A Complete Price Guide for The Ocicat

Ocicat

The Ocicat is among the world’s most sought-after felines. This does not come as a surprise given that they have the looks of the wild cat Ocelot but are 100-percent domestic; in fact, they have no wild cat ancestry. According to Pets Best, the lustrous cat came to be due to the accidental breeding of the Abyssinian and Siamese cat. They are medium-sized outgoing cats with cheerful, outgoing personalities. They thrive best in active households. If they sound like a cat you would love to get for yourself, you’re in luck, as this article will take you through everything you need to know about the pricing of Ocicats.

What Are Ocicats?

The Ocicat is a designer cat breed well known for its signature spots shaped like thumbprints, scattered all over their body in a distinctive bull’s eye pattern. The cat is well-muscled with a sleek, medium-sized body. Ocicats are athletic and powerful with a naturally graceful lithe that only adds to their similarities with the wild cat Ocelot. They have wedge-like heads with a slight curve from the muzzle to the cheeks and a slightly squared jaw on an elegantly arched neck. They have large almond-shaped golden eyes that are slightly angled upwards towards the ears. Additionally, they have mascara lines ringed across the edge of their eyes and a short, smooth coat with a satiny texture and lustrous sheen. The coat is close-lying, sleek without a suggestion of woolliness. Each hair on their agouti coat is banded except the hairs at the tip of their tails. When it comes to the color of the coat, you are not short of options as these cats come in a dozen varieties of colors. The varieties include blue-spotted, lavender spotted, cinnamon spotted, fawn spotted, chocolate spotted, silver spotted, brown spotted, Tawny spotted, ebony silver spotted, cinnamon silver-spotted, chocolate silver spotted, blue silver spotted, fawn silver spotted and lavender silver spotted.

Breed History

Tonga, the first Ocicat, was a happy accident in 1964 when a professional cat breeder Virginia Daly crossed a Siamese and Abyssinians to produce an Aby-point Siamese in Berkeley, Michigan. During the first attempt, a litter of ticked-coated kittens that all looked like the Abyssinian were produced. It was not until the second attempt that a male spotted kitten was produced. The kitten was named the Ocicat by Daly’s daughter due to its resemblance to the wild feline Ocelot. The kitten who was named Tonga was ivory with golden spots and copper eyes. Tonga, however, was not used for the Ocicat breeding program; instead, he was neutered and sold as a pet. Later on, a reputable geneticist Clyde Keeler at Georgia university heard about Tonga and wanted to develop the breed which was on the verge of becoming extinct. He contacted Daly and suggested that Tonga be bred to his mother, but unfortunately, Tonga could not be used for breeding. Virginia Daly, however, repeated the breeding between Tonga’s parents, which led to the production of a tawny spotted male. According to Wikipedia, the kitten was named Dalai Dotson, and he became the basis for the Ocicat breeding program. Breeding of the Ocicats continued steadily. However, the American Shorthair was introduced to the Ocicat breeding due to an error by CFA in recording the cross that produced the breed. The American Shorthair contributed to the larger boning of the Ocicat and added the color silver to the breed. The cat was then recognized and registered by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1966 and was granted Championship for showing in 1987. The cat was recognized by other registries shortly after, like The International Cat Association in 1986. Since then, the breed has gradually become popular all over the world.

Pet Potential

Do not let their wild cat looks fool you; Ocicats are the ideal pets for your household. They are especially friendly, sociable, and have a tabby temperament. The Ocicats are not shy, not even around first-time visitors. They might even be the first to greet and welcome guests to your home. Additionally, they thrive in busy or active households and are perfect with kids and seniors. You will not have any troubles with these cats if you want to introduce another pet to the family later on. This is as Ocicats tend to get along with other animals, including dogs but especially with other cats. They hate being an only pet and do not enjoy being left home alone. Ocicats are highly intelligent, curious, and adaptable. You can even teach them tricks like coming and going, and they easily learn how to respond to their names. They are highly active and require regular exercise; therefore, you may want to invest in a lot of good toys to keep them occupied. The Ocicats can be quite demanding if not trained; fortunately, they are easy to train. Like their parents, the Siamese, Ocicats are very vocal and are always ready to engage in conversations. However, they are very sensitive to tones; thus, you might risk their trust for you if you raise your voice at them or reprimand them harshly.

The Ocicat Lifespan

The Ocicat breed was developed from the Abyssinian and Siamese cat breeds, which are among the longest-living cats. On average, the Abyssinians live for around 15 years, while the Siamese breed lives between 15 and up to 20 years old. Therefore, if well cared for, Ocicats can live for up to 15 years; however, Ocicats aged 18 to 20 years are not uncommon.

What’s the Price of Ocicat Kittens?

Given that they are highly sought after, getting yourself an Ocicat will cost you quite an amount of money. Their distinctive looks and great personality also add to the price tag. However, the price will greatly depend on the following factors.

  • Breeder- it is crucial to find a reputable breeder. Breeders have the essential job of taking good care of their kittens and finding the perfect breeding match for them. A good breeder will take you through everything you need to know about the cat, for instance, health or genetics.
  • Age- age affects the pricing of an Ocicat. This is because there is a high demand for cute little kittens compared to independent adult ones.
  • Mixed breed- Ocicats are a crossbreed; hence it takes a lot of time and expertise to have a successful litter. This contributes to the cats being very highly-priced.
  • Health- kittens with deformities or health concerns tend to be much cheaper than those in perfect condition.
  • Registration- kittens registered by reputable organizations like the Cat Fancier’s Organizations tend to be more expensive. Additionally, the type of registration also affects the price of the kitten.

