{"id":1625,"date":"2021-12-09T16:03:49","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T15:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlinecatworld.com\/?p=1625"},"modified":"2022-03-07T20:08:01","modified_gmt":"2022-03-07T19:08:01","slug":"ocicat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onlinecatworld.com\/ocicat\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ocicat: a social cat with a wild appearance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you planning on bringing in a new cat friend? Maybe the Ocicat will be something for you. An Ocicat is particularly known for its special, wild stains pattern and social character.<\/strong> This cat is one of the most popular spotted cats in the world. Especially in the US this cat is very popular, but it is already greatly appreciated by many people in Europe. Would you like to know more about this special appearance? Curious about the origin of this ‘wild’ domestic cat? Then read on!<\/p>\n

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The origin: a cat from the United States<\/h2>\n

The first spotted Ocicat originated in the United States in the early 1960s.<\/strong> When an American breeder crossed a chocolate point Siamese with an Abyssinian, thinking of breeding point cats, she discovered a kitten in the litter that differed from the rest. This kitten was named Tonga and is recognized as the very first Ocicat in the world. So, the Ocicat actually came into being by accident. It was named after the Ocelot, a South American wild cat. Afterwards it was also crossbred with the American Shorthair, resulting in sturdier, bigger cats in all kinds of beautiful colours. By crossing the Ocicat with an American Shorthair, the beautiful spotted pattern came even better to the fore.<\/p>\n

In 1966 the breed was officially recognized in the USA by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) and in 1987, when the breed was developed far enough, it received championship status. Not until 1992 that the cat was recognized as a breed by the European cat association F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale F\u00e9line (FIFe) and the cat became very popular in Europe. The Ocicat was first seen in the Netherlands in 1995. So, the Ocicat is a relatively new breed.<\/p>\n

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The character: intelligent, playful and friendly<\/h2>\n

Before buying an Ocicat, it is of course also important to know what the typical characteristics of this breed are. Although this cat resembles a wild cat, its character and temperament is just like any other domestic cat and the opposite of ‘wild’. This breed is very friendly, energetic and good with children. <\/strong>An Ocicat can also adapt very well to its environment. They love to live in a large house with a garden in which they can play, but the Ocicat can also live in a smaller house. In the second case it is important that the cat can use its energy, a scratching post and plenty of cat toys are very welcome.<\/p>\n

The Ocicat is sweet, curious, affectionate and intelligent. Would you like a cat that can teach you tricks? Then an Ocicat is a good choice. They are so smart that you can teach them to open doors and drawers. They can also be taught to fetch and walk on a leash. In addition, this breed is very attached to its owner. Because of its social character, an Ocicat can become your best friend, but also needs a lot of time and attention. This breed is therefore not suitable for families who are away from home for a long time. An Ocicat cannot be left alone for a long time. <\/strong><\/p>\n

To give this cat enough company you can also choose to take in another animal. An Ocicat can get along well with other cats as well as dogs because of its gentle nature. Of course, it is important that he gets used to other pets from an early age. On the other hand, an Ocicat can also be very dominant. They have a staring look which they use to dominate. Because of this you can’t just put them together with any other breed because they can appear threatening. If you want to give your Ocicat company by putting them together with another animal, it is best to ask the breeder what the best combination is.<\/p>\n

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The appearance of the Ocicat<\/h2>\n

The Ocicat is a medium to large sized cat with an athletic, well muscled and firm body.<\/strong> Because the body and legs are quite long, he looks limber, slim and elegant. When the cat is lifting it is heavier than you expect, this is due to its considerable bone and muscle development. The cats weigh between 3,5 and 5 kilos on average, males can weigh between 6 and 8 kilos.<\/p>\n

To support the firm, hard and rather long body of this cat, he also has four sturdy legs. These are medium long, muscular and in good proportion to the body. The feet are oval and compact, with the front feet having five toes and the back feeding four. The muzzle of the Ocicat is broad and seems a bit square, from the side the muzzle is fairly long. In addition, the Ocicat has a firm chin and fairly large ears that are wide apart. The eyes are large, slightly slanted and almond-shaped. The eyes of the Ocicat are mostly amber or green. The head of this cat is moderately wedge shaped, with a slight curve visible from the muzzle to the cheek. The tail of this cat is relatively long and tapered, the tip of the tail always has a dark colour. The coat of this cat is one of its most striking characteristics, the spotted pattern gives the cat a special and wild appearance. It is reminiscent of the big feline. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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The coat and coat colour of the Ocicat<\/h2>\n

The Ocicat has a short and shiny coat that lies tight on the body of the cat. The coat is smooth and feels very soft. Important with the coat of the Ocicat is that the colours are beautiful and bright and that there is a clear pattern of spots visible. The lightest colours of the coat can usually be found on the face, near the eyes, on the chin and at the bottom of the jaws. The tip of the tail of the Ocicat is the darkest part of the coat.<\/p>\n

Special about the Ocicat are the different patterns that run over its coat. The most striking pattern is the one on his torso. Nice contrasting spots run in rows along the spine from the shoulders to the tail. These spots are darkest in the middle and show a nice contrast with the light background of the coat. slightly more on the side of the torso are spots that are slightly larger and well spread. These spots give the suggestion of a more classic tabby pattern. The belly of the Ocicat also contains a good number of spots. On the lower legs and neck of this cat, broken rings are visible. On the forehead of the Ocicat there is a streaky tabby pattern, this has the shape of the letter ‘M’. These markings can also be found on the rest of the head and turn into small spots on the neck and shoulders. On the head the eyes are bordered with a dark colour after which it immediately changes into the lightest colour, also called ‘mascara’ markings. The tail of the Ocicat has another pattern, namely horizontal rings that extend all the way to the end of the tail. The tip of the tail is dark. These rings can be interspersed with spots.<\/p>\n

The Ocicat comes in 12 different colour combinations and in most cases has a silver or light basic colour. The staining pattern of the coat can occur in the following colours:<\/p>\n