• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pawesome Cats helping cats live happy, healthy lives

Pawesome Cats

helping cats live happy, healthy lives

  • Home
  • Cat Health
  • Cat Behaviour
  • Life with Cats
  • Raw Feeding
  • Cat Breeds
You are here: Home / Cat Breeds / Hybrid Cat Breeds / Ocicat: Breed Information and Personality

Ocicat: Breed Information and Personality

By Pawesome Cats | Updated on 28/12/2022

10 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Similar in appearance to its namesake the ocelot, the Ocicat is a designer species created by Virginia Day in Michigan in 1964. A large muscular body is shown to advantage due to a short coat with a satin sheen. The body is supported by long legs that end in oval paws. Beautiful almond shaped eyes are angled up towards ears with broad rounded tips.

Similar in appearance to its namesake the ocelot, the Ocicat is a designer species created by Virginia Day in Michigan in 1964 | Occicat Cat Breed Profile
Image: Wikimedia Commons.

 

The head is slightly wedge shaped as it is longer than it is wide. Contrasting spots adorn a coat which comes in a wide range of colors including: silver, blue silver, chocolate silver, lavender silver, tawny, blue, chocolate, fawn, black silver, fawn silver, and cinnamon.

Males typically reach an adult weight of 5 – 7 kg (11 to 15.5 pounds), while females are slightly smaller, weighing between 3 – 4.5 kg (7 to 10 pounds).

Ocicat Personality

Despite its wild look the Ocicat has no wild blood. The Ocicat cat is a chatty animal and they love to converse with their human friends. If you appreciate the constant companionship of a pet then you will thoroughly enjoy this breed, as your ocicat will happily follow you from room to room in the house.

Ocicats have many dog like traits. They can be trained to take long walks on a leash and are even known to engage in the odd game of fetch. For households with long periods where no one is home then it is advised to get your Ocicat a companion as they don’t like to be left alone for extended periods of time. Ocicats will enjoy the company of any species – be it dog, cat, or child.

RELATED:  Scottish Fold Cat: Breed Information and Personality

Did You Know?

The Ocicat first came about during an attempt Virginia Day took in trying to create an Abyssinian pointed Siamese by pairing an Abyssinian male to a Seal Point Siamese. When the resulting litter contained nothing but Abyssinian types she took a male from that litter and mated it with a Chocolate Point Siamese.

This next litter also produced a majority of Abyssinian points, but as luck would have it, Virginia’s daughter noticed one of the kittens had gorgeous golden spots and remarked how much it looked like an ocelot. Virginia granted her daughter’s request that the cat be called an Ocicat.

This first kitten was sold and neutered, but Virginia continued with the above pairing to produce more spotted kittens. Soon other breeders were following her example. Eventually the American Shorthair was added to the mix to create Ocicats with silver fur. This also led to an increase in body size for the Ocicat.

Caring for Your Ocicat

Kittens generally become available after 14 weeks of age. Early spaying and neutering is recommended. Once kittens have received their inoculations breeders prefer to place them early, as it enhances their social and physical stability in a new environment.

Due to a coat of close short hair the Ocicat requires very little in the way of grooming.

Have you ever met an Ociat? Please share your experiences in the comments below.

10 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Filed Under: Cat Breeds, Hybrid Cat Breeds

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Robin says

    29/08/2015 at 7:21 am

    I love Ocicats! I think it is pawsome that their breed began in my home state of Michigan. There are a lot of cool things that come from here! Those spots get me every time. 🙂

  2. Maxwell, Faraday & Allie says

    14/08/2015 at 10:17 am

    Interesting history – we didn't know the origin!

  3. meowmeowmans says

    08/08/2015 at 3:55 am

    What a beautiful breed! We've only seen an Ocicat once in person … so gorgeous. Thanks for teaching us some stuff about them. 🙂

  4. Rosa @ Cat Lady Confidential says

    08/08/2015 at 12:55 am

    This is a beautiful breed of cats and they seem to have great personalities also. Thanks for sharing!

  5. Fur Everywhere says

    06/08/2015 at 10:43 pm

    Ocicats are beautiful kitties! It sounds like they have amazing personalities, too.

  6. The Swiss Cats says

    06/08/2015 at 9:00 pm

    Like the Bengal, the Occicat is so close to his wild cousin ! Beautiful cat ! Purrs

  7. Summer says

    06/08/2015 at 4:17 pm

    Ocicats are really gorgeous creatures! I don’t see them often at shows, as not many alters are shown.

Primary Sidebar

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Latest Blog Posts

ginger kitten with arched back and upright tail on grass lawn

8 Reasons Why Cats Arch Their Backs

25/07/2023

coconut in shell with ground coconut and oil

Coconut Oil for Cats: Is It Good or Bad?

18/07/2023

tabby cat standing in blue litter box

What Does It Mean When a Cat Can’t Pee? 

11/07/2023

ginger and white cat with curved tail

Why Do Cats Wag Their Tails?

04/07/2023

tabby white cat eating from white bowl tongue out

Why Is My Cat Always Hungry? 10 Possible Reasons

27/06/2023

newborn kitten with eyes closed in human hands

Fading Kitten Syndrome: How To Recognise The Signs

20/06/2023

ginger cat digging in litter tray

Is Your Cat Allergic to Litter? How to Tell

13/06/2023

close up of ginger cat sneezing

Why Is My Cat Sneezing? 10 Possible Reasons

04/06/2023

Footer

Disclaimer

All articles are based on our personal opinion and experiences. Information on this site should not be considered a substitute for professional veterinary advice, care and treatment. If your cat is unwell and you are concerned for any reason, please contact your veterinarian immediately. Unless otherwise credited, all images and content are copyright to Pawesome Cats.

Affiliate Disclosure

Pawesome Cats is a member of affiliate programs that provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products sold online including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Associate the owner of this site earns from qualifying purchases. For more information, refer to our Disclaimer page.

Privacy

This site may collect anonymous demographic information when you visit our site, click on a link or leave a comment. For more information, read our privacy policy.

Quick Links

About   |   Contact   |   Subscribe

Copyright © 2023 Pawesome Cats - All Rights Reserved.

10 shares