The Ocicat is a spotted cat that looks a lot like an ocelot (hence the name). In fact, though, it’s a mix of three breeds: the Siamese, the Abyssinian and the American Shorthair. Ocicats are unique because they look like wild cats but have the personality of a house pet.
History
The Ocicat was no accident. In 1964, breeder Virginia Daly of Berkley, Michigan, deliberately crossed a Siamese with an Abyssinian-Siamese cat hoping to create a Siamese with Abyssinian-colored points. The first kittens looked Abyssinian. But the second litter included, besides the Aby-Siamese mixes, a single spotted kitten. He was named Tonga, and Daly’s daughter came up with the name “Ocicat.”
Despite its exotic look, the breed’s homeland is the United States. But that first Ocicat kitten, Tonga, was neutered and sold. The ancestors of all of today’s Ocicats came from a third litter. They launched a dedicated Ocicat breeding program, which other breeders joined alongside Virginia Daly.
Later, the American Shorthair was added to the breed. That gave the Ocicat its silver colors and heavier bone structure. The CFA was the first to register Ocicats, and they competed for championship in 1987. Other registries later recognized the breed too.
Ocicat Breed Description
Many people mistake Ocicats for ordinary spotted alley cats. They can look similar, but the Ocicat is a unique pedigreed cat. So how can you tell you’re not looking at a random tabby? Here’s the detailed description and standard according to TICA:
- Head: rounded, close to a triangle in shape, with a strong chin but not pointed. The muzzle looks slightly square and long in profile. The neck is muscular and graceful;
- Ears: large, sometimes with tufts at the tips, set at a 45-degree angle, neither high nor low. They make the cat look constantly alert;
- Eyes: almond-shaped, slightly slanted and set wide apart. Colors: yellow, gold, orange or green. The color doesn’t have to match the coat, but blue eyes are a departure from the standard;
- Body: powerful, muscular, athletic and solid, with the back rising slightly toward the tail;
- Legs: long and muscular, with oval paws;
- Tail: long and slender, with a dark, tapering tip;
- Coat: short, fine, silky and glossy, with ticked hairs and round or oval spots.
Ocicats are medium-sized, although they can look very powerful. The average weight is about 11 lb. Males can be larger, up to about 13 lb, while females are smaller, about 6.5–9 lb.
Colors
The Ocicat’s coloring is its main difference from other breeds. The key is ticked hair, meaning each hair has several bands of color. That creates the striking spotted pattern: light-tipped hairs surround dark spots.
A hallmark of the Ocicat is an “M” marking on the forehead, which you can see in the photo below. Overall, the spots form a ripple pattern on the head and run in rows along the spine. The tail and legs have horizontal bands.
The breed standard recognizes 12 colors: 6 base colors plus a silver version of each:
- Tawny: dark brown (up to black) spots on a warm, ruddy background. The nose is brick red with a dark outline; the paw pads are dark gray or even black.
- Chocolate: brown spots on a soft ivory background. The nose is pink with a chocolate outline; the paw pads are milk-chocolate colored.
- Cinnamon: soft brown spots on an ivory background. The nose is pink with a cinnamon outline; the paw pads are shades of pink.
- Blue: blue spots on a pale buff or pale blue background. The nose is pink with a blue outline; the paw pads are bluish.
- Lavender: lavender spots on an ivory or pale buff background. The nose is pink with a dark lavender outline; the paw pads are pink with a lavender tint.
- Fawn: fawn-colored spots on an ivory background. The nose and paw pads are pink.
The other 6 colors are silver versions of the ones above. Under the standard, white is allowed only around the eyes and nostrils, on the upper throat and on the chin.
Personality
However wild their coats make them look, Ocicats love human company. This cat will always follow its owner around without getting in the way. Ocicats don’t handle loneliness well, so they’re not a good choice for people who are away from home for long periods. But they won’t suit people who like to spend all day on the couch either. This is a very mischievous, restless cat.
Ocicats are very smart, active and curious, and they have a strong hunting instinct. They quickly learn both cat rules and household habits: opening doors and boxes, or bringing things to their owner in their mouth, like a dog. They’re easy to teach all sorts of tricks and can also be trained to walk on a leash. No wonder owners give them rave reviews.
From their Siamese ancestors, Ocicats inherited a love of purring. They speak up when they need something: to get attention, ask for something or express displeasure.
Care and Health
Ocicats are healthy, hardy cats. But don’t forget they were created by crossing three breeds, each with its own hereditary diseases. These can include kidney amyloidosis and pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency, which leads to anemia. The Siamese line may carry a predisposition to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart disease that can cause sudden death even in fairly young cats.
Ocicats also have a higher risk of periodontal disease and plaque buildup. To prevent it, use special cat toothpaste and a small brush. If you can’t brush your cat’s teeth at home, have your vet do regular dental cleanings.
None of this means Ocicats are sickly; their risk of these conditions is simply higher than in other breeds. The average lifespan of an Ocicat is 16–19 years.
Overall, the breed doesn’t need complicated care. Ocicats have no undercoat, so they don’t shed much. Brushing once a week with a rubber brush (never a metal one!) and “polishing” with suede for shine is enough.
Feed Ocicats the same way as other cats:
- no special diet is needed,
- a balanced commercial food is enough.
Since these cats are very playful, it’s best if they have plenty of room and lots of toys.
How Much Does an Ocicat Kitten Cost?
The Ocicat isn’t just unique; it’s also not a common breed. In the US, an Ocicat kitten from a reputable breeder typically costs about $800–2,500, with show-quality kittens and rare colors at the upper end.
If you see a much lower price, be careful: experts say a suspiciously cheap “Ocicat” is a red flag. Professional breeders know the breed’s value and won’t lower the price without reason.
Ocicat Catteries
The Ocicat is an American breed, popular in the US, and both the CFA and TICA recognize it, so it’s much easier to find here than in Europe:
- CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
- TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/;
Some catteries breed Ocicats alongside the Toyger or the Abyssinian, so breeders of those breeds may also be able to help. Ask for registration papers and health screening results for the parents.
