Ocicat Cat Names, Names For Ocicat Kittens
The Ocicat looks like a small ocelot. It contains zero wildcat DNA. CFA's breed standard states the point explicitly: the Ocicat is '100% domestic hybrid' with no wild ancestry, despite the spotted coat, the brow ridge, and the bull's-eye flank pattern that suggest otherwise.
The breed traces to a single Michigan litter in 1964. Virginia Daly was trying to breed a Siamese with Abyssinian-coloured points. The litter produced an unexpected spotted kitten. Daly's daughter said he looked like a baby ocelot, so they named him Tonga, and 'oci-' stuck as the breed prefix. Daly later added American Shorthair to the foundation gene pool — TICA's breed page is direct about why: 'for the boning and substance — and to introduce silver.' So the Ocicat is built from three fully domestic breeds (Abyssinian, Siamese, American Shorthair), nothing else.
The path to recognition was unusually slow. CFA registered the breed in 1966 but did not grant Championship status until 1987 — over two decades — partly because Daly's personal circumstances paused breed development in the early 1980s. TICA was faster, granting Championship in August 1986. GCCF in the UK granted Preliminary in 1997 and Championship in 2006.
The coat carries 12 recognised colour variations: tawny, chocolate, cinnamon, blue, lilac, fawn, plus silver versions of each. Spots are thumb-print shaped, randomly distributed on the body but typically forming bull's-eye patterns on the flanks. The temperament is the second counter-intuitive layer — Ocicats greet strangers, learn fetch, walk on leash, and respond to voice commands. Owners often pick names typically associated with dogs precisely because the cat behaves like one.
Name ideas, then. Tonga (the founder). Domino, Dot, Pip, Pebble, Polka (the spot pattern). Ocelot, Cheetah, Lynx, Bobcat, Serval (the wildcat-look-but-not joke). Rex, Duke, Buddy, Max, Charlie (the dog-temperament wink).
Name Ideas from This Breed Collection
An introductory selection from this editorial collection, ordered by catalog ID. This is not a popularity ranking. Browse the alphabetical list below for all 242 options.
Meanings, origins and pronunciations appear only for records with checked sources. Blank fields have not been verified. Gender and collection labels are browsing choices.
| Name | Meaning | Gender | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron | Male | ||
| Abbot | Unisex | ||
| Abigale | Female | ||
| Abraham | Male | ||
| Ace | Male | ||
| Ada | Female | ||
| Agrippa | Unisex | ||
| Agrippina | Female | ||
| Alonzo | Male | ||
| Ambrose | Male | ||
| Amelia | A variant of Amalia | Female | European form of a Germanic-derived name |
| Amos | Male | ||
| Anaconda | Unisex | ||
| Ann | Female | ||
| August | Male | ||
| Avery | Female | ||
| Bacardi | Male | ||
| Bailey | A surname originally referring to a bailiff | Female | English occupational surname |
| Baloo | Unisex | ||
| Bear | The bear animal | Male | English word name |
| Beast | Unisex | ||
| Beaver | Unisex | ||
| Belle | A short name form; also associated with French belle | Female | English name usage; French word association |
| Benjamin | Male | ||
| Betsy | Female | ||
| Birdy | Unisex | ||
| Boa | Unisex | ||
| Briar | Female | ||
| Brier | Unisex | ||
| Brute | Unisex | ||
| Bunny | Female | ||
| Butch | Male | ||
| Byron | Male | ||
| Calvin | Male | ||
| Caribou | Unisex | ||
| Carson | Male | ||
| Cassidy | Female | ||
| Cedric | Male | ||
| Charlotte | Female | ||
| Chipmunk | Unisex | ||
| Chutney | Unisex | ||
| Claire | Female | ||
| Clarence | Male | ||
| Clementine | Female | ||
| Cody | Male | ||
| Cole | Male | ||
| Colt | Male | ||
| Cooper | Male | ||
| Cougar | Male | ||
| Cow | Unisex |
242 names found. Page 1 of 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Ocicat have any wildcat ancestry?
No. CFA states explicitly that the Ocicat is '100% domestic hybrid' with no wild ancestry. The breed was built from three fully domestic breeds: Abyssinian, Siamese, and American Shorthair. The wild appearance — spotted coat, brow ridge, bull's-eye flank markings — comes from selective breeding off domestic spotted-tabby genetics, not from any documented hybridisation with ocelots, servals, or other wild felines. This separates the Ocicat from genuine hybrid breeds like the Bengal or the Savannah.
How did the breed get its name?
Virginia Daly was breeding a Siamese with Abyssinian-coloured points in 1964 in Michigan. An unexpected spotted kitten appeared in the litter. Daly's daughter said the kitten looked like a baby ocelot — so the kitten was named Tonga, and 'oci-' stuck as the breed prefix. The full word Ocicat is a portmanteau of 'ocelot' and 'cat,' chosen for the appearance, not for any genetic relationship.
When was the Ocicat officially recognised?
CFA registered the breed in 1966 but did not grant Championship status until 1987 — an unusually slow path, partly because Virginia Daly's personal circumstances paused breed development in the early 1980s. TICA granted Championship in August 1986. The UK's GCCF granted Preliminary in 1997 and Championship in 2006. Three registries, three different pacing tracks.
What colours do Ocicats come in?
Twelve recognised variations: six base colours (tawny, chocolate, cinnamon, blue, lilac, fawn), each available with or without silver. Spots are thumb-print shaped and randomly distributed on the body, typically forming bull's-eye patterns on the flanks. Tawny and silver tawny are the most commonly seen colours; cinnamon and lilac are the rarest.
Are Ocicats really dog-like?
Yes — to a degree most cat breeds are not. CFA, TICA, and GCCF all note that Ocicats learn to play fetch, can be leash-trained, respond to voice commands, and greet visitors at the door rather than hiding. Owners often pick names typically associated with dogs (Rex, Duke, Buddy, Max) precisely because the cat behaves like one. The breed does not handle being left alone for long periods well — they want company and interaction.
What names suit an Ocicat?
Four directions. The founder: Tonga. The spot pattern: Domino, Dot, Spot, Pip, Pebble, Polka. The wildcat-look-but-fully-domestic irony: Ocelot, Cheetah, Lynx, Bobcat, Serval, Leopard. The dog-temperament wink: Rex, Duke, Buddy, Max, Charlie. African geography that nods to the Abyssinian half of the foundation: Sahara, Kenya, Nile, Addis, Zambezi.