"Spots! Is it tame? What kind of cat is this? "It must be something special!" Indeed they are. The Ocicat can be traced back to 1964, when Virginia Daly of Michigan crossed a Seal Point Siamese and a Ruddy Abyssinian, in hopes of developing an Aby-pointed Siamese. A cross produced a spotted cat, dubbed an "Ocicat" by Virginia's daughter, due to its resemblance to its wild cousin, the Ocelot. The kitten was neutered and sold as a pet. Subsequent breeding formed the foundation of the Ocicat breeding program. American Shorthairs were eventually added to introduce the silver color, placement of spots, and enhance size and boning. The Ocicat was recognized for CFA registration in 1966, but it took another twenty years to develop the breed and gain the support for provisional status. The Ocicat was advanced to championship status May 1987.

The Ocicat is a large, well-spotted cat of moderate type. It has the look and feel of a very muscular, athletic wild animal. Because of the exotic wild look and large size of the breed, female Ocicats weigh between 6 to 9 pounds and male Ocicats weigh between 9 & 14 pounds and larger. Temperament of the breed: loving, gentle, playful, and highly intelligent are all excellent descriptions of the Ocicat personality. The Ocicat is extremely people oriented, and is dog-like in it's devotion to it's owners... although some folks report that they are owned by the cat. An Ocicat owner often feels like they have a shadow following behind them. These cats do not meet strangers, just new laps upon which to sit. The Ocicat also comes in twelve colors.

Rare, wonderful, exotic, and beautiful are all words used to describe this breed of cat. The Ocicat clearly answers the wish many cat fanciers have for a well muscled, imposing, and intelligent cat that resembles the spotted cats of the wild, while displaying the gentle temperament of a domestic cat. Ocicats are the best of both worlds: the feral look of a wild jungle cat, without the wild cat blood and none of the problems associated with raising an animal that has wild blood.

Ocicats are extremely playful, but when playtime is over, they curl up on their people's lap. Ocicats are quite bright and easily trained. Many will fetch, walk on a leash, respond to whistled commands and readily adapt to household rules.

They are extremely people-oriented, living well with children and people of all ages and types. They do not display an aloof temperament and actually act more like a dog than a cat. Their sociable nature may make them less suited than some other breeds to being left alone for long periods on a regular basis, but it does make them a good choice for a household already blessed with other cats and dogs.

The Ocicat is also a consummate hunter, lion-like in repose but when a possible prey is presented they are like lightning with their attention. It is a full body, intense attention and they will leap higher that you can imagine to catch whatever has their interest. A few moments later, they sit or recline and you would not know they have moved.