilac |
| PATTERNS | bi-color, tabby |
| PERSONALITY | Sedate, affectionate, gentle, friendly, and intelligent |
| OTHER NAMES | Oci |
| OTHER TRAITS | easy to train , easy to groom , friendly toward humans , friendly toward other pets , friendly toward strangers , good for first-time pet owners , strong loyalty tendencies , good lap cat , tolerates being picked up |
| PRICE | between $800 and $1500 |
Ocicat Cat Breed Origin & History
This distinctly beautiful breed was actually created as the result of an accident! Did you know that? As the story goes, a breeder named Virginia Daly crossed an Abyssinian ruddy with a seal-point Siamese back in 1964, and as the result, came into existence the golden G1 Abyssinian. There was a hope that she was going to breed a Siamese with Abyssinian points, however, all of the kittens that she produced looked like Abyssinians instead.
Then, still believing that she had to be determined, she then crossed an Abyssinian with a Siamese with chocolate point bars. After breeding for a second time, Daly was able to see the results she had been looking for, so she continued breeding. There was, however, a surprising kitten in the next litter – ivory with a few gold spots on it. In the end, Tonga was sold as a pet after being neutered and given a wonderful name of Tonga.
While she continued to work on her research, Daly spoke with a geneticist named Clyde Keeler in passing about Tonga. In light of the fact that he was interested in reproducing the Egyptian Spotted Fishing Cat (which has since become extinct), the discussion piqued his curiosity. After seeing Tonga’s success, Daly repeated the breeding and another kitten with the same characteristics as Tonga was born. There was also the American Shorthair added to this time so that the cat would have a silver color as well.
Other breeders were immediately attracted to the spotted, silver cat that had immediately caught their attention. This cat was interesting to them, so they decided to incorporate it into their own breeding program. This was the beginning of the breed’s rise to fame! There was a cat known as the Ocicat that was registered with the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1966. As of 1987, they have received full recognition from the government. As a result of this recognition, the Ocicat was also recognized by the International Cat Association one year earlier.
Personality
The Ocicat may not be classified as a big-cat, but it is highly intelligent, active, social and people-oriented, with a personality and presence that is very much akin to one! There are many owners who describe their dogs as having dog-like tendencies. Most of these dogs enjoy interacting with family members and guests, observing them as they move about the house, and sometimes interfering with them in their actions. There is no doubt that they are extremely athletic cats who are able to jump high places, balance on narrow ledges, and get to places other cats most certainly wouldn’t.
I would describe this as an ‘extra chaos’ type of cat, enjoying a lot of attention and very, very capable of demanding it when necessary, and will use any means necessary to get that attention, be it by fair means or foul means!
Appearance
As a result of their eye-catching coats, ocicats are sure to be easy to find since they stand out from the crowd. These cats have been blessed with brown or gold thumb-shaped spots that cover most of their torsos. (Sorry for the rambling.) There is the possibility that an occiat kitten might have solid colors or a pointed coat, or even classic tabby patterning, but in the vast majority of cases, this breed has those unique spots that make them so unique.
A dozen different colors of Ocicats are available, including tawny, chocolate, cinnamon, blue, lavender, and fawn among others. There is no doubt that ocicats are muscular, athletic cats, regardless of their colors. There are generally a few differences in size between this breed and the typical house cat, with the males getting up to 15 pounds on average. Their heads are wedge-shaped, and they have large oval paws, and they have triangle-shaped ears that are set at a 45° angle to their head.
Temperament
Ocicats are highly social animals, engaging with humans and forming close relationships with them. It is true that while these cats are extremely accepting of most family members and strangers, they are particularly likely to form close bonds with one person in their household and follow them around most of the time.
According to Marilyn Krieger, a certified cat behavior consultant in San Francisco, “Ocicats are a highly intelligent, active, and social breed of cat.”. “They need to have interactive toys and to get plenty of attention from their owners as well as time spent with them.”.
