The exotic-looking Ocicat casts a spell over people instantly and permanently. Because of its spotted fur, its name is derived from the wild cat called the ocelot. The nature of the Ocicat cat is not that wild, but extremely cuddly and loyal – and therefore a popular roommate kitty.
History of the Breed
A lady named Virginia Daly (Dalai) created the Ocicat by chance in 1964: She had crossed an Abyssinian tom with a Siamese. Some call it a failed breed. We think the Ocicat cat is so remarkable in character and appearance that we describe this breed as very successful and therefore successful.
The geneticist Dr. Clyde Keeler developed a great interest in the tame house cat with the jungle look. Ergo, the cuddly exotic was further bred. In order to increase the variety of colors, the American Shorthair was also bred at a later date.
In this way, over the years, the Ocicat was created with its strong physique and at the same time graceful appearance. It wasn’t until 1987 that the Ocicat cat was recognized as a breed in the USA.
Appearance
The Ocicat is an athletic-looking cat who walks through life gracefully and strongly at the same time. Cats of this breed weigh four to five kilograms, males up to seven kilograms. On her powerful legs, she is supple and capable of big jumps. The rib cage is low and the ribs are slightly arched.
Your head is wedge-shaped. She has well-developed cheeks and a pronounced chin area. Their ears are medium-sized and always alert. Her eyes are almond-shaped, set wide apart, and her view of the world is friendly. Their tail is “ringed”, quite long, and thins a little towards the dark tip of the tail. The tip of the tail is the darkest color of its entire fur. The fur is short, dense, and smooth, and it has a silky sheen. It has spots the size of a thumbprint, which contrast with the basic color of the fur.
The Ocicat comes in twelve different colors – six of them with silver and six without. The spotted Ocicats come in black, blue, chocolate, lavender, cinnamon, and fawn. They are also available in all colors in the silver version. The Ocicat cat’s face has a tabby drawing.
Ocicat Temperament
For all their wild, exotic appearance, the Ocicat’s nature is rather tame. They blend in well with families and have a reputation for being as loyal as a dog. This also makes it very suitable and popular as a house cat. The Ocicat also gets along well with small children and dogs. However, both should ideally be used to each other from an early age. Like their wild ancestors, Ocicats enjoy being in nature. There they hunt and go on a discovery tour. As a potential owner of this exotic species, you should ensure that your Ocicat cat has enough exercise. So it corresponds to a species-appropriate attitude.
Also make yourself aware that a cat is on the one hand self-sufficient and therefore “easy to care for”, but nevertheless time-consuming. If you cannot devote yourself to your cat as much as your cat would like, you should either refrain from purchasing it entirely or consider a second cat. So your two beloved feline fur creatures can play, cuddle and explore the cat-safe garden with each other even in your absence. Incidentally, purring and other acoustic signals are less pronounced with the Ocicat than with other cats. The Ocicat cat does not express its pleasure by purring. But she will let you feel differently that she feels comfortable.
Ocicats are open-minded and sociable creatures and are also happy to be greeted and caressed by strangers. Their nature is characterized overall by pronounced friendliness. At the same time, the Ocicat appreciates when it receives a lot of attention from its human roommates. Conversely, the Ocicat cat also gives its humans a lot of attention and is strongly fixated on their loved one. She is very fond of cuddling with her owner. Some owners of cats of this breed also report that they are real water rats and that they like to let off steam in bathtubs or paddling pools.
Ocicat Diet
The Ocicat is basically uncomplicated in terms of nutrition. For them, the same nutritional recommendations apply to other cats. If you choose to feed dry food, it is important to make sure that it is of good quality. It must contain all of the necessary nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that your beloved cat needs to enjoy good long-term health. It should also be noted that dry food has very low water content. For example, dry food only contains around eight percent water. To compensate for the low water content of the dry food, make sure that your cat drinks enough water. To ensure this, you can set up water bowls and possibly a drinking fountain. Please note that these should be in a different place than the food bowl. It corresponds to the cat’s natural nutritional requirements.
