Ocicat

The Ocicat is a medium-sized domestic cat recognised for a spotted coat that recalls a wild feline. The look is deceptive, because the breed carries no wild ancestry at all. Those spots came about through selective breeding among domestic cats, and the nature is that of an easygoing household companion.

A lean, muscular frame is marked with large thumbprint spots laid out across the flanks and back. The expression stays alert, the ears sit large on the head, and the eyes are wide-set and full of character. Coat colours cover several accepted shades, and each one keeps the same spotted patterning.

Ocicats are self-assured and drawn to human company. Rather than bolt for cover, they will come out to meet callers, trail their owners around the house, and often learn to answer to their own name. Plenty of owners liken the breed to a dog for its loyalty, its knack for fetch, and its readiness to pick up tricks.

Who it suits

The Ocicat belongs in a lively home that can offer it attention and play. It settles well with families, including households with children and other animals, thanks to its sociable, forward nature. It is a poor fit for anyone after an aloof, hands-off cat, since it craves company and grows bored when left on its own for long stretches.

The Ocicat story starts in the United States in 1964. Breeder Virginia Daly, of Berkley in Michigan, was trying for an Abyssinian-pointed Siamese by pairing the two breeds. One kitten in the resulting litter turned up with an ivory coat and golden spots, and the breeder's daughter dubbed it an Ocicat for the way it echoed a young ocelot.

That first spotted kitten, named Tonga, was desexed and sold as a pet. Once interest picked up, the original cross was run again to yield more spotted cats, and a breeding programme grew up around them. American Shorthair was brought in later, which widened the colour range while adding to body size and introducing the silver colouring.

Three foundation breeds underpin the Ocicat: the Siamese, the Abyssinian and the American Shorthair. Each left its own mark, from coat colour and pattern through to body shape and the breed's chatty, people-focused temperament.

Over the following decades the breed earned formal recognition with North American cat registries, and it is now bred and shown across a number of countries. The spotted coat remains the trait that sets it apart.

The Ocicat is firm and athletic, with a fairly long body, solid legs and oval paws. It weighs more than the eye suggests, and the cat carries real muscle. The head shapes a modified wedge, the ears are large and may show tufts, and the eyes are large, almond-shaped and tilted slightly upward.

The spotted coat is the headline feature. Spots run large and thumbprint-shaped, spread over the flanks and back, with rows tracking down the spine. The face wears agouti tabby markings, among them an M on the forehead. The coat is short, sleek and close-lying, with a satiny feel under the hand.

Coat and colours

Twelve colours are accepted across the breed: tawny, chocolate, cinnamon, blue, lavender and fawn, each in a standard and a silver form. Every colour carries the same spotted pattern, a paler ground colour set against darker spots. Eye colour may be any shade bar blue, and no fixed link ties coat colour to eye colour.

The Ocicat is forward and sure of itself. It will walk up to guests rather than shy away, and it forms firm bonds with the people it shares a home with. Many owners tell of a cat that shadows them from room to room, perches on a shoulder, and wants a part in whatever the day holds.

Around children the Ocicat is usually calm and playful, so long as handling stays gentle. It tends to take other cats in its stride, and often dogs too, especially where introductions happen early. The breed hates long spells alone and fares better in homes where someone is usually about or where a second animal keeps it company.

The Ocicat is clever and busy. It learns fast, enjoys puzzle feeders and interactive toys, and can be taught to fetch, walk in a harness and answer to its name. It is moderately talkative, keeping up a run of chirps and trills, though nowhere near as loud as its Siamese forebears.

Grooming

• Brush or wipe over the short coat once a week to lift loose hair and keep it gleaming.
• A rubber grooming mitt or a soft brush does the job, and most cats enjoy the attention.
• Trim the claws every two to three weeks.
• Look over the ears and wipe them gently if any debris has gathered.
• Brush the teeth regularly to hold off dental disease.

Exercise

• Run at least two play sessions a day with wand toys, balls or fetch games.
• Put out puzzle feeders and rotate the toys to hold the cat's interest.
• Set up tall cat trees and shelves for climbing and leaping.
• Think about harness training for supervised time outdoors, which the breed often takes to readily.

Environment

The Ocicat suits an indoor home with vertical space and room to stretch its legs. Being social and no fan of isolation, it does best with company, whether human or a second pet. A steady routine, a good stock of interactive toys and access to high perches all help meet its physical and mental needs.

The Ocicat does well on a complete and balanced cat food that lists animal protein as the first ingredient. As an active, muscular breed, it draws on quality protein to hold its condition. Both wet and dry foods suit it, and a mix of the two can aid hydration and dental health. Fresh water should be on hand at all times.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats under 10 per cent of daily kilojoules to guard against weight gain, a genuine risk in this food-driven breed. A balanced commercial diet usually covers every nutrient a cat needs, so supplements are unnecessary unless a vet recommends them for a particular condition.

The Ocicat is a hardy breed on the whole, with a usual lifespan of 12 to 18 years. Its mixed background gives it a wide gene pool, which supports general health, yet a handful of inherited conditions crop up on account of its Siamese and Abyssinian lineage. Reputable breeders screen their cats to keep these risks down.

Preventive care

• Book an annual vet check, moving to twice a year once the cat is older.
• Keep vaccinations and parasite control up to date.
• Stay on top of dental hygiene with brushing and professional cleaning as advised.
• Watch the weight and body condition to head off obesity.
• Choose breeders who test for cardiac and genetic conditions.

The Ocicat is clever and keen to join in, which makes it unusually trainable for a cat. It takes up commands, brings back toys, and can learn to walk in a harness. Training also burns off its energy and gives it the mental work it needs. Short, frequent sessions beat long ones, and the breed responds best to food rewards and praise.

Basics

1. Begin with name recognition, rewarding the cat each time it looks your way.
2. Bring in a clicker or a marker word paired with a treat.
3. Teach simple cues such as sit and come using a lure and a reward.
4. Work up to fetch by rewarding the cat for picking up a toy and bringing it back.
5. Introduce a harness indoors first, letting the cat wear it for short spells before any walk outside.

Ocicats generally reach sexual maturity somewhere between five and ten months, though responsible breeders hold off until a cat is physically mature and health-tested before breeding from it. Because the breed draws on Siamese, Abyssinian and American Shorthair lines, breeders work to keep the spotted pattern and sound temperament while steering clear of the inherited conditions carried in the foundation breeds.

Gestation runs roughly 63 to 67 days. Litters usually hold four to six kittens. Newborns arrive with their spots already showing, though the pattern sharpens as the coat comes in.

Kittens are weaned at around eight weeks and are usually right to go to new homes at twelve to fourteen weeks, after early vaccinations and socialisation. Handling from the start supports the breed's confident, people-focused character. Genetic testing of breeding cats helps cut the chance of passing on heart and eye conditions.

Ocicat registration and microchipping in Australia

Set the record up before she needs it: name, colouring, photo, your mobile, save. That is the whole of registering your cat with United Pet Club, and the record stands for life without a bill.

Scanners find chips in seconds; the question is what the number points at. Point your Ocicat's chip at a live record: free with the lifetime plan, open to all brands, kept current through every move without charges. Microchip registration plus a free account, and she's covered.