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The Ocicat was developed as a purely man-made
agouti spotted Breed of cat of moderate type.
This was achieved by interbreeding of a mix
of Jungala, Siamese and American
Shorthair. As such, it is a domestic breed,
which was selectively bred to emulate the
spotted cats found in the wild, but retaining
the lovable disposition of the domestic.
However, Ocicats can also produce kittens
which are Ticked and Classic in pattern as
well as spotted. The ticked kittens are
considered to be program cats but while the
classics do not conform to the standard for
Ocicat patterning, they are highly prized for
their striking beauty. This classic pattern
has long been admired for its magnificent
whorls and apparent bullseye.(commonly known
as Blotched or Bull’s-eye pattern).
In the Bengal breed for instance, the Classic
Pattern is elongated, so that the pattern is
stretched and should ideally appear with a
random “Marbled” effect. The Classic pattern
on a Jungala however is not stretched and
should display all the majesty and clarity of
the classic pattern of an American Shorthair,
from which its ancestry originates.
This pattern is particularly striking when
seen in a Silver Tabby, where the light
silver ground colour allows for a strong
contrast with the deeply coloured markings of
the topcoat.
Jungala cats, like their Ocicat counterparts,
are highly social and somewhat doglike in
their devotion to people. They are bright and
readily trainable and are often extroverted
even among strangers. As such they are an
ideal cat for households where there are
already other pets and children.
Just as the breed name Ocicat was derived
from the Ocelot, a central American spotted
“wild” or “jungle” cat, the name “Jungala” is
likewise taken from the Sanskrit word for
“Jungle”.
As in other breeds which are the result of
allowable outcrosses between recognized
breeds, the Ocicat and Jungala are
intermateable with resultant progeny
registered as the ‘selected breed’.
Jungala Cats come in the six basic colours of
Tawny (brown or black classic tabby),
Chocolate, Cinnamon, Blue, Lavender & Fawn as
well as in their Silver counterparts.
In New Zealand, the first Jungala cats were
registered by the Karakakat Cattery, with
CATZ Incorporated, which recognised the
Jungala as an independent breed with Full
Championship Status in August 2001.
Thank you to
Catz Incorprated for letting us use their Cat Profile
Cat Profile Supplied by:
Catz Incorprated
New Zealand National Registry for Cats
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