Safari vs Ocicat - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Safari vs Ocicat - Breed ComparisonBoth Ocicat and Safari are originated from United States. Both Ocicat and Safari are having almost same weight. Ocicat may live 3 years less than Safari. Both Ocicat and Safari has same litter size. Both Ocicat and Safari requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

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United States
United States
Weight Male:
4 - 7 kg
8 - 16 pounds
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
Weight Female:
4 - 7 kg
8 - 16 pounds
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 17 Years
17 - 20 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
None
None
Colors Available:
cinnamon, chocolate, tawny - spots and stripes
black, cream, Silvery gray
Coat:
Short and silky
Short with black markings
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

ocicatVirginia 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.

safariThe Safari Cat, hailing from the USA, is one of the rarest breeds of cats. There are only about 70 of these cats registered at the International Cat Association.

The Safari cat is a mix of a moggy and Geoffroy's cat. At first, the cat was used for research purposes by Washington State University but then cat breeders took over the development of the breed.

The name ‘Safari’ was chosen because of its wild look.

Description

ocicat kitten - descriptionOcicats, 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.

safari kitten - descriptionThe hybrid Safari cat is a medium to large-sized cat that at first weighed in the region of 15kg, but the cat now weighs roughly 11kg.

Its body is much like that of the wild parent, the Geoffroy – muscular and compact. The ears aren’t particularly large and are smallish, rounded ears with a fairly broad head.

It has a typical wild cat look and is a spotted or rosetted cat breed. Below the spots, the coat is a silvery grey shade.

The coat which is short actually comes in a variety of colors that come from both cat breeds. The eyes of this cat are either yellow or green. The Safari cat certainly has a wild cat appearance, because of the cross-breeding. This is a rare cat and because of this, there is no breed standard for it.

They can live to be between 17 and 20 years of age.

Temperament:

Even though one of the parent breeds is a wild cat, the Safari cat is described as an easy-going cat that can make a good pet.

The cat is very intelligent and playful and will enjoy swimming and climbing. It is for this purpose that he needs to have quite a large outside enclosure with a pool of sorts so that he can paddle.

There isn’t much information on their interaction with children and other pets in the home. While they are quite likely to make good pets where there are children, there would have to be supervision where there are small children. During play, these cats can bit. It would be extremely important to teach children to respect any animal and to be gentle and kind to them.

Characteristics

ocicat cat - characteristicsThe 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.

safari cat - characteristicsAs a hybrid cat, your Safari is interesting alright, but unfortunately, you can’t ever be 100% sure of a hybrid cat. It needs careful consideration before you bring one into your home.

Apart from coming into the home from time to time, hybrid cats need an outside enclosure too that is securely fenced and gated and with a roof.

You made a decision to buy a cat with a wild side. It may live up to all your expectations but it may not either.

When you do research you find that the biggest number of behavioral complaints from owners of hybrid cats are about aggression issues and the refusal to use a litter box when indoors.

There is still a raging debate going on as to whether hybrids make suitable pets, but when you bring any animal into your home, as a responsible adult it is your job to provide well for it to ensure its happiness.

Health Problems

ocicat kittens - health problemsDiet 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.

safari kittens - health problemsThe Safari cat isn’t a particularly well-known breed so there isn’t much information on their health. They can suffer from the same illnesses as non-hybrid domestic cats.

Certain hybrid breeds, such as the Safari, can sometimes have issues with reproduction as some cats are infertile. Domestic cats and wild cats have a different number of chromosomes and this results in reproductive problems, and stillbirths are quite common.

Caring The Pet

ocicat cats - caringProvide 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.

safari cats - caringIt is recommended that you brush this cat each week. He isn’t a big shedder but the brushing once a week keeps the fur in good condition, removing loose hairs and dust.

A high protein diet is imperative. Cats are carnivores and a meat diet is imperative. You can speak to your vet or a cat expert about feeding your Safari cat. Certainly, they need to be fed high-quality cat food. These foods are available in wet and dry form.

He will definitely need some raw meat. Make sure you understand the ingredients in some low- quality cat foods as corn for cats can be a problem for them, hard to digest and it could cause intestinal problems.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Safari vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Safari vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Safari vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Safari vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Safari vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Safari vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Safari vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Safari vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Safari vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Safari vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Safari vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Safari vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Safari vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Safari vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Safari vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Safari vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Safari vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Safari vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Safari vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Safari vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Safari vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  22. Safari vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Safari vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Safari vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Safari vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. Ocicat vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. Ocicat vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. Ocicat vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. Ocicat vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. Ocicat vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. Ocicat vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. Ocicat vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. Ocicat vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. Ocicat vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. Ocicat vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Ocicat vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. Ocicat vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  38. Ocicat vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  39. Ocicat vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  40. Ocicat vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  41. Ocicat vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  42. Ocicat vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  43. Ocicat vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  44. Ocicat vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  45. Ocicat vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  46. Ocicat vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  47. Ocicat vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  48. Ocicat vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  49. Ocicat vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  50. Ocicat vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison