by Laurie Childree

Created on: April 30, 2009

The Ocicat was an unexpected result of experimental breeding targeted at producing an Aby-point Siamese. Virgina Daly was living in Michigan and a noted Cat Fancier Association (CFA) in 1964 when she produced Tonga the first Ocicat. The spotted cat that resulted was publicized in the Detroit newspaper and Dr. Clyde Keeler a noted geneticist showed a desire to have domestic cats replicate some of the wild species that were disappearing. This resulting in the efforts to produce more Ocicats.

In 1966 the CFA recognized the Ocicat for registration although it would take an additional twenty years for the breed to develop and get support required for provisional status. May 1987 saw the Ocicat move to championship status and since then they have been seen at several shows. The Ocicat has even been exported to other countries and the popularity of the breed is increasing.

Temperament:

The Ocicat is devoted to its owners and is confident instead of being clingy or demanding. The Ocicat isn't shy when it comes to findning playmates or approaching strangers when they call. They are intelligent and easy to train. The Ocicat Breed has the ability to respond to voice commands, walk on a leash, fetch and follow the rules of the household. They are also easily adaptable to traveling. They aren't suited to being left along for extended period of times due to their social nature.

Caring for the Ocicat

The diet of the Ocicat is the same as other domestic cats. They require only occassional grooming and bathing due to their short coats. The Ocicat has a broad genetic background that allows them to have vitality and vigor; they aren't prone to specific health problems.

About the Spots

It was once believed that spotted cat patterns would fall under one of three tabby catergories; Aby or ticked, classic (blotched or bull's eye) or the mackerel (tiger striped). The better examples of the Ocicat breed have a spotted pattern that is distinctly different from that of other varieties or spotted breeds. There is no evidence that this is genetic and it could be the selective breeding that results in the unique spotted pattern of the Ocicat breed.

Colors of the Ocicat include the three associated with the founding breeds (of which there were three) along with blue, chocolate, cinnamon, fawn, and lavender. They also appear in variations of these colors.

Sources:
Breed Profile: Ocicat
http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/ocicat.html
ret rieved April 30, 2009

Learn more about this author, Laurie Childree.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.