Because even in the “wild” the cat takes its water and its food in different places. This is because the water could be contaminated by the components of, for example, a killed mouse. To meet the conditions in their natural environment as much as possible is very important in terms of a species-appropriate life for the cat. When feeding wet food, it is of course important to ensure that the cat eats it as soon as possible after you have filled your bowl. Otherwise, it will quickly become a playground for flies. Then it will become inedible for the cat, and in all likelihood, it will leave it where it is.
There are also big differences in quality when it comes to wet food. Make sure you have a low-pollutant mix of nutrients and high-quality proteins that the cat can digest well. Cat food that does poorly in tests often contains too high a proportion of phosphorus, which is harmful to the cat’s kidneys. The price alone is not an indicator of high quality either. Even with the very cheap products, there are some that achieve very good results in quality tests.
The nutritional option BARF (biologically appropriate raw feeding) should also be mentioned. It corresponds to a species-appropriate diet, as the cat maintains in a similar way in the wild. Many even consider BARF to be the best way to feed a cat. It contains raw fresh meat, supplemented with vegetables, feeds oils, essential additives, and partly supplemented with carbohydrates to guarantee a balanced diet. The BARF diet comes closest to the natural diet because prey animals in nature also consist of components such as muscle meat, bones, innards (the liver has a special place here), skin and fat, blood, tendons, cartilage, fur, plumage, and Compose water. In addition, there are the stomach contents of the prey. In the case of a mouse, for example, it can consist of grain. In this respect, this feeding method corresponds to the natural requirements of a cat-friendly diet.
Care and Health
In addition to the fact that the Ocicat needs adequate exercise, space, and opportunities to exercise, it is also happy to have other employment opportunities. Clicker training can be a possibility here. Let yourself be inspired by the selection of clicker accessories. Or use even more personal methods of engaging with your roommate kitty. Cat toys, for example, are recommended for this.
If things are lively in your household, the Ocicat cat will benefit from it. She also values dealing with many family members, children, and possibly other K, and she is also tolerant with dogs. It is important that you pay attention to your house tiger, also in the form of many extensive pats. Otherwise, the Ocicat is easy to maintain. It is enough to brush the short coat every now and then to remove loose hair. And to further strengthen the bond between the two of you.
The Ocicat cat naturally enjoys stable health. Breed-specific diseases are at least not yet known. Like any other breed, they can get infections naturally. However, if you think about regular vaccinations and preventive veterinary visits and pay attention to high-quality feed, the conditions are good for your Ocicat to stay safe and sound.
Find Ocicat Breeders
When choosing a breeder, you should ensure that the adult cats and their kittens live in good, healthy conditions and in close association with the human family. In this way, the cat is already optimally used to the conditions that it will then find in a similar form with you. The cat is also used to loud noises, such as those caused by vacuum cleaners and the like in the household, and you will not be confronted with them for the first time.
It is best to contact a reputable community of interests of breeders and lovers of the Ocicat cat. This is where breeders and lovers of this exotic cat breed come together. The aim of such groups and connections is as extensive cooperation as possible across the whole world, in which exchange is carried out, information is provided and breeding experiences are shared.
Basically, you can recognize a reputable breeder by the fact that he is interested in your living conditions in the interests of the cat to be mediated and, if necessary, would even like to see them. Your previous experience is also of interest to the breeder, although the previous experience does not have to be a prerequisite for purchasing a pedigree cat. Of course, a good cat breeder will draw up a sales contract with you. Among other things, it regulates how you should behave in the event of illness in the kitten. A breeder who is genuinely interested in the welfare of his cats is still there for you after the referral.
Membership in a recognized breeding association, breeding association, or cat breed club is also an indicator of a breeder who is to be taken seriously. The cat’s papers also come from a recognized association. In addition, a reputable breeder can be recognized by the fact that he breeds at most two different cat breeds. Breeding requires very extensive knowledge. The animals and the breeder’s premises should of course give a well-groomed impression, and the animals should not appear too shy. In addition, you will receive a feed plan from a trustworthy breeder, and he will prove to be a competent contact person for nutritional issues. All cats and tomcats used for breeding should also be vaccinated and tested negative for leukosis and cat aids. Last but not least, your gut feeling is a powerful factor in choosing a good breeder.
Whichever cat you choose: We wish you a wonderful time together.
