Ocicats belong to the comparatively easy-to-care-for breeds and look forward to a change in everyday cat life. Therefore, they usually fit well in families with children, where they get a lot of attention and always have someone to cuddle with. Many members of the race suffer when their two-legged friends are away from home for a long time. In particular, if you are employed, you have to think about buying a second cat. Since Ocicats are very active, they should ideally not only have a large apartment but a secure balcony or an outdoor enclosure.
The Ocicat is a comparatively new and relatively rare breed of cats. Because of its dotted fur pattern, it was named after the ocelot. However, a relationship between the two animals can be ruled out.
Even if the Ocicat has the appearance of a wildcat, there are no crossbreeds with wildcat species. Instead, Siamese and Abyssinians were paired with each other and later the American Shorthair (in silver tabby) crossed.
The first breeder of the Ocicat was Virginia Daly from Michigan. She actually wanted to develop a Siamese cat with an Abyssinian pattern on the points. In the second generation of their breed, however, was a spotted kitten named Tonga, which Virginia Daly’s daughter is said to have called “Ocicat” for fun. When the parent animals were mated, other cats with specially colored spots saw the light of day and ultimately formed the basis for the development of the breed.
Breed-specific traits
Ocicats are one of the open-minded and sociable cat breeds and are known for being happy to be greeted and petted by strangers. In addition, they are usually characterized by a friendly nature and need a lot of attention from their two-legged friends. They are very fixated on their people, love to cuddle with them, and are usually just as happy to tell stories as their close relatives, the Siamese.
Some Ocicat owners also report that their velvet paws are anything but afraid of water and like to let off steam in the bathtub or a paddling pool.
Attitude and care
Ocicats are usually well suited as family cats because they enjoy the action in everyday life and like to be around people. They also usually get along very well with other pets and conspecifics. Full-time workers should urgently think about buying a second cat, as the Ocicat does not like to be left alone. In addition, many members of the breed seem to particularly appreciate the freedom of movement. It is therefore advisable to provide the cats with a secure balcony or an open-air enclosure if possible.
The short coat of the Ocicat is very easy to care for. However, loose hair should be removed with a soft brush once a week.
