York Chocolate Cat vs Ocicat - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

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 York Chocolate cat is often referred to simply as the York. The cat was developed in New York in 1983 by breeder Janet Chiefari. The American breed of cat came about by selecting certain colors for breeding.

The breed isn’t recognized by cat registries, however, in March 1990, the Cat Fanciers’ Federation of the New England area recognized York Chocolates as an experimental cat breed.

By 2016 no registry carried its breed standard and it looks as though the cat is now extinct. Later is was also established that the International York Chocolate Federation was founded in 2003 but that the site seems to be archived.

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.

Today the breed is still under development and in the experimental stages. It is a medium to large cat, both robust, sturdy, and muscular.

He can weigh up to 7 or 8 kg. The head is medium-sized with a rounded muzzle and the ears fairly large, pointed and tufted and broad at the base.

The eyes are medium in size, almond-shaped, and slanted slightly. The color of the eyes is a striking gold, green, or hazel.

The legs are also medium to long in length and well-muscled with the hind legs being a bit longer than the forelegs. The coat is medium to long, smooth and glossy with no undercoat. Color of the coat is mainly a rich chocolate color or silver, black and white.

Temperament:

The York Chocolate is a loyal and friendly cat. He is independent and although he loves his human family, he is perfectly happy on his own as well. They make wonderful pets as they get on well with children and also with other pets in the home.

They’re even-tempered and adapt well to all kinds of lifestyles. What is notable about this cat is that even if you tend to ignore him, he wants to lavish you with his attention. He is a cat that just loves to spend time with his human family.

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.

The York Chocolate is an ideal breed for families but he will get along well with single people too who are willing to make a fuss of him.

He is the kind of cat that makes himself at home indoors or outdoors. He has such an amicable nature and wants to be your friend. In return for this friendship, he needs to be given a whole lot of love and attention.

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.

York Chocolates are generally considered to be healthy cats, but always schedule regular wellness visits with the vet if you suspect even the smallest illness.

The insides of the cat’s ears should be examined regularly for signs of dirt and wax build-up that can lead to an infection.

The trend these days is to brush your cat’s teeth. This can absolutely traumatize your cat. When you take your cat for a check-up he will in any case look inside your cat’s mouth to make sure there aren't any bad teeth.

As a cat owner, it is a good idea to recognize the signs and symptoms of common illnesses in your cat. Cancer

Cats can get different kinds of cancer – where cells grow uncontrollably and spread to all parts of the body.

When a cat doesn't produce insulin, his blood sugar levels elevate and this can result in hyperglycemia.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It's a deadly disease that can be prevented by vaccination.

Spread by infected mosquitoes, heartworm causes lung disease in cats.

Vomiting is a common problem with cats with many different causes. The danger with vomiting is that it can lead to dehydration,

A cat’s upper respiratory tract is susceptible to infections caused by a variety of viruses and bacteria.

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.

The coat of the York Chocolate is fairly short and it doesn't shed heavily. A weekly brush will suffice to help remove dirt and loose hairs as well as to maintain the coat’s sheen.

The nails need to be trimmed.

A high-quality diet high in protein and animal meat must be provided for your cat Cats are carnivores and are not plant eaters.