Review author: “ZooVita”
The bright appearance of a wild animal and the tender loving heart of a pet are the main characteristics of the Ocicat. The animal's plasticity is reminiscent of a graceful jaguar, but the furry animal's ancestors include only long-tamed cats: Siamese, Abyssinians, and American shorthairs.
Interesting Facts
Ocicats are not particularly talkative, like their Siamese grandmothers.
The name of the breed comes from the combination of the name of the American predator ocelot and the English word “cat” - cat.
The cat is easy to train and can become a good replacement for a dog in terms of following simple commands.
History of the breed
The Ocicat cat breed is considered one of the youngest. It was registered only in the late 80s of the last century, and work on its creation began in the 60s of the same century.
The Ocicats themselves appeared rather unplanned: the breeder Virginia Dale wanted to breed tabby Siamese. Several experiments ended unsuccessfully, but as a result of one of them, a kitten appeared with charming spots all over its fur.
Initially, he was rejected, but after a couple of years the breeder tried to repeat the experiment, and spotted kittens were born again, which became the founders of the breed.
Breeding Features
Ocicats produce offspring in the same way as other domestic cats. Pregnancy lasts typically 56–64 days. However, there is a peculiarity of the litter - usually only three kittens are born to a cat, and males are born much more often than females.
There may be a lack or deficiency of colostrum in the mother cat. In this case, a special cat milk substitute will come to the rescue.
Immediately provide the correct feeding regime and diet for your pregnant cat. In this case, you can be sure of healthy offspring.
Kittens develop very quickly and instantly absorb new information. Therefore, they need to undergo socialization as early as possible, and also begin to learn house rules at a young age.
Young Ocicats are hyperactive, follow the cat and the owner everywhere, and have a lively mind and imagination. Kittens are often found in unexpected places, for example, in a closet, in clothes, or in other various secluded places, but representatives of the breed have a special love for the tops. As soon as the Ocicat learns to control its body well, it immediately begins to master high shelves, doors and other similar high places.
Description of the breed
Domestic jaguars belong to medium and large breeds. They are quite heavy: boys can weigh up to 7 kilograms, slimmer cats weigh a couple of kilograms less. At the same time, they give the impression of being rather ascetic animals and are distinguished by their special grace. The height of a pet can reach 25-32 centimeters.
An athletic body, strong paws, and a long tail with a slightly pointed tail become the main characteristics of the breed.
The wide muzzle from the front slightly resembles a square, the ears are always in a vertical position. The presence of ear tufts is considered an additional advantage for each individual, but is not included in the breed standard.
Large, almond-shaped eyes can have any iris except blue.
Mr. Cat recommends: Character
If you decide to have a domestic and highly social cat with a predatory color in your apartment, then you should know about the peculiarities of its temperament:
- Outwardly it seems small, but if you take the cat in your arms, it is unexpectedly heavy - under the smooth shiny fur, tightly adjacent to the body, there are solid muscles. Ready to take off at any moment and rush to play.
- Unpretentious in everything - in food and maintenance.
- A highly social creature, never shying away from new people. Moderately curious, always interested in everything.
- Very active and constantly on the move. Needs companionship either with a person or with another pet. You need a lot of toys and preferably exercise equipment.
- Highly intelligent, persistent researcher. He will quickly learn and will open doors, boxes, drawers with enviable tenacity and perseverance.
- He loves to travel and enjoys driving with his owner.
- A cat with his own opinion about everything. Will not tolerate coercion in anything. He will come when he wants to chat. You won't be able to pick him up by force.
- Quite talkative, but not as talkative as the Siamese. The Abyssinian also does not suffer from excessive obsession.
- With small children he will be reserved and aloof. He doesn't want to be a toy for anyone. With a wild appearance, this cat surprisingly acquired the dignity of a predator.
Colors
And yet the main feature of the Ocicat was its unusual skin. The thick, dense, shiny coat consists of ticked hairs that create charming spots.
Please note ⭐⭐⭐
Oriental cat: characteristics of the breed, health, care and maintenance, rules for raising a kitten, price (150 photos)
Neva Masquerade cat: photo, description of breed and character, size, weight and color, pros and cons of the St. Petersburg cat
American shorthair cat: description of the breed, its character and care, nutrition (100 photos)
At the same time, there are no special requirements for the main background. As you can see in the photo of the Ocicat, it can be brown, all shades of silver or chocolate, lilac or blue. But the spots should not be smeared.
