The Ocicat is a spotted cat of moderate type originating from interbreeding of Abyssinian, Siamese and American Shorthair. It is the only spotted domestic breed selectively bred to emulate the cats of the wild. The ideal Ocicat is a large, active animal with an athletic appearance. It is very solid and well-muscled and has a short, tight coat with a satin sheen that shows off muscles and spots to their best advantage. The original Ocicat was the unexpected result of an experimental breeding which attempted to produce an Aby-point Siamese. The breed was called the Ocicat because of its resemblance to the ocelot. The breeding was repeated to produce more Ocicats. Other breeders followed this recipe to develop other Ocicat lines with a broad genetic base. The Ocicat was advanced to championship status May 1987. Feline enthusiasts have always been awed by the spotted cats of the wild: ocelots, margays, leopards and others. Never before was there such an effort to breed an entirely domestic cat which offered the spotted beauty of the wild cats, while maintaining the lovely, predictable disposition of the domestic cat. While the Ocicat looks wild, its temperament is anything but ferocious. Ocicats are quite bright and easily trained. There has been a controversy about the genetics of inheritance associated with the spotted pattern. The spotted pattern of the Ocicat, at least on the better examples of the breed, is noticeably different from other spotted breeds or varieties. Ocicats come in many colors and at least all those colors associated with the three foundation breeds: tawny, chocolate, cinnamon, blue, lavender, fawn, silver, chocolate silver, cinnamon silver, blue silver, lavender silver, and fawn silver.