Ocicat

(CC) Image: Tom Bjornstad
Ocicat on the move..

The Ocicat is a domestic short hair cat that was first bred in the United States.

History

The Ocicat breed was first bred by Virginia Daily in 1964 when she breed an Abyssinian and Siamese cats. From this genetic foundation the first Ocicat born was named Tonga, who was neutered, and sold as a pet. Later breeding not only used Abyssinians, Siamese, but also American Shorthair cats to create the Ocicat breed. The American Shorthair was bred to add substance to the body structure while bringing in the color silver to the mix.

The breed was officially recognized by the Cat Fanciers of Association in 1966. Both the CFA and The International Cat Association have recognized this breed for championship status. TICA granted championship status in 1986 while the CFA followed suit in 1987.

Breed standard

Both the CFA and TICA recognize the following colors:

Tawny, chocolate, cinnamon, blue, lavender, fawn, silver, chocolate silver, cinnamon silver, blue silver, lavender silver, and fawn silver.

All Ocicats have the familiar “M” on their for head that is also found in the Americans Shorthair cat. Ocicats. Their coats will have spots much like the Ocelot found in the wild. Male Ocicats typically weigh between 9 to 14 pounds. Females weigh between 6 to 9 pounds.

The Ocicat is a short haired cat.

Personality

The Ocicat is often described as being “dog-like” and easily trainable. They are reportedly devoted to their families and have been described as outgoing. Both the CFA and TICA associations report Ocicats as being friendly to visitors. Both associations also state the Ocicat is active and needs regular companionship. They are also described as being intelligent.