The hairs should lie tightly to the body; the cat's fluffiness will be its disadvantage.
Color
The Ocicat is a cat, the description of which we presented above, in accordance with the standard, it has short and dense hair. Experts call ticking a characteristic feature of the Ocicat - a contrasting and clear pattern on the coat. It is precisely the color features that distinguish the Ocicat cat from its distant and close relatives. The main thing is the ticked wool. In other words, each hair of wool must be colored in several shades. Thus, an original spotted pattern is obtained: hairs with light tips are placed around darker inclusions.
Another characteristic feature of the breed is a pattern shaped like the letter “M” on the cats’ forehead. The remaining spots are located on the animal's head in ripples, and are arranged in a row along the spine. The paws and tail are covered with transverse lines.
Relationships with people
Independence is not in the Ocicat's nature. The cat will not hesitate to bother any family member, but the main owner will be considered one person, whom he chooses independently, according to some of his own beliefs.
The cat will behave coolly with strangers for the first 5-10 minutes, then a cautious introduction will follow, and after another couple of minutes the cat will already be sitting on the lap of the new acquaintance. A sociable creature will react with coolness only to people with an unstable psyche or with a dislike for animals in general and cats in particular.
How to choose the right kitten
A few nurseries are engaged in breeding this rare and expensive breed, most of which are localized abroad. Therefore, it is possible that you will have to choose a spotted kitten in absentia based on the breeder’s photos and videos.
In order not to later regret your decision, when choosing a pet you need to pay attention to the following factors:
- availability of documents;
- compliance with breed standards;
- health status;
- behavioral characteristics;
- conditions of detention.
Kitten care
It is recommended to separate a small Ocicat from its mother no earlier than it is 12 weeks old. And all responsible breeders strictly follow this rule. This is also convenient for the future owner, because by this age the spotted kitten is already accustomed to solid food, a tray and a scratching post.
On a note. To make the adaptation process easier and faster, you can ask the breeder for something with the smell of the native “nest”.
During the period of acquaintance with the new home, electrical wires, detergents, fragile objects and indoor plants are removed from the curious Ocicat.
Content
Keeping an Ocicat will not cause much trouble. The breed is considered completely domestic, so long walks with the cat are not necessary.
But you will have to purchase enough toys to keep the pet occupied while the owners are away. A restless cat will happily play with balls, mice and other traditional cat entertainment.
But special puzzles and a large house, along the pillars of which you can climb to the upper platforms or practice jumps, will be especially loved.
Short fur does not require complex care: you can brush your pet only once a week. The cat will perform all other hygiene procedures independently.
Please note ⭐⭐⭐
Burmese cat - photo of the sacred cat, pet care and keeping at home (110 photos)
British shorthair cat - features of cat care, its colors, selection of proper nutrition (110 photos)
Ragdoll - 120 photos, description of appearance and color, her character, how she gets along with other pets
They do not have any difficulties with the litter box, but if the owners are away for a long time, it is better to install two toilets: the spotted pet does not really like to visit a dirty litter box.
Diseases
By cat standards, Ocicats live a long life: 15-18 years. But they have genetic problems, which is not surprising: after all, when breeding the breed, as many as 3 breeds of cats were used!
- Firstly, renal amyloidosis is often diagnosed in Ocicats. This disease is quite rare, but very dangerous: the body stops processing protein correctly. Metabolism is disrupted, the kidneys suffer, and renal failure occurs. The animal loses weight, weakens, its urine becomes thick with blood, constipation or diarrhea appears, the temperature rises, the hair becomes dull and falls out. It is impossible to cure the disease, but it is possible to alleviate the cat’s condition, as well as extend life for several years.
- The second problem is pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK-Def) - an autosomal recessive disease, anemia, in other words. Symptoms vary (lack of appetite, weakness, weight loss, drowsiness, spleen tumor). Medicines improve quality of life.
- The third problem is gum disease (gingivitis). It was transmitted to Ocicats from both Abyssinian and Siamese cats. Gingivitis leads to tooth loss, so preventive measures must be followed very strictly.
