The Ocicat is a striking domestic cat breed celebrated for its wild appearance, resembling that of an ocelot or other spotted wild cat. Developed through crossbreeding Siamese, Abyssinian, and American Shorthairs, the Ocicat is a relatively new breed, first appearing in the 1960s. This breed is known for its athletic build, distinct spotted coat, and engaging personality, making it a popular choice for cat enthusiasts. This guide delves into the breed standard, outlining the specific physical characteristics that define the Ocicat, from its head to its tail, and detailing its various accepted colors and patterns.
Physical Characteristics of the Ocicat
The Ocicat is a medium to large-sized cat, recognized for its muscular and athletic physique. The breed standard is meticulously defined to ensure consistency and to uphold the breed’s unique aesthetic.
Head and Face
The Ocicat’s head is described as a modified wedge shape, featuring a gentle curve from the muzzle to the cheeks. A slight, graceful rise is noted from the bridge of the nose to the brow. The muzzle is broad and well-defined, with a hint of squareness and sufficient length in profile. A strong chin and firm jaw with a proper bite are essential. Moderate whisker pinch is acceptable, and jowls may be present in mature males. The head is carried elegantly on an arched neck.
Ears and Eyes
Ears are alert, moderately large, and set at a 45-degree angle, aligning with the upper outer edges of the head. Ear tufts extending vertically from the tips are a desirable trait. The eyes are large, almond-shaped, and tilted slightly upward towards the ears. The distance between the eyes should be more than the length of one eye.
Body Structure
The Ocicat possesses a solid, well-muscled torso that is moderately long, with good depth and fullness but without appearing coarse. The breed exhibits substantial bone and muscle development, contributing to an athletic appearance and a surprising weight for its size. Ribs are slightly sprung, the back is level or slightly higher at the rear, and the flanks are reasonably level. While females are typically smaller than males, the overall structure, quality, and athleticism of the cat are considered more important than mere size.
Legs, Feet, and Tail
Legs are of good substance, well-muscled, medium-long, and in proportion to the body. Feet should be oval and compact, with five toes in front and four in back. The tail is of medium slimness, fairly long, with a slight taper and a distinct dark tip.
Coat and Coloration
The Ocicat’s coat is one of its most defining features, characterized by its short, smooth texture, satiny feel, and lustrous sheen. The coat lies close and sleek, with no hint of woolliness.
Ticking and Pattern
Each hair, except for the tip of the tail, is banded with color. Within the markings, hairs are tipped with a darker color, while hairs in the ground color are tipped with a lighter shade. This creates the characteristic thumbprint-shaped spots. An intricate tabby “M” marking is present on the forehead, with markings extending over the head between the ears. Mascara markings frame the eyes, and rows of round spots run along the spine from the shoulder blades to the tail. The tail features horizontal brush strokes, ideally alternating with spots, and culminates in a dark tip. Spots are scattered across the shoulders, hindquarters, and legs. Broken bracelets adorn the lower legs, and broken necklaces are found at the throat. The sides of the torso display large, well-scattered, thumbprint-shaped spots, with a subtle suggestion of a classic tabby pattern. The belly is also spotted.
Accepted Colors and Contrast
There are twelve accepted Ocicat colors, divided into eight color classes. All Ocicats must have darker spots that contrast clearly with a lighter background. The contrast should be distinct from all orientations. Face, leg, and tail markings may be darker than torso markings. The ground color can be darker on the saddle and lighter on the underside, chin, and lower jaw. Faint or blurred spotting incurs penalties, with paler colors naturally showing less contrast than darker ones.
The accepted colors are:
- Tawny (brown spotted tabby): Black or dark brown spotting on a ruddy or bronze agouti ground.
- Chocolate: Chocolate spotting on a warm ivory agouti ground.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon spotting on a warm ivory agouti ground.
- Blue: Blue spotting on a pale blue or buff agouti ground.
- Lavender: Lavender spotting on a pale buff or ivory agouti ground.
- Fawn: Fawn spotting on a pale ivory agouti ground.
- Ebony Silver: Black spotting on a silver agouti ground.
- Chocolate Silver: Chocolate spotting on a silver agouti ground.
- Cinnamon Silver: Cinnamon spotting on a silver agouti ground.
- Blue Silver: Blue spotting on a silver agouti ground.
- Lavender Silver: Lavender spotting on a silver agouti ground.
- Fawn Silver: Fawn spotting on a silver agouti ground.
Eye Color
All eye colors except blue are permitted, and there is no correlation between eye color and coat color. Deeper eye color is preferred.
Disqualifying Features
Certain traits are considered disqualifying for the Ocicat breed standard. These include white lockets or spotting (except in specific facial areas or for white agouti ground in silvered colors), kinked or deformed tails, blue eyes, incorrect number of toes, and long hair. Due to genetic factors resulting in tortoiseshell and calico patterns (torbies), reds, creams, and torbies are not allowed. Very rufous cinnamons and fawns, which may resemble red or cream, are also excluded.
The Ocicat is a breed that truly embodies a touch of the wild in a domestic companion, characterized by its distinctive spotted coat and athletic prowess. Understanding the breed standard is crucial for breeders and enthusiasts alike to preserve the unique qualities of this captivating cat.
