ABC Wednesday Round 5 - O is for Ocicats

Winston and Monty as kittens, still growing into their ears
O is for Ocicats. The Ocicat is a 'man-made' breed, the result of an American breeder trying to create an Aby-pointed Siamese. She crossed an Abyssinian with a Siamese and one of the kittens was spotted, looking rather like an Ocelot. Her daughter remarked on this and so the kitten was called an Ocicat. He was never bred from - in fact he was neutered - but spotty kittens from subsequent litters were kept and bred. Outcrosses were made to American Shorthair cats to introduce the silver gene and greater body substance. Consequently there is a fairly large and diverse gene pool and Ocicats are not subject to the inherited problems of more selectively-bred cat breeds. It is permissible to breed them with Abssinians and this again increases the gene pool. Monty curls up with Frodo

Winston relaxes with Jenna

Monty with his favourite dog

Winston about to join Monty in Dominie's bed

A litter of Ocicat kittens can contain kittens of Abyssinian appearance, referred to as 'mountain lions', the expected spotted striped kittens and those with a classic tabby marking.

Ocicats are strong athletic cats and are heavier than they look.

Our two, not related, are neutered chaps. Winston is chocolate and Monty is chocolate silver.They are very dog-like in their interaction with humans and are extremely affectionate. They live very happily with our dogs and can often be found curled up with one. Monty particularly likes Jenna and frequently seeks her out.

Gillian's Foxy enjoying Monty's company. Foxy's own cat in Dorset won't tolerate such behaviour!
They don't always sleep together and sometimes squabble but usually they are the best of friends.

Thank you to Mrs Nesbitt for hosting this meme. Why not visit her here for other interpretations of the letter 'O'.