What You Don’t Know About…..Ocicats
You Will Never Be Lonely
Candilee Jackson
Introduction: 
Whether a breeder, exhibitor, or pet owner of an Ocicat, being lonely is NEVER an option! Ocicats are greeters to their owners, siblings, guests, other animals, and just about anyone or anything who (or that) walks in the door. They are so determined to follow their humans everywhere that one British Ocicat owner said, “You will never go to the loo alone!” Feeling down? Or how about feeling under the weather? You got it! The Ocicat is always at the ready to interact, soothe, and calm. These felines need to “help” with everything in the home and love to be actively engaged in every family project, from cooking to homework to household repairs and board games. Ocicats are vocal and communicate in a clear language if people want to understand them. They are also very resourceful and have a lot of patience and perseverance: they will try something until they succeed and then do it repeatedly (i.e., opening any kind of door) to ensure they have it down pat.
A Little History, If You Please
The French writer Fernand Mery said it best: “God made the (domestic) cat in order that humankind might have the pleasure of caressing the tiger.” The Ocicat is a breed of cat descended exclusively from pedigreed domestic ancestors selectively bred to closely resemble a jungle cat.2 Unique among humans is the desire to co-exist with wild animals, especially cats. “It has been said that the Ocicats of today resemble the ‘Egyptian Fishing Cat’ or look remarkably like a direct ancestor of all domestic cats called the ‘Indian Desert Cat.’ However, to breed a totally domestic feline that looked similar to a cat in the jungle was not the original goal of the first Ocicat breeder.”2
Ocicats originated as a “happy accident.” When Virginia Daly crossed a seal point Siamese and a ruddy Abyssinian in 1964, she sought to produce Abyssinian-patterned points in her Siamese cats. Instead, her grand experiment led to these striking spotted cats. Eventually, the resulting cross was bred to American Shorthairs to provide depth and greater size, as well as the addition of the silver color. In reference to his spots, this lovely feline was named after the Ocelot, a small South American feline.1
Virginia’s breeding experiment resulted in the first Ocicat, Tonga, born in 1964. The breeding produced a spotted kitten who reminded the breeder’s daughter of an ocelot … hence the name “Ocicat.” A Detroit newspaper carried a story about Tonga, and geneticist Dr. Clyde Keeler was drawn to the wild cat look of Tonga. His interest peaked; Dr. Keeler was intrigued with the idea of “producing domestic cats that mimicked some of the vanishing wild feline species. This led to a repeat of the Tonga breeding and prompted other breeders to try the same ‘recipe.’ The American Shorthair was introduced to the genetic mix to broaden the new breed’s genetic base.”3
The Ocicat was first accepted for CFA registration in 1966, but developing consistent structure and type took some time, and it was not advanced to championship status until 1987.1
Coloring
CFA recognizes the following color classes which include 12 colors for the Ocicat, referring to spotting: tawny (black or brown spotted tabby), chocolate, cinnamon, dilute (blue, fawn, lavender), ebony silver, chocolate silver, cinnamon silver, dilute silver (blue silver, fawn silver, lavender silver). In addition, any other colors such as classic tabby, ticked tabby, solid color or smoke, are referred to as AOV (Any Other Variety).
Fun Fact About Ocicats
- The Ocicat is a 100% domestic hybrid … no wild genetics involved
- The Ocicat is brilliant and will learn quickly to open doors and drawers1
- Ocicats are dog-like in that they play fetch and can learn tricks1
- Ocicats enjoy water, and owners are often surprised to have cat company in their bath!3
- Ocicats are highly energetic and need regular exercise and mental challenges.4
- Ocicats are very friendly and will never know a stranger.3
Living With …
Breeding Ocicats for thirty-five years as Blackwater Cattery, Breed Council Secretary Sonja Moscoffian calls Salisbury, North Carolina home. When asked why she chose the Ocicat to breed, she answered quickly: “They have a great personality with very few inherited diseases.” Additionally, Sonja loves their wild look without the wild blood. In describing her life with Ocicats in her home, Sonja reveals that these felines are very athletic but without the hyperactivity of the Abyssinian.
“They will talk to you, but not as much as the Siamese. One minute, they are running and fetching; the next, they are snuggled on the couch with you, watching TV. Ocicats want to be involved as they love to bond with their human family and don’t like being alone. Most people say Ocicats want to help you even if you don’t need the help!”
Sonja shared a cute but touching story involving a queen who had recently given birth. “I noticed the kittens were not in their box, so I began the search … where could she have put them? I soon noticed a lump on my bed where there shouldn’t be one. I lifted the bedspread to find the kitten’s grandmother; she had stolen all the babies and put them under the covers!”
Jacqui Bennett, a very active CFA Judge, resides in Tenaha, Texas, and has served as CEO of Low Country Ocicats for thirty years. Jacqui chose to breed the Ocicat because of their unique look and personality. Jacqui related that the Ocicat is mischievous, playful, talkative, and very dog-like in their personality. “They love to run and play fetch and are very affectionate without being clingy.” However, she cautioned, “They want to be a part of everything you are doing, from watching TV to eating to reading a good book!”
