Ocicat: cat breed description and care

The Ocicat attracts with its incredibly beautiful color. The domestic pet looks very much like its wild relative - the ocelot, but has an agreeable and friendly character.

The Siamese, Abyssinian and British Shorthair are three breeds combined in one. The specimen was named the Ocicat. She owes her appearance to the American felinologist Virginia Daley. The purpose of the experiment was the process of improving the Abyssinian cats. To achieve the desired result, this breed was crossed with the Siamese. In 1964, kittens were born that embodied the features of two breeds.

The breeder did not stop there and continued to work in this direction. In the second generation a unique kitten appeared in the litter. Its beige fur was adorned with rounded, golden brown spots. The little fluffy ball was named Tonga and passed on to its new owner. The individual did not have future offspring, since sterilization was the main condition of the deal.

The meeting between Virginia and genetics Clyde Koehler became fateful. Kohler was interested in the experiment, but since the first representative had already been sterilized, he had to wait for the birth of a new unusual representative of the feline. The animal that was born was named Dalai Dotson. He became the progenitor of the Ocicats. To make the characteristic spots on the coat bright, Tonga parents and their spotted children were crossed.

The emergence of the British shorthair gene cemented the result. As a result, the breed became larger in size and acquired a specific color: the entire hair is light, and the tip is contrasting. They registered it in 1980.

In accordance with the standards adopted by the International Cat Association (TICA), distinguish the following features of the breed.

• The head in profile is wedge-shaped, in front view it is trapezoidal. There is a powerful, but not pointed chin. The bite is correct. Adult cats often have a double chin. The neck is long, graceful.
• Large, triangular ears, sometimes ending in tassels at the ends... Visually, it seems that the head smoothly merges into the ears.
• The eyes are set wide and almond-shaped. The color of the iris ranges from yellowish to green. Deviation from the standard - blue eyes.
• Athletic body, straight sides.
• The tail is rather long, slightly tapering. Its tip is dark colored.
• Long, muscular limbs. On the front legs there are 5 toes, on the hind legs - 4.
• The coat is thick, but thin. It fits snugly to the body.

The average weight of the animal reaches 5 kg. Cats are larger than cats.

Ocicats are very attached to their master, sociable, love to "talk" with him. Loneliness is not for them. They can accompany the owner as he walks around the apartment.

The animal is affectionate and friendly. He gets along with other inhabitants of the house: cats, dogs. An attack is possible only in the event of a threat (to the home or to himself). There is no aggression in his character, so families with children can have such a pet. He will quickly make friends with the "little man" and will be happy to play with him. There is some presence of canine traits: the cat can even bring abandoned toys, walk on a leash. He is also trainable. The beast is active, nimble. This is not a lazy sloth who sleeps all day in a secluded corner.

Watching your hosts and the events taking place is one of the Ocicat's favorite pastimes. To provide himself with the maximum viewing angle, he climbs onto shelves, wardrobes and other elevations in the apartment. The animal is capable of self-learning. It quickly remembers its nickname, individual words, commands. In order to attract attention (if it is lacking), the animal meows loudly.

A characteristic feature of the breed is the absence of fluffiness and ticking. Each hair is not monotonous, but colored in several shades. On the forehead, dark stripes form the letter "M". A contrasting stripe extends from the outer tip of the eye. The body is covered with dark spots, on the tail and legs there are transverse stripes. There are 12 main types of animal color. Here are the main ones.

1. The main color of the coat is red... The color of the spots is dark brown, almost black. The pads are painted dark gray or black. The nose is framed by a dark border.
2. Brown spots are scattered on the light milky background. A brown outline runs along the edge of the pink nose. The color of milk chocolate is present on the paw pads. The color is named chocolate.
3. The main color is ivory. The spots are reddish brown. The nose and paw pads are pinkish.
4. Wool casts a delicate pale blue shade, the spots are deep blue.
5. Lilac spots stand out in strong contrast against a light beige background... The pads and nose are mauve.
6. The color is ivory. The spots are yellowish brown. The skin of the nose and paw pads is pink.

