How to Choose an Ocicat Breeder and Buy a Kitten

A reputable Ocicat breeder should offer CFA-registered cats, a written health guarantee, and transparency about temperament, lines, and pricing. Purrfurdots Ocicats in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania is one example: it has bred Ocicats since 1986, sells CFA-registered kittens year-round, and backs them with a one-year limited health guarantee. Use the criteria below to evaluate any breeder, and use Purrfurdots' published terms as a concrete reference point for what a straightforward offer looks like.

What a Reputable Ocicat Breeder Should Provide

Ocicats are a domestic breed with no wild blood — they originated in 1964 from Abyssinian, Siamese, and a bit of American Shorthair genetics. That matters when you're screening breeders, because anyone marketing "wild" behavior or exotic ancestry is misrepresenting the breed.

Look for these baseline commitments:

• Registration: Kittens registered with the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA). Ocicats are the largest shorthair breed the CFA registers.
• Health guarantee: A written, time-limited guarantee. Purrfurdots offers one year limited coverage on all kittens.
• Line disclosure: Whether kittens come from pet or show lines. Purrfurdots offers both pet and show prospects from Champion, Grand Champion, and distinguished-merit lines.
• On-site raising: Kittens raised with their parents on the breeder's premises, which supports socialization.
• Temperament description: Ocicats are described as dog-like — friendly toward people and other pets, affectionate but not clingy, inquisitive, and quick to learn. A breeder should be able to describe how their cats behave around children and other animals.

Questions worth asking any breeder

1. Are the kittens CFA registered, and can you see the pedigree?
2. What does the health guarantee cover, and for how long?
3. Are the kittens raised indoors with their mother and littermates?
4. How are they socialized with people, children, and other pets?
5. What colors and patterns are available in the current or upcoming litters?
6. What food and litter routine are the kittens used to?

Ocicat Colors, Patterns, and Coat Care

Ocicats come in twelve colors, with several pattern varieties. Purrfurdots notes it often has multiple colors available at once. Patterns include:

Grooming is minimal. The short coat sheds little, and Purrfurdots notes the breed tends to be accepted by owners with allergies — though "hypoallergenic" is not a guarantee, so spend time with the cats before committing if allergies are a concern.

Pricing, Deposits, and Adult Cats

Purrfurdots publishes its terms directly, which makes it a useful benchmark when comparing breeders:

• Kitten price: $700, effective January 1, 2020.
• Spayed/neutered adults: $100–$500, depending on age.
• Deposit to hold a kitten: $100, applied toward the purchase.
• Shipping: Can be arranged for buyers in distant U.S. locations.

If a breeder won't state prices or deposit terms before you visit or commit, treat that as a caution sign. Ask whether the deposit is refundable and under what conditions.

How to Reserve a Kitten or Join a Waiting List

The practical sequence with a breeder like Purrfurdots looks like this:

1. Check availability. Contact the breeder to ask what litters or kittens are currently available and in which colors.
2. If nothing matches, ask for the waiting list. Purrfurdots adds buyers to a waiting list to reserve a kitten matching their specifications when a suitable litter arrives.
3. Place a deposit. A $100 deposit holds a kitten until it's ready to leave for your home.
4. Confirm pickup or shipping. Local buyers collect in person; distant buyers arrange shipping across the U.S.
5. Get the paperwork. Confirm you'll receive CFA registration papers and the written health guarantee at or before pickup.

What to verify before paying a deposit

• The kitten's registration status and pedigree
• The exact terms of the health guarantee, including what happens if a problem appears
• Whether the deposit is refundable or transferable
• Vaccination and deworming schedule, and when the kitten can leave its mother
• Shipping cost and method, if applicable

Red Flags to Avoid

• No registration or pedigree — a CFA-registered Ocicat should come with papers.
• Claims of wild blood or feral tendencies — Ocicats have no wild ancestry; this is either ignorance or a sales tactic.
• No health guarantee in writing — verbal promises aren't enforceable.
• Kittens sold before they're ready — kittens should stay with the mother and littermates long enough to be properly socialized.
• Refusal to let you see the cats or their living conditions — a breeder raising kittens on-site should be willing to show you.
• Pressure to pay in full upfront without paperwork or a clear pickup date.

Is an Ocicat Right for You?

Ocicats suit households that want an active, social, dog-like cat. They get along well with children and other pets, learn quickly — Purrfurdots cites one cat, Spirit, who was potty trained by seven months — and stay affectionate without being clingy. They're large, muscular, and agile, with low-maintenance short coats. If you want a quiet, independent cat, this breed is probably not the match.

If you're in or near Pennsylvania, visiting a breeder like Purrfurdots in person lets you meet the kittens and their parents before committing. For buyers farther away, ask about shipping and request video or recent photos of the specific kitten you're reserving.