Posted by Nads Edwards on August 25, 1999 at 08:39:09:
My 4 year old male cat is very similiar to an Ocicat in appearance. Although I don't know his heritage and doubt he's a purebreed, there are uncanny similarities. He is a brown spotted cat with distinct dark brown bands around his neck, his front legs and his tail which also has a dark brown tip. He has three distinct colours: dark brown spots, light brown, and a tawny under coat. His each strand fur has distinct bands of colours, especially the dark spots, and is unusually shiny. He has large green oval eyes tipped upward toward his eyes. He has a reddish coloured nose and dark brown paw pads. He weighs just over 12 lbs and is very sleek and toned in appearance. To us, he looks like a little wild cat. In fact, as a kitten many people would ask us if he was an baby Oceilot. Anyway, I am looking for further information about personality characteristics of the Ocicat. Brownie Magee, our son, does things that my other cats have never done. He loves to play fetch; he just started doing it one day; we never taught him. He likes to carry things around in his mouth. In fact, he will get into our kitchen cardboards and grab a plastic grocery bag that has other bags stuffed in it, and chase our other cat around the house carry this bag in his mouth. Sonny, our orange tabby, does not like the sound of the bags and Browny seems to know this. Both cats are male and get along famously. They play together, wash each other, and sleep together. Brownie also has an unusual attraction to trees and high places. When he goes out, he often will climb trees and stretch out on a branch a like a leopard would and look around. He avoids confrontations with other cats; generally he avoids aggressive cats yet is usually friendly (yes, he is fixed) to other cats. He often will sleep under the covers which has me concerned that he feels insecure, yet other times he stretches out anywhere in the house. He is also very attached to my husband and I. At night, he likes to curl up between us. Finally, he is very demanding and vocal about his wants. He has establish a regiment of going out at 6am (he is kept in after dark)and will meow and tap us on the face until we get up and let him out. Even if he wants food, he is very demanding and will not relent until you feed him. He is an excellent hunter, unfortunately. In fact. we have had to try and get him in before twilight because he was starting to catch bats. My our cat and other cats I have had have never shown this type of affinity for trees and climbing, demanding attitude, extreme intelligence, and loving yet independent demeanor. While I know he is not a purebreed, I am curious as to whether any of these traits are indicative of the Ocicat breed.