Jacqui’s first litter was with a queen who loved to steal people food. “She was always in the kitchen, underfoot, and trying to grab food off plates. She was EXTREMELY pregnant, and I was frying cheese-stuffed jalapenos. Somehow, she waddled over, launched herself onto the counter, and grabbed a jalapeno cooling on a paper towel. You could see the panic in her eyes as the capsaicin hit her, and she ran for the water bowl, burying her head in the water and yelling as she came up for breath! The litter was born that night, and all the kittens were named after hot peppers.” It was not much later that this same Ocicat “stole the drumstick off the Thanksgiving turkey: her escapade with danger never outweighed her love of people food,” quipped Jacqui.
Calling North Carolina home, Beth and Pete Deal are the proud owners of RiverSpots Ocicats and have been breeding since 2017. When asked which breed of feline to work with, Beth surprised this writer with her answer because it was the same way I fell into breeding! “We really didn’t plan to breed, but several breeders convinced us, saying, ‘Remember, breeders are why you have your two Ocicats that you are enjoying so much!’” Beth continued, “We began because of the joy that we share in the lives of others by filling an empty space in someone’s home, or simply introducing people to these wonderful cats.”
“Ocicats are like living with a gifted, hyperactive three-year-old. They are incredibly smart, active cats who can problem-solve. They are more than happy to create a problem themselves just to be able to solve it.” When visitors come to the Deal home, they are greeted by an Ocicat herd. “True to their Siamese in their background, Ocicats are ready to have a conversation, and they never use the short version!” stated Beth.
The Deals were traveling over New Year’s from visiting their son in Louisiana and had stopped for a break. Their Ocicat, Tarot, remained in the car for his potty break. Following Tarot’s previous week-long disappearing act, the family had taught Tarot “to stay, and he was very good about staying put.”
“My husband finished gassing up the car, moved it, and came inside the rest stop. A minute later, a man came in and asked who was driving the silver minivan. He said the door was open, and there was a cat sitting on the seat, looking out the door. Needless to say, my husband ran out quickly and closed the door!”
Roger and Nancy Brown of Omaha, Nebraska, are the joint CEOs of DotDotDot Cattery, where they have been staff and servants to Ocicats for over thirty years. This fun-loving couple are regulars at the Midwest Region shows, bringing with them their “intelligent, friendly, social, unique, and beautiful Ocicats,” reflected Nancy. “It’s fun to have a cat just like me!” Agreeing with others interviewed for this column, the “Ocicats are fun-loving, interactive, cheerful, loyal, physically active but not maniacal, and yet, are a frequent lap sitter,” stated Nancy.
With many stories to tell, Nancy chose a fan favorite. GC, NW DotDotDot’s Sam I Am is a diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. “You might think he just likes their red jerseys, but our Nebraska Huskers also have red jerseys, and Sam won’t spend any of his sleep time watching them. The game was down to the wire during the Super Bowl last year, and tension was high. Sammy paced the floor before the TV and finally jumped onto his special TV-watching pedestal with just thirty seconds left in the game. He had more confidence than we did, but sure enough, Sam was right!”
Living in picturesque Elkhorn, Nebraska, Geraldine Luepke is a diehard Ocicat pet owner! No stranger to having felines in her home, she has been staff and servant to Siamese, Abyssinian, Burmese, and numerous barn/farm cats. “My two girls, Lucy and Violette, came from Roger and Nancy Brown of DotDotDot Cattery. Lucy and Violette are the best of buddies and companions,” stated Gerry.
“My Ocicats are extra special and extremely loving and caring. They are energetic, quick, strong, and love to purr,” reported Gerry. She was so surprised when Lucy taught herself to fetch!
“A week or two ago, I was feeling under the weather, and during this time, I had the best fur nurses ever! My two Ocicats watched over me twenty-four/seven. Occasionally, Violette would put a paw over one of my eyes, ensuring my eyes were shut and resting.” Ocicats are caring – CHECK!
“If a fly enters our home, the girls immediately capture the intruder. They are like hovering and flying helicopters! It’s so much fun to watch and observe them in action,” reported Gerry. Ocicats are devoted their owners – CHECK!
And the Last Word:
Ocicat owners say one of the most appealing aspects of the breed is its personality and that their exotic, “spotted wild cat appearance” is a bonus. Ocicats can definitely fill an empty space in the lives of pet owners who never knew it was there until the Ocicat came into their lives. And getting the last word on the Ocicat is judge and breeder, Jacqui Bennett, renowned for her dry wit and hilarious musings: “Ocicats are essentially a Labrador Retriever in a catsuit.”
References
- “About the Breed – Ocicat.” CFA Breeds. Accessed January 06, 2025. https://cfa.org/breed/ocicat
- Jim DeBruhl, Sonja Moscoffian, and Shana Otis-Kuhnert. n.d. “Ocicats.” CFA Breeds – Ocicat. Accessed January 06, 2025. https://cfa.org/ocicat-article/
- LaCoste, Kristine. 2017. “Five Things to Know About Ocicats.” Petful. October 28. Accessed January 06, 2025. https://www.petful.com/cat-breeds/ocicat-breed-profile
- Twu, Alice. 2024. “What to Know About Ocicats.” WebMD. September 20. Accessed January 06, 2025. https://www.webmd.com/pets/cats/what-to-know-about-ocicats