Ocicat Cat Breed Information
A spotted cat that looks wild but has no wild blood, developed from Abyssinian, Siamese and American Shorthair foundation. Athletic, dog-like, sociable, and a good fit for households that want a Bengal look without the Bengal hybrid status.
A highly affectionate, highly trainable, great with young children cat. On the practical side: low grooming demands and minimal drool.
About the Ocicat.
The Ocicat is the spotted cat without wild blood. Developed from Abyssinian, Siamese and American Shorthair foundation, the breed offers a Bengal-like look with fully domestic ancestry and a more even-tempered profile. NZ buyers occasionally choose Ocicat over Bengal when they want the spotted look without the hybrid pedigree.
Personality and behaviour
Sociable, affectionate, athletic and dog-like. The breed greets visitors, follows the household around, and benefits from a feline housemate when alone for working hours.
Care and grooming
Weekly rub with a rubber mitt.
Indoor vs outdoor in New Zealand
Indoor or catio. Same SPCA NZ wildlife and theft case.
Where to find an Ocicat in New Zealand
NZCF and Catz Inc list registered breeders (NZCF Ocicat, Catz Inc Ocicat). Expect a four to seven month waitlist, NZD 1,200 to 2,800.
The Ocicat, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 4.3Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Pets
Physical
avg 1.5Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Social
avg 3.8Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Adaptability
Independence
Personality
avg 4.0Trainability
Energy Level
Vocal Level
Prey Drive
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Ocicat.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Ocicat costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Ocicat costs about
$142per month
$33
$5
$27,800
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$38 / mo
$460/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$34 / mo
$410/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$44 / mo
$530/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$0 / mo
$0/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$25 / mo
$300/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $2,000 + setup $300) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Ocicat compare?
This breed
Ocicat
$27,800
15-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,300
- Food (lifetime)$6,900
- Vet (lifetime)$7,950
- Insurance (lifetime)$6,150
- Grooming (lifetime)$0
- Other (lifetime)$4,500
Reference
Average NZ cat
$23,600
14-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$500
- Food (lifetime)$7,000
- Vet (lifetime)$5,600
- Insurance (lifetime)$5,600
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,500
A Ocicat costs about $4,200 more over a lifetime than the average nz cat, mostly highervet and higherpurchase + setup.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZ cat breeders test for these conditions and share results. The bigger health drivers for the breed appear in the Common group.
Occasional
2 conditionsHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
An occasional condition in the Ocicat. Worth asking about.
Pyruvate kinase deficiency
Inherited from Abyssinian foundation.
Rare but urgent
1 conditionRenal amyloidosis
Rare in the Ocicat but worth knowing the warning signs.
The Ocicat in NZ.
- Popularity: A small but consistent NZ pedigree breed.
- Typical price: NZ$1200–2800 from registered breeders or rescues
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Short coat handles all NZ regions.
- Living space: Apartments and houses both suit. Vertical space helps.
Who the Ocicat is for.
Suits
- Owners wanting a Bengal look without the hybrid pedigree
- Active households
- Multi-pet homes
Less suited to
- Long-hours-out single-cat households
- Outdoor-roaming setups
Common questions.
Does the Ocicat have any wild blood?
How active is an Ocicat?
If the Ocicat appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Bengal
A spotted, athletic hybrid cat developed by crossing the Asian Leopard Cat with domestic shorthairs. The single highest-prey-drive breed on this site, with the energy budget of two normal cats. Magnificent to live with for the right household, a poor fit for indoor sedate life or NZ outdoor roaming.
Abyssinian
Lithe, ticked-coated, and famously busy. The Abyssinian is one of the most active and intelligent cat breeds, often described as a small wild-cat in build with the temperament of a curious, people-oriented terrier.
Egyptian Mau
The only naturally spotted domestic cat breed. Athletic, fast (officially the fastest cat breed at sprinting speeds over 50 km/h), and reserved with strangers. Looks the part of an ancient Egyptian temple cat in tomb paintings.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.