Oh my, what a cat on my windowsill sat!
Oh, those big blue eyes, how lovely is that!
And she’s gorgeous herself, through and through:
poise, body and soul, and her name? Ojos Azules, it’s true!
The rest doesn’t rhyme, but it’s just as poetic and to the point!
History of the Breed
To the rhythm of maracas, a modest dancer steps onto the stage. Clicking her castanets, she performs a traditional seguidilla, but the moment she opens her eyes, everyone gasps: “¡Ojos azules!” (Spanish for “blue eyes”).
Folk dance may be a living history, but the story of the Ojos Azules can be told in plain words too. What makes this cat special isn’t its build or a unique coat; it’s the one-of-a-kind color of its eyes. Ojos Azules cats always have blue eyes.
Blue eyes are extremely rare in non-pointed cats. But a rare gene mutation does produce such beauties from time to time. One day, American breeders took notice. They set about isolating and improving the breed, and the blue-eyed cats, now with their own breed standard, were registered in the US in 1991.
The first Ojos Azules, found in New Mexico, was named Cornflower. She was a tortoiseshell, meaning her black, red and white fur blended into a one-of-a-kind cocktail. But Cornflower’s eyes were deep blue, and the cat caused a real sensation.
The breed’s homeland still admires it loudly, while other countries are rather skeptical. Blue-eyed non-pointed cats sometimes turn up in New Zealand and in Essex, England, where nobody plans to make them a separate breed yet. Meanwhile, blue-eyed cats living in the Altai region of Russia have been developed into a separate breed that Russian catteries call the Altai Blue-Eyed cat. Pictures of the Altai and American blue-eyed cats look similar overall, but there are many differences.
Ojos Azules Breed Description
The Ojos Azules is an unfussy lady. She can be large or medium-sized. If she likes, she’s longhaired; if she changes her mind, shorthaired. In short, the breed’s differences from other cats aren’t very pronounced in its overall look.
- The Ojos Azules has a triangular head with prominent cheekbones and a well-defined chin. The muzzle is small, with angular whisker pads. There’s a slight but noticeable dip between the nose and the forehead.
The ears are medium-sized, rounded at the tips and set high.
The eyes are the Ojos Azules’s pride and joy. The brighter the blue, the better. Describing every shade would take too long; there are at least 24! Gray eyes and heterochromia (odd eyes) are also possible, but odd eyes are allowed only if one eye is blue and the other is in the copper or green range. Kittens are born with almond-shaped, slanted eyes.
- Owners point out that all Ojos Azules cats feel firm and springy to the touch. These blue-eyed cats are flexible and very muscular.
- The chest is usually large, powerful and broad.
- The rump sits higher than the shoulders.
- The legs are of medium length, with hind legs longer than the front ones. The paws are small and oval.
- The tail is in proportion to the body, tapering toward a pointed tip.
An adult rarely weighs more than about 11 lb.
- Coat. These cats can be shorthaired or longhaired. The fur is soft to the touch, but the undercoat is poorly developed. The coat’s natural shine is worth special mention.
The coat can come in almost any color, with a small exception. IMPORTANT! A white coat or white spots aren’t allowed unless the tip of the tail is white. The breed standard also doesn’t accept the pointed (Himalayan) pattern.
Personality
The Ojos Azules is the kind of cat that becomes your friend from the moment it arrives. It won’t pester you over small things, but it’ll come to play exactly when it senses you’re in the mood.
This breed truly loves kids. Ojos Azules cats are ready to join in all of the children’s games, as long as they don’t sleep through them. These blue-eyed cats love to nap, maybe a bit more than other breeds. But don’t fall for the cat’s “Just one more minute!” Wake your cat up and talk to it. The Ojos Azules listens to human speech as if it really understands. So watch your language: these cats are touchy! Occasionally they may even hit back, but that’s more the exception than the rule.
It’s also important to know that these cats need an enclosed space. They won’t feel comfortable outdoors, in a yard or at a country house. But in an apartment, with an energetic owner to play with, the Ojos Azules will show itself at its best!
They always notice changes in the decor or new items in the home and study them thoroughly. That includes neighbors and houseguests, whom the cat, after inspecting them, will add to the list of people allowed to pet and admire it.
Health
Ojos Azules cats have no predisposition to any particular diseases. But breeders stress that two blue-eyed cats must never be bred together. The price of such irresponsible breeding is a host of genetic problems in the kittens.
Ojos Azules cats can be bred to cats without blue eyes. Such litters produce healthy kittens with a life expectancy of 10–12 years.
Care and Living Conditions
These cats’ coats don’t need complicated care. Brush an Ojos Azules like any other cat and regularly take care of its eyes, ears and teeth.
Pay attention to your pet’s mood, since a touchy cat can suffer. How can you tell if a cat is depressed? No, it doesn’t cry. An unhappy Ojos Azules becomes sluggish or, on the contrary, aggressive; it hides in a corner and hisses. The best first aid is play therapy: 10–15 minutes of active play will turn your cat back into the happiest creature on earth.
Feeding
Love and food: that’s what every cat needs, and the Ojos Azules is no exception.
Premium and super-premium commercial cat food is the best solution if you don’t want to spend time cooking for your cat. But if you don’t mind the time and effort, the Ojos Azules will happily eat a homemade diet too. Just not food from your table! Your cat’s meals should be bland, lean and more than half meat.
With a homemade diet, you also need to give vitamins. Choose the brand you like (ideally with your vet’s advice), but make sure the supplement includes:
- vitamin A, which is great for healthy skin, coat and eyesight;
- vitamin D, which supports bones and muscles;
- vitamins C, E and the B vitamins, which support the heart and nervous system;
- potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, iodine, protein and yeast.
Kitten vitamins should ideally contain the amino acid taurine. It helps prevent developmental problems in kittens and strengthens the heart muscle.
Photos
A slightly upturned nose and ultramarine eyes: the Ojos Azules looks great in photos and even more striking in person, winning hearts with its modest charm.
Where to Buy
Even in its homeland, the Ojos Azules is extremely rare today. Breeders lost interest, partly because of the breeding problems described above, and we couldn’t find a single active Ojos Azules cattery in the US or elsewhere. Some experts believe the breed may have practically disappeared.
So there’s no current market price for an Ojos Azules kitten. If someone offers you one, ask for TICA registration papers and a pedigree, and be very cautious: a blue-eyed non-pointed kitten without papers is most likely a random-bred cat with lucky genes. If you’re hoping for a rare breed with striking blue eyes, you can search the TICA breeder listings or ask breed clubs for leads.
Oh my, what a cat!