Expert opinion
Dusheba Vera Ivanovna
In 2010, she graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Scriabin with honors, specializing in veterinary medicine. I regularly attend veterinary conferences, congresses, and webinars.
The deworming procedure should be carried out even if your cat does not go for walks. Worm eggs can enter his body even with food (through chicken, pork, fish), from your outdoor shoes, or through fleas. Medicines should be given only after consultation with a veterinarian, since the age, weight, and general condition of the animal are taken into account (medications should not be given to kittens under 20 weeks of age, and with extreme caution to lactating cats and pregnant women).
All of the above applies to vaccination. Diseases such as panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calcivirosis, rabies and others are deadly for cats. For some time, kittens are protected by mother's milk, but when they reach the age of 16 weeks, the effect disappears. Vaccination provides lasting immunity and reliable protection, but you shouldn’t give your cat injections yourself - trust this matter to your doctor!
Training
If you really want to, an Ocicat can be trained to follow some commands, but it will not turn out to be a full-fledged “dog”. The cat has too independent a disposition for this. But the cat will carry out some commands with pleasure, for example, fetching a ball or jumping through a stick and hoop.
Need for communication
We do not recommend having such a pet for those who are rarely at home. The Ocicat cat needs human company. Like most representatives of artificially bred breeds, she has a hard time with loneliness and gladly makes contact with people. It is interesting that when asking for something, these animals look into the owner’s eyes.
This cute pet feels much better in large families, where there is always the opportunity to communicate with someone. And if there are children in the house with whom you can always play, your friend will be happy. Surprisingly, despite such an urgent need for communication, the Ocicat cat does not tolerate tenderness at all if she has other plans at the moment. A pleasant discovery for the owner will be the fact that his pet easily accepts the family’s daily routine and never disturbs him at night.
Nutrition
The Ocicat will not be very picky with food. He will respond normally to premium ready-made food and natural products. The diet of a cat transferred to home feeding should include lean meat, offal, low-fat dairy products, boiled fish, carrots and pumpkin. An egg will be a rare delicacy.
There are usually no restrictions on portions; all excess food will go away during exercise.
Types of colors
The standard allows twelve colors, which are divided into eight classes:
Tan
Dark brown (almost black) spots are located on a red background. The nose is dark red, surrounded by a darker border, and the paw pads are black or dark gray.
Chocolate
Brown spots are scattered on a delicate, milky background. The nose is pink, the border surrounding it is chocolate-colored, the paw pads are light brown.
Brown
Beige spots on a milky background. The nose is pink, edged with brown, and the paw pads can be colored in various shades of pink.
Blue
There are dark blue spots on a pale blue or light yellow background. The nose is pink with a blue border, the paw pads are bluish.
Lilac
There are purple spots on a pale yellow or pinkish background. The nose is pink with a dark purple outline, the paw pads are pink with a delicate purple tint.
Tan
There are yellow-brown spots on a milky background. Paw pads and nose are pink.
Six more colors are acceptable, which are the ones mentioned above with the addition of silver. White color is only allowed around the eyes, nose, chin and upper neck.
Price
Cute photographs, descriptions of the breed and character of the Ocicat cat make people want to have such a creature at home. However, the price of a kitten does not help make this desire come true.
The answer to the question of how much an Ocicat costs depends on the desire to have a showpiece or just a pet of unusual appearance that will drive away sadness and melancholy. In the first case, the price can reach up to 100,000 rubles, in the second you can find a kitten for 35,000-40,000 rubles.
Health and life expectancy
In general, the breed is very strong and has a stable immune system. However, sometimes there are diseases adopted from Siamese, American Shorthair and Abyssinian cats. For example, hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, metabolic disorders, blood disorders. In particularly severe cases, circulatory disorders can cause death in young cats. But these cases are rare and are rather exceptional than regular.
For your information! It is useful to undergo regular scheduled examinations with a veterinarian to know the health status of your pet. It is also necessary to carry out annual vaccinations and regular treatments against external and internal parasites.
Thanks to good health and a strong body, the life expectancy of the Ocicat is on average 15 – 17 years, but with proper care, representatives of the breed often live longer.
Pedigree kittens from the nursery
