A relatively recent arrival on the show scene, the spectacular spotted Ocicat has the beauty and athleticism of the wild cat with the disposition of the domestic cat. This appealing animal is a perfect choice for a family. Did you know that although the Ocicat was names for its resemblance to the ocelot, it is not related to it and has no wild blood at all.
History
The first Ocicat appeared unexpectedly in a litter from a crossing of a ruddy Abyssinian with a seal point Siamese. This kitten eventually matured to a large, ivory cat with bright golden spots and copper eyes. The Michigan breeder, Virginia Daly, names the cat Tonga, but Daly’s daughter called Tonga an Ocicat because of his resemblance to an ocelot. After Tonga’s birth in 1964, other breeders followed the same crossing to develop more of the intriguing Ocicats. Later the American Shorthair was added to the mix to broaden the genetic base. The Ocicat was accepted for championship competition in 1986.
Description
The medium to large Ocicat has a rather long, well muscled body that is solid and hard. It should look athletic and lithe, not bulky or coarse. The head is a modified wedge and there is a gentle rise, in profile, from the bridge of the nose to the brow. The broad muzzle finishes with a suggestion of squareness and the chin is strong. The neck is gracefully arched. The large eyes are almond shaped and are angled slightly up towards the ears. The moderately large ears are wide set and continue the outward lines of the face; they are neither flared nor upright.
The medium long legs are well muscled, with oval feet. The tail is fairly long, slim and tapered, and tipped at the end with a dark color.
The coat is short, smooth and satiny in texture with a lustrous shine. It is tight and close lying and there should be no suggestion of the woolliness. All the hairs are ticked the tip of the tail, which is solid. The forehead is marked with an intricate tabby “M” extending up over the head and breaking into small spots on the lower neck and shoulders. Rows of round spots run along the spine from the shoulder blades to the tail. Spots sprinkle the shoulders and hind quarters, and extend down the legs. The belly is alse well spotted and the eyes are ringed with mascara markings. Very little grooming is necessary, beyond regular hand grooming and an occasional brushing.
Varieties
The Ocicat comes with spots in an array of eye catching colors: tawny (brown spotted tabby), chocolate, cinnamon, blue, lavender, fawn, silver, chocolate silver, cinnamon silver, blue silver, lavender silver and fawn silver. The ground colors range from white to ivory to bronze. All eye colors are accepted, except blue, and there is no correlation between the eye color and coat color.
Temperament
Because of its Siamese, Abyssinian and American shorthair ancestors, it exhibits some of the qualities of all three. It becomes very attached to the people in its family but is not demanding. It does well in a household with other cats or dogs and is usually extroverted and friendly with strangers, bright and easily trained. Being very sociable, it does not like to be left alone for long periods.
The Ocicat is one of the glorious accidents in the cat fancy. A breeder from the state of Michigan in the United States set out to create a Ticked Point Siamese. She mated a Siamese with an Abyssinian. One of the offspring was mated back to another Siamese male, and a tabby Point Siamese duly appeared. However, one kitten was ivory coated with clear golden spots.
This chocolate silver ocicat shows all the finer points required of the breed, including hindquarters that are rather higher than the front.
This was the very first Ocicat, its name inspired by the wild ocelot, because of the similarity in coat color and pattern. Many breeders used the same breeding formula successfully. Recognition was granted in the United States in the 1960s, although championship status was not achieved until 1987.
At birth, the ocicat kitten may have a very indistinct pattern. The spots develop as the cat matures, and this 15 week old kitten is looking promising.
Preliminary recognition in the United Kingdom did not come until 1998. Ocicats are now available in Brown, Blue, chocolate, lilac, cinnamon and fawn, as well as the silver based versions of these colors. A few authorities also recognize red, cream and tortoiseshell. It is a long bodied, well muscled animal, with medium lengths legs and a long, tapered tail. It has a round head with a prominent muzzle and large, pointed ears.
There should be a clear M mark on the forehead of ocicats, but this is less obvious in the dilute colors such as this Lilac.
Ocicat Cat breed information
coat – short, thick, smooth and satiny with lustrous sheen
eyes – large, slanted, almond shaped, all colors except blue
other features – spotted coat
grooming – easy, regular brushing
temperament – affectionate, active
The spotting on the coat of the ocicat should be well defined, faint or blurred spots are a serious fault, even on the ess contrasted colors of the lilac and other dilute forms.
A chocolate ocicat displays an intelligent and friendly disposition, a blend of character and temperament inherited from the breed’s original Abyssinian and Siamese parentage.
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