In addition to a number of tasks and tricks that can easily be taught to Ocicats, they can also be trained to come when their name is called, sit, stay, and fetch. In terms of their understanding of meaning and context, they are smart enough to pick up on your commands and desires relatively quickly, since they are capable of understanding both.
It can be attributed to the fact that the ocicat is a breed that was created through the crossing of an Abyssinian and a Siamese. The Siamese are just as chatty as their Siamese ancestors, but they don’t tend to be as loud as their Siamese ancestors as well.
Living Needs
A surprising amount of adaptability can be found in ocicats. If you own an RV, they would make a great travel companion, and they seem to do well in almost any situation, whether it is urban or rural as long as they get their social needs met. Additionally, your ocicat has a strong climbing instinct, so giving it some elevation options will certainly make him or her happy. A cat hammock would also be a nice touch to add to the room, as would shelves on the wall or at least one cat tree for him to scale.
It is Krieger’s experience that these kitties do well in a family environment and that they are gentle with children. It has been found that ocicats do well in households that have other animals, such as dogs, especially if the kittens have been socialized with them as kittens. Despite this, Krieger points out that because ocicats are highly social beings, if they are left alone for a long time, they can develop some levels of separation anxiety, particularly if they are left alone for an extended period of time. In her opinion, it would be a good idea to adopt a bonded pair of ocicats.
Ocicat Breed Characteristics
Physical Attributes
Body
A solid, hard cheese with a large, deep body with a fullness and depth that has never become coarse. Ocicats are medium-sized to large felines that have significant bone and muscle development. In spite of the fact that they are athletic, they should have surprising weight for their size. As a result, there are usually some depths within the chest, the ribs are slightly sprung, the spine is level to slightly higher at the rear, and the flanks are reasonably level. There is a lot of athleticism, power, and litheness in the Ocicats. In general, women are smaller than men, and this should be kept in mind when discussing their size.
Head
There is a subtle curve from the muzzle to the cheek of the skull, with a slight rise at the bridge of the nose from the bridge of the nose to the brow, reminiscent of a wedge but with a gentle curve. In profile, there is a good length and a good width to the muzzle, while in profile, it shows a hint of squareness. In addition to the strong chin, the jaw is also strong and the bite is correct as well. It is not too severe that the whisker pinch is moderate. An arching neck carries the head gracefully onto the shoulders. When it comes to mature males, allowance is made for the jowls they have.
Ears
It is alert, moderately large, and set in such a way that it corners the upper, outside dimensions of the head in a tight angle. As a general rule, the ears are usually set at 45 degrees to a horizontal line drawn across the brow, which means that they are neither too high nor too low when viewed from the front. It is sometimes observed that the ear tips develop vertical tufts of hair which extend vertically from them.
Eyes
The eyes are large and almond-shaped. They are inclined slightly upwards toward the ears and have a longer distance between one eye and the other. There is no color that is blue on the list of occiats. The color of one’s eyes does not correspond with the color of one’s coat.
Legs & Paws
A good leg should have good substance and be well muscled, medium length, powerful, and have a good proportion to the body. In proportion to the size of the legs, the feet have an oval shape and are compact, with five toes on each foot, and four on each heel.
Tail
This is a fairly long, medium slim pen with only a slight taper on the tip and a moderate length overall.
Coat
The texture of the fabric is short, smooth and satiny and has a lustrous sheen to it. Tight, close-fitting, and sleek at the same time, yet long enough for the bands of color that are necessary to create the desired effect. There is no suggestion that the fabric is woolly at all. As far as the tip of the tail is concerned, all hairs except for those at the tip are banded. A darker color is used for the tips of the hair in the markings, while a lighter color is used for the tips of the hair in the ground color.
