Ocicat: description of the breed of cats and care

Ocicat attracts with its incredibly beautiful color. The pet is very similar in appearance to its wild relative - ocelot, but has a docile and friendly character.

Siamese, Abyssinian and British Shorthair - three breeds combined in one. The individual was named Ocicat. She owes her appearance to the American felinologist Virginia Daily. The purpose of the experiment was the process of improving the Abyssinian cats. To achieve the desired result, this breed was crossed with 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 in the litter a unique kitten appeared. His beige fur was adorned with rounded golden brown spots. A small fluffy ball was named Tonga and transferred to its new owner. The individual had no future offspring, since sterilization was the main condition of the transaction.

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

The appearance of the British Shorthair gene has secured the result. As a result, the breed became larger in size and acquired a specific color: all hair is light, and the tip is contrasting. Registered it in 1980.

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

• Head in profile - wedge-shaped, in full face - trapezoid. 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 with tassels at the ends. Visually, it seems that the head smoothly passes into the ears.
• Eyes set wide apart, have an almond shape. The color of the iris varies from yellowish to green. Deviation from the standard - blue eyes.
• Athletic folded body, straight sides.
• The tail is quite long, slightly tapering. Its tip is colored dark.
• Long muscular limbs. There are 5 fingers on the front paws, 4 on the hind legs.
• The coat is thick, but thin. It fits snugly to the body.

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

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

The animal is affectionate and friendly. Lives with other inhabitants of the house: cats, dogs. An attack is possible only in the event of a threat (to the dwelling or to oneself). Aggression in his character is absent, so this pet can be brought to families with children. He will quickly make friends with the "little man" and will be happy to play with him. There is some presence of dog traits: a cat can even bring abandoned toys, walk on a leash. He is also amenable to training. The beast is active, smart. This is not a lazy lozheboka, sleeping in a nook all day.

Watching your hosts and current events is one of the favorite lessons of the ocicat. To ensure the maximum viewing angle, he climbs on the shelves, cabinets 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 (with its lack), the beast meows loudly.

A characteristic feature of the breed is the lack of fluffiness and ticking. Each wool is not monotonous, but colored in several shades. On the forehead, dark stripes form the letter "M". From the outer tip of the eye there is a contrasting strip. The body is covered with dark spots, on the tail and legs - 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 a light milk background. A brown outline runs along the edge of the pink nose. The color of milk chocolate is present on the paw pads. Color is called chocolate.
3. The main color is ivory. Spots are tan. The nose and paw pads are pinkish.
4. Wool casts a gentle pale blue tintThe spots are saturated blue.
5. Purple spots are highlighted by bright contrast on a light beige background.. The pads and nose are mauve.
6. Color color - ivory. Spots - yellowish brown. The skin of the nose and paw pads is pink.

In the other 6 options there is a silvery sheen. White color is noted near the nostrils, eyes, on the chin and neck (upper part).

Appearing in your house a small fluffy lump must 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 somehow trivially. The name must be matched by an animal. The animal, acquired through a special club and having a pedigree, is chosen respectable nickname. At the same time a number of requirements must be met:

• the name has an additional ancestor's nickname;
• A nickname begins with a specific letter.

The result is a long and not very convenient name for pronunciation. You have the right to cut it. Archibald Vending can always be called Archie. Among the popular nicknames that owners give to their thoroughbred favorites, there are the following: Alfredo, Christopher, Gregory, Buckingham, Roby, Gray, Blue. If you are not going to take part in various exhibitions, the following parameters will help to choose a nickname: fur color, pet character. In case of difficulty, refer to the information posted on the Internet. Many sites offer a real encyclopedia of feline 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 certainly needs to throw out the accumulated energy, so be sure to play with it. Do not interfere walks in the fresh air. For walking use a harness.

Due to the fact that the wool is devoid of undercoat, the animal almost does not shed. About once every 2 weeks spend the procedure to get rid of excess hair. To do this, use a special rubber glove, one side of which is covered with a special material that allows you to gently and quickly collect wool. Do not use brushes with metal teeth. This accessory is strictly prohibited.

Bathing requires cat shampoos, which are easy to get in specialty stores. If you are the owner of the silver specimen, then use bleaching shampoos.

Claws are trimmed as needed. Do not take for this standard scissors. We need a special accessory made for cats. But to remove the dirt from the ears fit the usual cotton swab. This breed is prone to diseases associated with the oral cavity.. In this regard, the cat needs to brush its teeth once a week. It is advisable to visit a veterinarian once a year so that he can inspect the condition of the teeth. Also required regular treatment of parasites: fleas, ticks, worms.

The best option - buy ready-made feed. Their composition is balanced and specially selected for the cat. It contains vitamins, mineral elements. In addition, the range is so diverse that it will not be difficult to choose the right one. Do not purchase cheap feed. They only harm the animal. A premium class is required. Pay attention to the destination. You will need food developed 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, conversely, very cold.

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

Some products are not allowed to pets. These include smoked sausages and fish, canned fish consumed by humans, sweets, fatty and salty foods, pickles. Chicken bones can cause injuries to the stomach and esophagus. You can not feed legumes and barley, as these products are not digested by a cat's stomach.

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

Another rare disease is kidney amyloidosis. Characteristic for the Abyssinian breed. It occurs on the background of a violation of protein metabolism. Amyloid protein is deposited in the liver, pancreas and kidneys. As a result, the authorities cannot fully perform their functions. Pathology identified in the early stages can be successfully stopped.

Regular brushing of teeth will prevent the occurrence of periodontal disease. On the teeth appears plaque, which the beast is not able to remove himself. The owner will have to arm with a brush and paste or contact a veterinarian. Scheduled examination by a specialist is the key to a full cat life.

All about cats of the Ocicat breed - in the video below.