On average, an Ocicat goes for around $800 to $2500 considering all the factors discussed above. Ocicat cats are divided into two different categories in terms of prices: limited registered Ocicat cats and fully registered Ocicat cats.

Limited registered Ocicat price

These refer to Ocicats that are raised as pets and cannot be used for breeding purposes. They have relatively low prices and go for around $250 to $500. They are usually controlled by sterilization before being sold out to avoid secondary sexual behaviors exhibited in maturing cats.

Fully registered Ocicat price

Fully registered Ocicats are cats that are allowed for breeding. Their prices will fluctuate greatly depending on their breeders, pedigrees, appearance, etc.

Ocicats with normal family records

These are Ocicats coming from less-known breeding farms that usually cost between $500 and $800.

Ocicats with premium bloodline

These are Ocicats coming from reputable breeding farms, excellent color, and perfect proportion will cost between $800 and $2500.

Adopting An Ocicat

Buying a cat is a lot more expensive compared to adopting one. This is as during adoption; they only charge for the fee covering the animal’s care while waiting for a new home. Adoption fees also filter those genuinely interested in giving the cat a new home. It is advisable that you do proper research and set up your house correctly, as most animal shelters will inquire about the care you will give your new feline friend or even conduct a home inspection before the initial application.

What should be included in the adoption fee?

  • During adoption, the breeder or shelter should include:
  • Registration paperwork
  • Up-to-date vaccinations
  • A health guarantee

A health check-up by a licensed vet

If your cat is being shipped or transported, they should include a travel crate. Additionally, since the breed is registered with the CFA, a breeder should consist of the appropriate CFA paperwork. Additionally, suppose you are getting your cat from a breeder. In that case, they should allow you to meet both parents of the cats this way, you can get a better idea of the personality and temperament of the kitten and how they may turn out when they mature. It is also advisable to ask for references from previous customers.

Overall Maintenance Costs

The initial costs of a kitten will always be the most expensive, especially for a purebred cat. This is as you will have to spend money on vaccination shots, neutering, food bowls, water bowls, litter boxes, toys, and food. Annually, you are looking at around $500 to $1,000 per year. This price covers food, litter, extra toys, and annual health checks for your Ocicat. However, the number may fluctuate depending on diet range or unexpected medical conditions and injuries.

Medical Expenses

Every cat requires adequate medical attention to grow into a strong, healthy adult. The Ocicat is a generally healthy breed; however, like all other pedigree cats, it is prone to a number of inherited disorders. This is why it is good to get your cat from a reputable breeder as they are aware of such conditions, take the appropriate measures, and provide you with a written health guarantee before purchase. These disorders include liver or renal amyloidosis, pyruvate kinase deficiency, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and in some cases periodontal disease. Liver amyloidosis is a condition that causes hard, waxy lesions to accumulate in the liver. According to Embrace Pet Insurance, it occurs when insoluble protein amyloid is deposited in the liver. This can lead to dysfunction or, worse, liver failure. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is another hereditary disorder in cats. It is a form of heart disease in cats that causes an abnormal thickening of the left ventricle. This leads to improper blood flow and can be detected by heart murmurs through an echocardiogram conducted by your vet. This disorder is fatal and can eventually lead to death. Another hereditary disease is Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency which is characterized by a deficiency in the enzyme Pyruvate Kinase (PK), which is a key regulatory enzyme in the metabolism of sugar. The condition is caused by a recessive gene and can be easily removed from the gene pool through DNA testing. If affected, your cat will show signs like fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a fast heartbeat. It would be wise if you applied for cat insurance for your cat to have all these conditions catered for. Annually, the health insurance of a cat ranges from $500 to $1000. Most pet insurance companies offer the average monthly cost of health insurance for cats, from $10 to $30. Additionally, it is advisable to get your cat neutered or spayed at pet clinics, a service that will cost you $45 for female cats and $35 for male cats.

Grooming Expenses

Due to their short glossy coats, the Ocicat breed requires very little grooming; a weekly brushing will keep his coat looking smooth and healthy. However, as they are prone to periodontal disease, their teeth should be brushed regularly about two to three times a week. Additionally, like all other cats, their claws should be trimmed every two weeks. Therefore, for the grooming of your Ocicat, you will part with about $25 to $50.

Food Expenses

Your cat should always be well fed, with a complete and balanced diet. Ocicats, like other cats, are obligate carnivores, and their diet should consist mainly of proteins. However, don’t be afraid to feed your cat a variety of foods. Grain-free foods are mostly preferred as a raw diet. You can always research or consult with your vet on the best food for your cat. Food expenses can fetch no more than $50 per month.

Toys

Toys are not basic requirements for your cat. However, they are a necessity for an active cat like the Ocicat. It helps keep him occupied and saves you the extra costs of repairing your furniture now and then. Therefore, you should invest in a number of quality interactive toys for your kitty, which will cost you not more than $20.

Are you looking to buy an Ocicat?

We hope you have found our guide on the Ocicat helpful. Make sure to do extensive research on the breeding farms or the animal shelters near you before buying your kitty.

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