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| Weight |
12-15 lbs. |
| Overview |
Although bred to look like wildcats, Ocicats have the dependable temperament of a domestic cat--they are playful and sociable and make devoted companions. Their Siamese and American Shorthair ancestry contributes to their wonderful way with children.
From their Abyssinian forebears, they inherited a high energy level. Ocicats are also eminently trainable; they will play fetch, walk on a leash, or ride on your shoulder. These cats tend to be vocal, though they are not quite so chatty as their Siamese progenitors.
If you are a frequent traveler, obtain a feline companion for your Ocicat, as these cats do not like being left alone.
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| Appearance |
The Ocicat is a long, muscular, medium to large cat with almond-shaped eyes and erect, wide-set ears. The head is a rounded wedge.
The Ocicat's lustrous, close-lying coat is randomly spotted. Each hair is banded: those within the spots are darker at the tip than those of the background. The spots can be tawny, chocolate, cinnamon, blue, lavender, and fawn on a silver or nonsilver background.
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| Gromming Needs |
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| Origins |
The first Ocicat came about accidentally as the result of a breeding program designed to produce a pointed Siamese with a ticked tabby pattern. A chocolate point Siamese male was bred with a female that was part Siamese and part Abyssinian. The litter produced the intended Abyssinian-pointed Siamese, but also Tonga, an ivory kitten with golden spots resembling an Ocelot.
A mating of Tonga's father and mother again yielded spotted offspring, which were used to form the foundation for the new spotted Ocicat breed. American Shorthairs were subsequently introduced into the Ocicat breeding program, adding mass and size.
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| Other |
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