In the other 6 options, there is a silvery sheen. White is found around the nostrils, eyes, chin and neck (top).

A small fluffy lump that appears in your house needs to be given a name. For some, this is a real problem.A representative of such a unique and beautiful breed does not want to be called something ordinary. The name should match the animal. An animal acquired through a special club and having a pedigree is given a respectable nickname. In this case, a number of requirements must be met:

• the name contains an additional nickname of the ancestor;
• the nickname begins with a specific letter.

The result is a long and not very easy-to-pronounce name. You have the right to shorten it. Archibald Vending can always be called Archie. Among the popular nicknames that the owners give to their thoroughbred pets, there are the following: Alfredo, Christopher, Gregory, Buckingham, Robie, Gray, Blue. If you are not going to take part in all kinds of exhibitions, the following parameters will help you choose a nickname: the color of the fur, the character of the pet. In case of difficulty, refer to the information posted on the Internet. Many sites offer a veritable encyclopedia of cat names. Nicknames are arranged in alphabetical order, which greatly simplifies the search.

Representatives of this breed are unpretentious and do not require any special care. The animal is very mobile and active. She definitely needs to throw out the accumulated energy, so be sure to play with her. Walking in the fresh air will not interfere. Use a harness for walking.

Due to the fact that the coat is devoid of undercoat, the animal almost does not shed. Perform a hair removal procedure about once every 2 weeks. For this, a special rubber glove is used, one side of which is covered with a special material that allows you to quickly and accurately collect the wool. Do not use brushes with metal teeth. Such an accessory is strictly prohibited.

Bathing requires cat shampoos, which are readily available from specialized stores. If you are the owner of a silver individual, then use a whitening shampoo.

The nails are trimmed as needed. Do not use standard scissors for this. You need a special accessory made for cats. But for removing dirt from the ears, a regular cotton swab is suitable. This breed is prone to oral health problems.... In this regard, the cat needs to brush his teeth once a week. It is advisable to visit a veterinarian once a year to examine the condition of the teeth. Regular treatment for parasites is also required: fleas, ticks, worms.

The best option is to buy ready-made feed. Their composition is balanced and specially selected for felines. It contains vitamins, mineral elements. In addition, the assortment is so diverse that it will not be difficult to find the right one. Don't buy cheap food. They will only harm the animal. Premium class required. Pay attention to the purpose. You will need a food formulated for Siamese cats.

Adults are fed twice a day. Kittens need more energy and strength, so they need to be fed 4-5 times a day. Food should not be hot or, on the contrary, very cold.

If you want to feed your pet with natural products, then the meat (chicken, beef) must first be boiled and cut into small portions. The diet should also contain fermented milk products. Once a week, feed your pet boiled sea fish, eggs, vegetables. River fish is contraindicated. With natural feeding, vitamins should be given twice a year (spring and autumn).

Some foods are prohibited for pets. Among them are smoked sausages and fish, canned fish used by humans, sweets, fatty and salty foods, marinades. Chicken bones can cause injury to the stomach and esophagus. You cannot feed on legumes and barley, as these products are generally not digested by the cat's stomach.

Ocicats are considered centenarians. With proper care, they can live for about 18 years. Despite the fact that their health is good, diseases that were characteristic of the breeds that took part in the crossing can give about themselves. From the Siamese breed got heart disease - cardiomyopathy. As a rule, such animals die in childhood. There may also be blood problems - anemia.

Another rare disease is renal amyloidosis. Typical for the Abyssinian breed. It occurs against the background of a violation of protein metabolism. The amyloid protein is deposited in the liver, pancreas, and kidneys. As a result, the organs cannot fully perform their functions. Pathology detected in the early stages can be successfully stopped.

Regular brushing of your teeth will prevent periodontal disease from occurring. A plaque appears on the teeth, which the animal is not able to remove itself. The owner will have to arm themselves with a brush and paste or go to the veterinarian. A routine examination by a specialist is the key to a full life of the cat.

All about the Ocicat cats is in the video below.