Conference misery::feline

    I don't have an ocicicat but I've seen them; the are beautiful, and
    their athletic ability and grace just mezmerizes me.
    
    Deb

    I neither am owned by one, but I know some here in Hungary. The beast
    is great. BTW, I think you have a 'ci' too much in the name: it's
    called ocicat as far as I know.
    
    Nat

    Hi Meili,

    I also have an Ocicat, Cleo - although we usually call her Evil since
    the name better suits her.   She'll be three years this November and
    she's cinnamon/brown.  She has personality plus, I told my husband I'm
    going to have an Ocicat for the rest of my life. 

    She follows me around the house and is always bringing me her toys
    (stuffed animals, rope) so that we can play.  Shaker toys were her
    favorite until my husband brought home a feather-on-a-stick toy.  Just
    to make sure we'd never run out of them I bought Walmart out of their
    stock.  This is the toy to get if you want your cat to do flips and
    twists.  She does annoy Spike, our other cat, but Spike takes care of
    himself quite well.  She's also a noisy drinker and eater.  I do wish
    she was more of a lap-cat.  She'll cuddle in the morning but like most
    cats, on her terms.

    Oh well, I could go on forever.  Fantastic breed!

    ...Rania

    Rania,
    
    I like the name Evil.. That would fit Sinbad ( I call him Spaz)  We
    have one of the feather toys.  What a great invention.  Sinbad does
    flips, turns, you name it.  He also loves stuffed animals, my husband
    bought me a small stuffed cat.  When I brought it home, he instantly
    made a bee line for the table to grab it.  Its the cutest thing.  
    
    Sinbad is very affectionate, sometimes to the point of being a pain in
    the neck.  He usually wants to be held when (of course) you are in the
    middle of doing something and he will mewo until you acknowledge him.
    
    I too will always have an Ocicat.  Thanks for the stories!
    
    Meili

    
    
    They sound greate, what do they look like? How big are they. 
    The effection part and personalities described here sound a lot 
    like our main coon's attributes. 
    
    Shaw

    Shaw,
    
    I like Maine coons also, they can get HUGE!  I have seen the at cat
    shows.  This one person had a male that wa 9 mos old and weighed in at
    18 lbs!!!  I'll never forget that.  
    
    Male Ocicats can get up to 15-18lbs (according to the breeder) and
    females get about 9 to 12 lbs.  Ocicats are bread from to look like an
    Ocelot.  They have spots and a few stripes on the legs and around the
    face.  I believe they are bread with Tabbys and maybe one other mix.  I
    do know its a new breed (only about 20 yrs) They have a variety of
    different colors, Silver, Fawn, Chocolate.. If you are ever in
    Merrimack (MKO) stop by!
    
    
    Meili

    
    Meili, thanks for the description, I do on occassion go to MKO (1) for
    meetings, I'd make sure to give you a buzz and share pictures ;-)
    
    Shaw

    
    Ocicats are a mix of Siamese, Abyssinian and American Shorthair.  Along
    with the spots they've also got big ears.  These two features really
    drew me to the breed.
                                  
    ...Rania
    

    
    
    Wow! I've always loved Aby's, I wonder if the clan will accept another
    member ;-) 
    
    Shaw

    I was talking with my breeder this weekend (Pat Clarks, she is in
    Bedford, MA) she bread (?) her Aby and Ocicat together.  She said that
    she got a wild looking Aby.  Pretty interesting.
    
    
    Meili

    I have an ocicat - Oskar -  silver about 8 years old.  He comes from
    one of the original developers and breeders in the US - Mai-ed. I bought
    him while on a business trip - some souvenir!  He is very, very, very
    affectionate and I get hugs and kisses all the time. 
    
    He recently has a trumor removed, but other than that he has been 
    very healthy.  
    
    He is strikingly beautiful and often poses, hence my mother's name for
    him is That Egyptian Cat.  I have never had a registered cat before,
    but I would not hesitate to buy a Ocicat again.  
    
    Cyndi

    
    
    Well I finally saw an Ocicat. A baby what a cute little thing. 
    I was unsuccessfully shopping for the Zoom groom at Salem petsupply (?)
    store and they had her there a fawn color one but I couldn't afford
    the asking price right now, $799.00 (is that normal price?)
    
    Shaw

    Shaw and others,
    First I would not suggest ever purchasing an animal from a 
    pet store.  No matter what they tell you as to where the animal
    came from, you do not know that for sure.  Many people 
    breed animals and sell them with pedigrees for purely business
    and profit.  Most of these poor animals are mass produced without
    regard to health, genetic probabilities of future problems that can
    develop and on and on.  
    
    I believe this particular breed does cost a bit more than some others,
    but store prices are usually much higher.  If you want an Ocicat I 
    could suggest several wonderful breeders.  Remember too, that often
    times you can pick up an older kitten/cat for less money.   If at a 
    particular time that breeder has more than the demand, you may get a
    better deal on two as companions than one.
    
    Also, many of the cats seen in stores that are purebred with pedigrees
    are so far from what the standard requires as to be totally rejected.
    I personally received a call one night from a woman whose boyfriend
    bought her a $600, most beautiful himalayan.  She wanted to show it
    because it had a pedigree and was so pretty.  Except for the
    coloration, this cat not recognizable as a himmie.
    
    sorry if this seems too harsh, it's just the way I feel.  
    Karen

    I would think the best thing to do is go to a cat show and talk to some
    breeders.  Then go visit the breeder before buying to see how they are
    raised. I bought a kitten one from a pet store and it was scared of
    everyone but my wife and me because everybody was poking at her through
    the cage.
    
    Dennis

    
    
    Karen,  Thanks for your concerns, having owend both cats and dogs
         for many many years, and doing volunteer work at a shetler (cats 
         only shelter, no dogs) I know better. I would not support a 
         puppy mill ;-)  It's been a while since I was curious about
         the ocicats, having never seen one. Unfortunately all cat/dog
         shows are on weekends, weekends usually I'm at the mountains, 
         skiing and off season mountain biking so I have not been 
         since my interest started. I was just excited to see one ;-)
         If I wanted to purchase one , that is if my current cats allow 
         me to bring in another intruder ;-) it would most probably be 
         from a shelter, as I deal with these poor homeless babies 
         regularly. 
         Seriously though one of my kitties, a female part maine coon 
         is so attached to me that  I realy have to be carefull she's not
         watching when I give lovin's to the others. Whenever I am 
         brushing one of the others or god forbid carrying one of the 
         other cats n my shoulder, she sits at one corner and looks at me 
         with such sad eyes that I have to go to her and ensure her that
         she is still number one in my heart. I cannot imagine what would
         happen to her feelings if I brought in another kitty that would 
         cause more attraction than her ;-)
    
       Shaw

    I feel better now!  I didn't think you would but it scared
    me nonetheless!  Yes, cat shows are good way to meet people.
    You can also call the headquarters of different assoc. and 
    find names of local breeders. fyi
    Karen