OCICAT: PLAYFUL AND CURIOUS CATS WHO ENJOY COMPANY

The Acicat is an interesting blend of its Siamese and Abyssinian mix. These cats enjoy the company of people, and are not well suited to long periods of being left alone. They are playful and curious, and respond well to early training. The most distinctive feature of the breed is its spotting, and show quality Acicats must have perfect spots. This involves the classic tabby pattern, with swirling around the center of the flanks (Bruce Fogle, DVM, Catalog).

APPEARANCE

The Lilac or Lavender version of the Chocolate has lilac spotting on a background of pale buff or ivory. Allowance is made in the breed standards for the slightly softer appearance of the tabby markings that is almost inevitable in the dilute colors. The Tawny or Brown Acicat, on the other hand, has black or dark brown spotting on a warm, ruddy background, showing the rich infusion of its Abyssinian ancestors (Fogle, Catalog).

The Acicat ears are moderately large and set outwards at an angle, and its facial markings should be clear and detailed. The cat has frown lines on its forehead that are balanced by "mascara lines" on its cheeks and temples, and its eyes are large, almond-shaped, and slightly tilted. The head is wedge-shaped and has a broad muzzle, and the dark rimmed eyes of the breed are surrounded by "spectacles." The cat's neck is graceful and arching, and its coat is short, fine and sleek. It has a body that is large and solid, powerful, but also graceful, and its legs are medium lengthed and well-muscled(Fogle, Catalog).

BREED HISTORY

The Acicat was actually an accident that came about when Virginia Daly, a Berkeley, Michigan breeder, attempted to create a pointed Abyssinian, by crossing a Siamese with an Abyssinian. The kittens were Abyssinians, but the litter included one odd spotted kitten in addition to the pointed Abyssinians intended. Daly's daughter noticed a resemblance to an ocelot, and called the cat an Acicat. The first one was neutered and sold, but the mating ritual was repeated producing the foundation female who was named Dalai Talua. The breed is still rare, but received its first official recognition by TICA after another breeder, Tom Brown, helped to continue its development by mating it with some American Shorthairs,(Fogle, catalog).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACICAT

The Acicat requires little grooming, is gregarious and vocal, and is an active cat. It generally weighs from 6 to 14 pounds (2.5-6.5kg), and its temperament is social and responsive (Fogle, Catalog).