 The
Ocicat is a new and still-rare breed of cat which has spots
resembling a 'wild' cat and the temperament of a domestic animal,
named for its resemblance to the ocelot.
Despite its appearance, there is no 'wild' DNA in the Ocicat's
genepool. The species is actually a mixture of Siamese and
Abyssinian, and later American Shorthairs (silver tabbies) were
added to the mix for their silver colour and distinct markings.
The first breeder of Ocicats was Virginia Daly, of Berkley,
Michigan, who attempted to breed an Abyssinian-pointed Siamese in
1964. The first generation of kittens appeared Abyssinian, but the
surprising result in the second generation was a spotted kitten,
Tonga, nicknamed an 'ocicat' by the breeder's daughter. Tonga was
neutered and sold as a pet, but further breedings of his parents
produced more spotted kittens, and became the base of a separate
Ocicat breeding program.
There are twelve separate colour/pattern combinations registered for
ocicats, and these fall into five larger groups - chocolate,
cinnamon, tawny, silver and fawn(dilute). Ocicats must not have
cream/red coloration or they are disqualified from showing.
Profiles
“Oh, look spots! Is it tame? What kind of cat is this? It must be
something special.’’
Indeed they are! This magnificent spotted cat never fails to steal
the show, not to mention the hearts of those fortunate enough to own
them.
The Ocicat is an agouti spotted cat of moderate type. Originating
from interbreeding of Abyssinian, Siamese and American Shorthair, it
is the only spotted domestic breed selectively bred to emulate the
cats of the wild.
The ideal Ocicat is a large, active animal with an athletic
appearance. It is very solid and well-muscled and has a short, tight
coat with a satin sheen that shows off muscles and spots to their
best advantage.
In 1964 the original Ocicat was the unexpected result of an
experimental breeding which attempted to produce an Aby-point
Siamese. Virginia Daly, noted CFA breeder living in Michigan, knew
the possibility of getting the sought after Aby-point and was
willing to invest the time she knew it would take to breed the two
generations that were necessary. But the ivory kitten with golden
spots was a surprise! Mrs. Daly's daughter named the breed the
Ocicat, because of its resemblance to the ocelot. Tonga, the first
Ocicat, was neutered and sold as a pet. When the Detroit newspaper
publicized the lovely spotted cat and when noted geneticist, Dr.
Clyde Keeler, expressed his desire to see a domestic cat which would
mimic some of the vanishing wild species, the breeding was repeated
to produce more Ocicats. Other breeders followed Mrs. Daly's recipe
to develop other Ocicat lines with a broad genetic base.
The Ocicat was recognized for CFA registration in 1966, but it
took another twenty years to develop the breed and gain the support
for provisional status. The Ocicat was advanced to championship
status May 1987. They can now be seen at many shows, and a few
Ocicats have been exported to other countries where their popularity
is increasing.
Feline enthusiasts have always been awed by the spotted cats of the
wild: ocelots, margays, leopards and others. Never before was there
such an effort to breed an entirely domestic cat which can offer the
spotted beauty of the wild cats, while maintaining the lovely,
predictable disposition of the domestic cat. With so many wild
spotteds disappearing as their native habitats are destroyed and
invaded, it is increasingly important that this man-made breed can
satisfy people who want something ‘'exotic." How sad that so many
wild spotted cats have suffered abuse and destruction. Perhaps the
Ocicat will do its part in preventing the poaching and importation
of the endangered wild cats.
While the Ocicat looks wild, its temperament is anything but
ferocious. It is a lot like a dog in that it is absolutely devoted
to its people. The Ocicat is not a demanding, clinging-vine type,
but is confident as well as dedicated to its owners. Most Ocicats
are also quite extroverted around strangers, not at all bashful
about checking out the possibilities for a few playmates or a lap to
curl up on when visitors come to call.
Ocicats are quite bright and easily trained. Many will fetch, walk
on a leash, respond to voice commands and readily adapt to household
rules. Because of their adaptability, they are a joy to work with
and easily get used to traveling. Their sociable nature may make
them less suited than some other breeds to being left alone for long
periods of time, but it does make them a good choice for a household
already blessed with other cats or dogs.
Though Ocicats fill the need for the exotic, they are easy to keep
and require no special care. Their diets are the same as any
domestic and their short coats need only the occasional bathing and
grooming. They are not prone to any particular health problem and
their broad genetic background gives them vigor and vitality.
here has been tremendous controversy about the genetics of
inheritance associated with the spotted pattern. In the earlier days
of the cat fancy, when life was simpler, all patterned cats were
believed to display one of the three tabby patterns: ticked (Aby),
mackerel (tiger striped), or classic (blotched or bull's eye). The
spotted pattern of the Ocicat, at least on the better examples of
the breed, is notedly different from other spotted breeds or
varieties. While some believe this comes from a different gene
altogether, there is no conclusive evidence and it might be that
selective breeding is responsible for the Ocicat's lovely pattern.
Ocicats come in many colors and at least all those colors associated
with the three foundation breeds: tawny, chocolate, cinnamon, blue,
lavender, fawn, silver, chocolate silver, cinnamon silver, blue
silver, lavender silver, and fawn silver.
Pricing on Ocicats usually depends on type, applicable markings and
bloodlines distinguished by Grand Champion (GC), National, National
Breed and/or Regional winning parentage (NW, BW, RW) or of
Distinguished Merit parentage (DM). The DM title is achieved by the
dam (mother) having produced five CFA grand champion/premier (alter)
or DM offspring, or sire (father) having produced fifteen CFA grand
champion/premier or DM offspring. Usually breeders make kittens
available between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. After twelve
weeks, kittens have had their basic inoculations and developed the
physical and social stability needed for a new environment, showing,
or being transported by air. Keeping such a rare treasure indoors,
neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces (e.g.
scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching (CFA
disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery) are essential
elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.
There are CFA clubs devoted to the promotion, protection and
preservation of the Ocicat breed. For more information, please send
inquiries to CFA, PO Box 1005, Manasquan NJ 08736-0805.
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