Ocicat - Pet Guide

A Look At the Fascinating Ocicat

Admirers of leopards and ocelots will learn that there is a cat with the same exotic appearance that is domesticated, the Ocicat. While the large feral spotted cats can be deadly, these cats make wonderful pets. The Ocicat was developed completely by accident when a American breeder tried to develop a Siamese of had a different color. The breeder mated a Siamese cat with an Abyssinian cat and the result was a mottle-spotted kitten with a wonderful personality, but which looks wild and dangerous. They named it an "Ocicat" because describe why it looked like a cross between an Ocelot and a Cat.

The Ocicat is a medium-sized cat, weighing in at 6-14 pounds. Its powerful, graceful mass is set on muscular legs. This breed's head has a distinct wedge shape, which is topped by large, Siamese like ears. These cats have eyes with a slightly Oriental shape that are surrounded by dark color. Many cat breeders say this rim of color makes Ocicats look as though they are wearing glasses. A long, gracefully tapered tail completes the wild appearance of this breed.

While the original Ocicat was ivory-colored with golden spots, there are now many additional varieties of colors. You might see these spotted cats in Tawny, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Blue, Lavender, and Fawn colors. In addition, Ocicats come in spotted tabby, spotted silver tabby, and spotted smoke patterns of all of the above colors.

If you are a busy person who is seldom at home, you should not own an Ocicat. These cats are very people-oriented and become depressed and upset if they are left alone for extended periods. This love of human company makes this breed the ideal family feline. In fact, even visiting family and friends will be happily welcomed by these outgoing cats. While the Ocicat thrives on human attention, this sociable cat also is compatible lives happily in the company of other cats, making it an excellent breed choice for a multiple cat home.

These cats are very playful, and it's important therefore to keep your Ocicat happy, you should be sure to provide plenty of toys. However, this doesn't mean you need to break the piggy bank. Simple toys, like a big feather or a crumpled piece of paper, provide hours of entertainment for these sweet-natured cats.

The Ocicat is among highly intelligent cat breeds. You can easily teach your cat simple commands, such as how to come and fetch, but don't stop there. These fast learners have been able to perform to quite a many other commands, as well.

People who don't enjoy grooming their cats will be happy to know that the Ocicat does not actually need to be groomed very often. A quick brushing once a week should keep your Ocicat looking sleek and healthy. However, since this breed enjoys the attention, you may want to groom your cat several times a week.

If a person wants to have in a cat that appears as striking as the jungle cats, then you may just want to get an Ocicat. These cats offer the best of both worlds - a wild look and a sweet nature.

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For more info, see Ocicat and Siamese.

Copyright 2007 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact and the links live.