by Ron King

Created on: December 26, 2007   Last Updated: March 26, 2009

A Look At the Fascinating Ocicat

Admirers of leopards and ocelots will learn that there is a cat with the same exotic appearance that is domesticated, the Ocicat. While the big feral spotted cats can be deadly, these cats make great pets. The Ocicat was developed completely by accident when a American breeder tried to develop a Siamese that had a different color. The breeder mixed a Siamese cat with an Abyssinian cat and the result was a mottle-spotted kitten with a wonderful personality, but which looks wild and dangerous. They named it an "Ocicat" because describe why it looked like a cross between an Ocelot and a Cat.

The Ocicat is a medium-sized cat, weighing in at 6-14 pounds. Its powerful, graceful physique is set on muscular legs. This breed's head has a distinct wedge shape, which is topped by large, Siamese like ears. These cats have eyes with a slightly Oriental shape that are surrounded by dark color. Many cat breeders say this rim of color makes Ocicats look as though they are wearing glasses. A long, gracefully tapered tail completes the wild appearance of this breed.

While the original Ocicat was ivory-colored with golden spots, there are now numerous additional recognized colors. You might see these spotted cats in Tawny, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Blue, Lavender, and Fawn colors. In addition, Ocicats come in spotted tabby, spotted silver tabby, and spotted smoke patterns of all of the above colors.

If you are a busy person who is rarely at home, you should not own an Ocicat. These cats are extremely people-oriented and become depressed and upset if they are left alone for extended periods. This love of people makes this breed the ideal family feline. In fact, even visiting family and visitors will be happily accepted by these outgoing cats. While the Ocicat thrives on human attention, this sociable cat also is compatible lives happily in the company of other cats, making it an excellent breed choice for a multiple cat home.

These cats are very playful, so it's important therefore to keep your Ocicat happy, you should be sure to set out plenty of toys. However, this doesn't mean you need to break the piggy bank. Simple toys, like a big feather or a crumpled piece of cellophane wrapper, provide hours of entertainment for these sweet-natured animals.

The Ocicat is one of the most intelligent cat breeds. You can easily teach your cat simple commands, such as how to come and fetch, but don't stop there. These quick learners have been able to respond to quite a few other commands, as well.

People who don't enjoy grooming their cats will be happy to know that the Ocicat does not actually need to be groomed very often. A quick brushing weekly should keep your Ocicat looking sleek and healthy. But, since this breed enjoys the attention, you may want to groom your cat several times a week.

If a person wants to take in a cat that has markings as striking as the jungle cats, then you may just want to get an Ocicat. These cats offer the best of both worlds - a wild look and a sweet nature.

For more info, see Ocicat and Siamese. Ron King is a web developer; visit his website Abyssinian.

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