For all of its dramatic appearance and obvious appeal, we might not have the Ocicat today but for several experimental breedings in 1965, by Virginia Daly, owner of Cats of Dalai, that were intended to produce a totally different outcome. One of these breedings, between a pedigree Abyssinian and a Seal Point Siamese, produced a total surprise; an exquisite kitten with bright golden spots on an ivory background. This was Tonga, the original Ocicat. Although Tonga was sold as a pet with a neutering agreement, other spotted Ocicats were produced through subsequent matings of Tonga's sire and dam and other relatives that formed the foundation of the Dalai Ocicat breeding program.
Ocicats come in 12 distinct colors, ranging from the leopard colors of ivory with brown spots or reddish brown spots; cinnamon, which is ivory with bright red spots; tawny, that has an ivory undercoat with buff tiops and black spots; to the more unusual colored silvers that have a white background with ebony, red, or chocolate spots. There are also dilute colors-fawn, blue, and lavendar and the silver of these colors also.
The Ocicat requires no special diet or excessive grooming and needs no special permits or licenses to own. This cat is quite extroverted, even around strangers, and they get along especially well with children of all ages, other kinds of cats, and other pets.
The Ocicat's temperament, coupled with their intelligence and wild looks, create for both the one-cat owner and the multi-animal household, a truly unique and loving companion.
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