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[Princess_Michelle]

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[MelanieC]

What is an Ocicat cat?

 

[Barb D]

What is an Ocicat cat?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocicat

 

[Charade]

I'd rather have the Ocelot!

 

[Princess_Michelle]

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[Simba's Mom]

Is that the cat that's banned in some states because it looks like a wild animal? I'm really not sure, but there was mention on Animal Planet of some breed that's banned in about 4-5 states. Sorry, no experience with them. But they're really magnificient looking.

 

[Micca]

That chocolate one sure is pretty. They sound like a great pet. I'll bet they cost $$$.

 

[GoodFairies]

They are beautiful, but I would think hard on paying for a breed of cat when there are so many cats to be rescued in shelters. If there is such a thing as an Ocicat rescue, maybe you could try that route first.

 

[Princess_Michelle]

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[moburg]

Is it an Ocicat Cat? Or just an Ocicat???

We are thinking about getting one... any experiences??

I would like to have an Ocicat. Beautiful markings.

 

[maelstrom]

Ocicats are beautiful. I actually have an Egyptian Mau, which is another spotted cat. Pure bread Ocicats can be expensive. If you're looking for a real "wild"-type cat, look into getting a Savannah.

 

[Feralpeg]

I want a Toyger. They are so cool, but very expensive.

 

[Cindyluwho]

We have a friend that has an African Serval. It's about 45 pounds and can be one mean son-of-a-gun. He keeps it in a large enclosure just off his front porch that has a mesh roof at about 16-18 feet and the cat can actually jump that high when it's after it's once a month live chicken. the rest of the time it eats a special "wild cat" chow of some kind. It does have a cat door which it can enter the house and it sleeps on the bed with him and is generally sweet until there's a stranger or another animal in the house.

 

[taximomfor4]

Don't underestimate what you can find at a shelter! We adopted a cat from a rescue last fall (she's named Slinky Malinky). We always knew she was odd, not quite normal domestic cat. Her paws were so big, her claws too! She has lynx-like tufts on the tops of her ears. She LOVES LOVES LOVES water. We found that out when we tried to squirt her, to keep her away from the Christmas tree. It didn't work at ALL. Now, as soon as anyone turns on a faucet in the house, she instantly awakens, and RUNS to that faucet. Sticks her head, paws, etc right in to the water.

She's always hyper-alert (not kitten-hyper but HUNTER-hyper).

And she's beautiful. The vet always says she'd take her from us, if she didn't have so many pets herself.

We've been told she must be half ocicat or Savannah cat. More and more, we agree.

Anyway, shelter cats can be quite a surprise!

ETA: Savannah cats are apparently a cross between certain domestic breeds and African Serval

 

[moburg]

I want a Toyger. They are so cool, but very expensive.

WOW!! Ok, I have a new favorite cat breed!

 

[Charade]

I want a Toyger. They are so cool, but very expensive.

Oh now that's cool! (But I have a bit of a problem with the breeding of these things).

Here's a pic of what's also a Toyger but looks more like a real Tiger.

 

[agnes!]

Oh now that's cool! (But I have a bit of a problem with the breeding of these things).

Here's a pic of what's also a Toyger but looks more like a real Tiger.

I love cats but that thing is kind of creepy, I'd be afraid they'd escape into the wild or a feral cat population...((shudder)).

agnes!

 

[denisem]

You might also want to look into adopting a Bengal Cat, another spotted breed developed from domestic cats and Asian Leopard Cats. After researching and buying ours, I find many are available on Petfinder. I'll give you the good, bad & ugly about Bengals.

We have two: an F3, Rocko (known as early generation as he's only 3 generations removed from the ALC) and later adopted his great-grandma, Millie, a retired breeder with pedigree as long as my arm. She essentially has the genetic make-up/needs of a big-ole tabby cat with spots.

(Possible interesting side note: Millie is a Millwood cat bred by Jean Sugden Mill, a geneticist generally credited with furthering the Bengal breed. It originally started as a program to breed ALC's with domestics to insert ALC's natural immunity to feline leukemia to domestic cats. Her daughter, Judy Sugden, is developing the "Toyger" line.)

We've had "alley-cats" all our lives, but Bengals are generally more dog-like in their needs: they require companionship, stimulation and regular attention. Don't expect a docile lap-leopard. Get two for your sanity. Even Millie, our grand old dame, needs to poke her nose into everything you're doing, does the Bengal 500 Race around the house twice a day and lets you know verbally WHEN she wants to be fed, let out to the lanai or whatever. We had to change all our inside door latches to knobs when she discovered how to open them.

OTOH, as Charade mentioned (and I can't totally disagree with his assessment in hybrid breeding), our EG is illegal in some states as the breed is sometimes misunderstood as to their "wildness". ALC's are not aggressive, but intensely shy nocturnal cats found in Asia.

I don't recommend an EG for everyone as we refer to him as our "special needs" cat. His "wildness" extends to a special raw diet - commercial cat foods have "explosive" results. And extra-extra litterbox cleaning diligence ("my litterbox is not impeccable?? I shall use your empty laundry basket, plastic container or bathtub!")

Sigh. Hard to describe why we put up with it, other than he's the MOST affectionate, sociable, endlessly entertaining animal we've ever owned.

 

[MsLeFever]

We just got a Bengal for Christmas! Luckily DH found a breeder that was going out of business so that "Willow" came cheap! She will play fetch and makes a toy out of anything! She is, oddly, pretty clutzy but I think that is part of the "kitten" of her.

We have had a few "poopy cat" issues - mostly on beds (ewww) but hopefully she's getting over it.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

I work at a feline specialty hospital. My best advice is think VERY carefully before investing in any breed, but especially those involving the wild cats.

Yes, I completely agree they are very beautiful, but they are very expensive. And expenses do not stop at purchase. Consider a lifetime of vet bills. Consider they will probably be on a very specific (and probably exspensive) diet. The store is out of their food so you grab something else to tide you over? Diarrhea.

Some can be trained to an extent, but more often than not, the owner doesn't realize how much of a time investment it is to do so, and so they are not properly trained. Not to mention, there is "wild animal" in them, and you must always remember to respect that about them (which makes them poor candidates for pets if there are children involved).

Because they are big, strong, and "wild" (prone to revert back to their pre-domestic behavior under stress) they are very difficult to examine and treat for regular checkups and if/when they become ill. And you're out of luck if you have a vet that doesn't understand cats (lots of mixed-practice vets are mostly dog oriented and don't focus much on cats) because they will be man-handled or anesthetized unnecessarily, which is not only risky, but makes them even more fearful and difficult to handle.

But most importantly, and no judgement passed on anyone, I PERSONALLY can't see spending exorbitant amounts of money on any breed of cat when there are already so many in shelters and in need of good homes.