Ocicat

Ocicat - Breed Profile:

Origin: United States
Colors: Tawny, chocolate and cinnamon, their dilutes, blue, lavender and fawn; also all these colours with silver
Size: Medium to large
Coat Type(s): Shorthair
Grooming: Little
Talkativeness: Vocal
Activity Level: Very high
Attention Requirement: Average
Overall: Can be a handful

Breed video: Ocicat

Ocicats have rather a wild appearance but it doesn't mean they are as wild in heart. Quite the contrary: their character, temperament, and behaviour are very domestic. The name "Ocicat" is given for their resemblance to the Ocelot. This breed is a mixture of the Siamese and Abyssinian.

Physical characteristics

Ocicats are medium sized cats. They have a solid, well-muscular, and well-boned long body with a well-proportioned long tail. The athletic build make them be heavier than they look. Female Ocicats' weight ranges from 6 to 9 pounds. Male Ocicats weigh 9 to 14 pounds and it can be even more. The ears are set at a 45 degree angle; they are relatively large. There is at least the width of an ear base between them. The tips of the ears are gently rounded. There may be vertical tufts from the ear, though their absence isn't essential. The eyes are almond-shaped with more than the length of an eye between them. All eye colours (except blue) are possible without any correspondence between the eye colour and coat colour.

Temperament

Ocicats are active, curious, sociable, and playful. Some owners say these cats have the spirit of a dog because they can easily be trained to fetch, walk on a leash and harness, come when called, speak, sit, lie down on command, etc. A set of natural dog tricks! Some Ocicats love water. These cats are very friendly and intelligent. Usually they get on well with other pets and people, although they are likely to assert their dominance. If you are out a lot, maybe this breed is not very apt for you because Ocicats don't like staying alone. If they see a stranger, they may march straight up to him to announce that they would like to be petted. This all makes them perfect family pets. If you want to spend a lot of time with your cat, an Ocicat will be an excellent choice. But you shouldn't forget that they do require more attention than not so people-oriented cats.

Ocicats' tail has typical rings of a darker colour, photo by dingdong

Coat and grooming

There are generally twelve colours of the breed. Tawny, chocolate and cinnamon, their dilutes, blue, lavender and fawn; also all these colours with silver: black silver (ebony silver), chocolate silver, cinnamon silver, blue silver, lavender silver and fawn silver. Spots that cover all the body are basically distinct, albeit the pale coat colours will show less contrast than darker ones.
The eyes are usually rimmed with the darkest coat colour. Further surrounding with the lightest colour gives the "mascara" effect. Purebred Ocicats have dark markings on the cheeks and an intricate tabby "M" on the forehead. Then markings extend up over the head between the ears and break into small spots. These spots are typical for the lower neck and shoulders, and rows of spots extend along the spine from shoulder blades to tail. Rings of a darker colour are typical for Ocicats' tail. The latter also has a dark tip.
The coat of Ocicats is short and satiny in texture. It has a lustrous sheen; it is sleek and close-lying. Very little grooming and brushing is required.