Siamese/Tabby vs Ocicat - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

Lynx point Siamese cats are believed to also be known as Tabby point Siamese in the UK. Breeding of these cats began in about the 1940s and the first kitten born was crossed with a purebred Seal Point cat. That was the start of the seal tabby point Siamese cat.

After the first kitten was born, many people were intrigued with it and it got plenty of attention, and breeders knew that to please cat lovers everywhere they would have to start producing these wonderful tabby Siamese points.

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 Tabby pointed Siamese cat is medium-sized and can weigh between 3 and 5kg. He has some stripes, mostly around the legs, and the tail is also striped. These cats are available in many different colors – blue, lilac, apricot, seal, and chocolate. The ears are triangular-shaped and there is an ‘M’ shaped mark on the forehead of the cat. All these markings make the cat most distinctive.

Temperament:

The Siamese and Siamese Tabby cats share many similarities in character. They are social cats, loving the interaction with their human families. They’re loyal, intelligent cats and they love to play.

They can live to be about 15 to 20 years of age and throughout this time they will provide you with love, companionship, entertainment, and joy.

In fact, they thrive so much on your company, that they can easily become lonely and run-down when left alone for too long.

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.

These cats are people-loving cats – they just crave the companionship of their human family although they’re not particularly fond of strangers.

They make wonderful pets as they actually want to be involved in everything that theur human owners are busy with. They truly are companionable.

They’re intelligent and playful and he will even love to go on a walk with you but then it is best to have him on a leash. Bring one of these awesome cats into your home and you’re guaranteed to have a friend for life.

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.

When you look at your cat, you want to see that his eyes are bright and clear, his fur is shiny, he is of a good weight and that he is energetic and content. Not looking like this could indicate health problems for your feline friend. He will need to get to the vet for his vaccines and the vet will check him over to so as to make sure he is in tip-top health.

Make sure to check him over for parasites and these can cause diarrhea as can other issues such as bacteria, viruses, and the wrong food.

Frequent vomiting is also not normal as well as straining to urinate. These are all instances when you want to get your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

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.

Before you commit to bringing a Siamese/Tabby into your home you must have everything ready for him.

He will need food and water bowls, commercial cat food, grooming brush, a soft warm bed, collar and tag, litter box, a carrying container to get him to the vet safely, climbing tree, and scratching post.

The fine, silky coat doesn’t shed much and can easily be maintained with a weekly brush.

You will need to trim your cat’s paws. Trimming the claws can be difficult with a squirming cat and you can easily hurt him because of that. Rather get him to the vet who will do it for you.

Make sure to feed your Siamese/Tabby the very best cat food there is as poor quality food can contribute to poor health.

A cat is a carnivore and you therefore have to ensure that his food is made up essentially of meat. The commercial cat foods of today are formulated as dry, semi-moist, and canned and they offer a wonderfully convenient way for you to feed your cat. When you choose the best ones, they are palatable and digestible for your cat.

You just have to remember that your cat’s nutritional requirements change with his different stages of life. A kitten can’t possibly eat the same food as an adult cat. The nutritional claim on the cat food label will be a guide for you as to what your cat should be eating. Always ensure a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

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.