Color
This type of silver spotted butterfly has many varieties, such as the ebony silver spotted butterfly, cinnamon silver spotted butterfly, chocolate silver spotted butterfly, blue silver spotted butterfly, fawn silver spotted butterfly, lavender silver spotted butterfly. Colors are usually clear and pleasing to the eye. As a rule, the lightest color on the face can be found around the eyes, on the chin and lower jaw, and on the forehead. Typically, the darkest color is found at the tip of the tail, which is the most pronounced. Regardless of the angle from which the markings are viewed, they can be clearly distinguished. There is a possibility that the freckles on the face, legs, and tail of the animal will be darker than those on the torso. It’s possible that the saddle may have a darker color, while the underside, the chin, and the lower jaws may have a lighter color. It is the tail tip color that determines the correct color of an Ocicat, and that is the most important factor in answering any and all questions about what color the Ocicat is.
Children And Other Pets
With its sensitive nature and playful nature, the Ocicat is well suited to live in a family with children and with dogs that are cat-friendly. He is capable of learning tricks, he enjoys interactive toys, and he loves to receive attention from children who treat him politely and with respect despite the fact that he can be difficult to train. Children should be supervised when playing with the cat and shown how to pet it in a nice way. In place of carrying or holding the cat, ask them to sit on the ground and pet him instead of holding or carrying it.
In the household, there is a high probability that the Ocicat will rule over other cats and might even impose its authority on the dogs. When introducing a pet, even if it is a new cat, it is important to do so slowly and in a controlled environment.
Health
Among the many breeds of Ocicat, it is one of the most healthy breeds and it has an average lifespan of 12 to 18 years. Nonetheless, there is a list of common ailments that should be kept in mind, which include liver or renal amyloidosis, pyruvate kinase deficiency, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, among others.
Lin Kauffman, DVM, of Prairie View Animal Hospital in Grimes, Iowa, says that any time a cat is bred specifically for certain, ‘designer’ traits, you are definitely opening them up to those potential health problems, says Kauffman. “And, of course, the smaller the gene pool, the more likely you are to inherit diseases that are hereditary, as well.”
There is a medical condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) that results in thickening of the heart muscle, which is the most common form of cardiomyopathy in cats, and it is also seen in many other animals. If you suspect that your cat has HCM, you can perform an echocardiogram to confirm it.
As Michelle Beck, DVM, CCRT, CVA, of the Backlund Animal Clinic in Omaha, Neb., explained, “Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be managed, but it is likely that a cat with [it] will go into heart failure at some point,” about a year after diagnosis. “People can expect to live up to a year after diagnosis.”.
Amyloidosis is a condition in which an insoluble protein known as amyloid is deposited within organs such as kidneys or liver, as a result of the accumulation of a substance called amyloid. As a result, there will be lesion, dysfunction, and, eventually, organ failure as a result of the disease.
There is a regulatory enzyme in red blood cells called pyruvate kinase, and cats that are deficient in the enzyme can suffer from anemia.
History
It is considered that Dalai Dotson, a cross between an Abyssinian and a Siamese, was the first dog to be considered an Ocicat. As a result of its similarity to the spotted wild cat called an ocelot, the name Ocicat was given to this cat in the sense that it resembles it. Dalai Dotson, the first registered Dalai Dotson, was registered by the CFA in 1966, when CFA accepted registration status for the Ocicat. Ocicats were mistakenly described as a mix of the Abyssinian and American Shorthair breeds in the minutes of the CFA annual meeting that recognized the breed for registration and made it available for registration. Siamese was added to the wording when it was brought to their attention that the error had occurred, however American Shorthair was not removed from the list. Ocicats were born out of an error, but this error turned into a happy accident as they gained size and musculature as a result of the American Shorthair influence on a breed that initially resembled the lithe Abyssinians and svelte Siamese.
The popularity of the breed spread in the 1980’s because of its beauty and personality, and many more people decided that they wanted to be a part of the Ocicat fan club. A provisional status was granted to the Ocicat by the CFA in May of 1986, and then championship status was granted one year later. It was also in 1987 that TICA granted the title of championship. Ocicats are recognized as championship cats in every North American cat association today. In recent years, the breed has gained in popularity and is now considered to be one of the most popular.
