Ojos Azules vs Ocicat - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

This is a fairly new cat breed that was discovered in New Mexico and its a rare cat. It was in 1984 that the cat was identified.

There was a feral colony of cats and one particular, a tortoise-shell female was selected to be mated with male cats of no particular description. Her kittens were born with deep-blue eyes, showing that the gene was dominant.

The unusual cat breed was named Ojos Azules which means ‘Blue Eyes’ in Spanish.

The Ojos Azules comes with both short and long hair. The cat was accepted for registration by TICA in 1991.

Only cats with the recognizable deep blue eye gene have been called Ojos Azules.

There was a time when it was discovered that cranial defects could be linked to the gene, and while breeding was temporarily suspended, it is back on track.

Virginia Daly was the first breeder of Ocicats, hailing from Michigan. She wanted to breed an Abyssinian-pointed Siamese in 1964 and the first kittens looked to be Abyssinian.

With the next litter, the Abyssinian-pointed Siamese and a spotted kitten, nicknamed an Ocicat. Further breedings produced more spotted kittens and became the basis of the Ocicat.

A breeding program was started for Siamese to Abyssinian, and the kittens bred to Siamese. Later the American Shorthair was introduced to the Ocicat and this brought in bigger boning as well as adding silver to the 6 colors of the Ocicat.

It was during the 1980s that the cat was accepted for registration in The Cat Fanciers' Association.

The beautiful Ojos Azules is a medium-sized cat and weighs in at between 3 and 5kg.

The cat’s most amazing round blue eyes are one of its most extraordinary features.

The gene in this cat isn’t linked to any particular fur color or pattern, so that means some of these cats will have a black coat but still have the blue eyes. The coat of the cat comes in many colors and is short and silky. Sometimes you’ll find some white markings on the paws and tail.

Temperament:

Not much is known of this cat breed because it is such a rare cat. Very few have owned this cat, but it seems as if, according to the people who have owned them, they are loving, friendly cats.

The small number that have been owned as domestic pets are said to have had balanced, loving temperaments, with the ability to show affection for their human owners.

Ocicats, with their wedge-shaped heads, are strong, large cats with muscular legs that have striped markings. The cat can weight between 4 and 7kg. The ears are large and pointed.

The cat has almond-shaped eyes. The fur has dark spots and there are many color variants that are approved by the major cat registries. The standard colors for the cat are chocolate, cinnamon and tawny.

Temperament:

These large cats have got personality traits from both cats – the Siamese and the Abyssinian. They are friendly, playful, and sociable cats, making excellent family pets, getting on well with children and other pets. Those who have owned them say owning such a cat is similar to owning a dog as they can be taught basic commands and tricks and even walk on a leash.

They are even known to swim with you. They’re cats that crave the attention of their human owners, but bond specifically with one person. It won’t do at all well in a household where it is left alone for long periods of time.

It's an intelligent cat and will most certainly need toys and a lifestyle that is stimulating.

The Ojos Azules cat, apart from its amazing eyes, is a regular cat that requires the same devotion from his human family that other cats enjoy.

Because this cat is so rare it is unlikely that you have one, but whatever furry feline friend you have, treat it with love and attention. The worst thing humans can do is to buy a pet, become bored with it, and then discard it.

The Ocicat is a friendly, non-aggressive cat that is devoted to his human family. It’s a cat that thrives on being around people and won’t relish being left alone for long periods of time.

The largish cat is intelligent and easily trainable. He loves toys and it will be good to buy him some toys that require him thinking a little bit.

Highly energetic, he’ll love nothing more than for you to become involved in his games. Give him the attention he craves and he’ll become your best friend.

There don’t seem to be too many breed-specific health conditions associated with the Ojos Azules.

Having your cat spayed or neutered is beneficial to the cat long-term. Not only that, but it prevents unwanted pregnancies. Thousands of unwanted cats land up in animal shelters or are euthanized every year.

When you bring a new Ojos Azules kitten into the home, you will need to ensure the kitten is vaccinated, but also ensure he is tested for- and free of parasites.

Diet is a crucial part of being a healthy cat, There are many excellent commercially manufactured cat foods on the market and your cat might prefer the wet- or dry type of cat food.

The idea is to choose the highest quality cat food that is packed with meat and protein as your cat is a carnivore. One good way to choose a good cat food is to read the ingredients and make sure that the first ingredients are meat.

He wants chicken, tuna, liver and pheasant in his diet. Make sure that the food also contains taurine as this is an essential amino acid that every cat must have.

If in any doubt, speak to your vet as cats require certain vitamins and minerals to remain healthy. Always ensure a fresh supply of cool drinking water.

Your cat requires being vaccinated and dewormed.

Get to know a good vet in your area so that if your cat is sick, you don't have to waste precious time searching for a vet.

There are no particular requirements when caring for the Ojos Azules. Like other cat breeds, this cat also needs to be loved and well looked after.

Contrary to what many people think, a cat isn’t a non-maintenance creature that can look after itself. There are many cat breeds that crave the companionship of their human owners and they need to be looked after carefully.

Ensure the best quality cat foods there are. There are many commercial cat foods and you want the high-quality ones with meat listed as the top ingredient.

A cat is a carnivore and meat is imperative for your cat to be healthy. If you feed your cat one of the commercially manufactured cat foods there are, you’ll find the food comes as dry, semi-moist, and canned.

The food you choose will come down to you and your cat’s preferences. If in any kind of doubt, speak to your local vet for recommendations. Remember, that an old cat, a pregnant cat or an ill cat will require a certain type of food.

You’ll need to coax your cat to use a litter box. The litter box should be in a quiet place where he can do his business in peace. Make sure you have the tools to scoop out your cat’s feces every single day. Cats like a clean litter box.

Provide the cat with a scratching post. If you have a cat as a pet, you must know it will scratch. You can’t change your cat’s behavior but you can do something about it to deter your cat scratching your furniture. You can buy him a scratching post so that he can scratch the way all cats do.

Provide your Ocicat with companionship as these are cats that can’t be left for hours on their own.

Provide your Ocicat with a litterbox that is kept clean. Your ocicat’s dropping must be regularly raked up out of the litter box sand and removed. A cat won’t use a dirty litterbox.

Treat your Ocicat for parasites. In fact, treating parasites isn’t a once-off treatment but ongoing. You can consult with your veterinarian for advice on the best and safest way to treat your pet for worms, ticks, fleas, and mites.

Brush your Ocicat’s fur once a week. They have short fur so they are fairly low maintenance. You can use a rubber hand brush and you can even wipe the fur down with a damp cloth to remove dust. He will have to have his claws trimmed.

Nobody should buy a pet and then do as little as possible for it. Your Ocicat’s going to need daily exercise as well as mental stimulation and he will require this through interaction with his human family. Buy him stimulating toys to keep him busy, play games with him and buy a cat leash so you can take him on walks outdoors for a bit of sunlight.