Admirers of leopards and ocelots will learn that there is a cat with the same exotic appearance that is domesticated, the Ocicat. The Ocicat came about totally by accident back in 1964, when Virginia Daly of Berkeley, MI, bred a Ruddy Abyssinian to a Seal Point Siamese in an attempt to get an Aby- pointed Siamese. The resulting first generations were phenotypically Abyssinian. It wasn’t until one of those first generation cats was again crossed with a Siamese that the desired result of an Aby-pointed Siamese was produced, but the litter also bore another surprise, a spotted cat.

Daly’s daughter dubbed that cat, which was named Tonga, an Ocicat, because of its resemblance to the wild Ocelot. Subsequent breedings, with American Shorthairs added to the mix to enhance size and boning, led to placement of spots and introduced the silver color, which forms the Ocicat that you see today. The Ocicat is distinctively different in its spotting pattern from other breeds of spotted cats. It has thumbprint-shaped spots that are inside a bulls-eye pattern. Compare that to an Egyptian Mau, for instance, which has several bands of color that fall together to form a thumbprint shaped spot.

Like other domestic breeds of cats that resemble their wilder cousins, the Ocicat looks wild and it has all of the characteristics typically found in exotic jungle cats, but their temperament is truly that of a pussycat. While dog-like in its devotion to the people who own it, the Ocicat is not a cat that is clinging or demanding, but they do love to shadow their humans closely. They don’t know the meaning of the word stranger, but simply look upon them as yet another lap to curl up in for a quick catnap. Another endearing quality is that Ocicats love to ride around on your shoulders and will quite literally allow you to ferry them all over the house. Ocicats also love new playmates and are often a source of comical antics, but when they tire out, they search for the nearest person’s lap for a nice long round of purring.

These are very smart animals capable of opening latches and doors, playing fetch and in at least one case, an Ocicat was known to wave ”bye-bye” to its owners. That is truly a picture that would be worth a thousand words. An Ocicat is a superb hunter, lying about in a lion-like pose, seemingly unaware until the prey comes into view. Then like lightening, they will do whatever necessary, even leaping higher than you would think they could to catch the object of their attention, then simply go back to their reclining position giving the impression that they somehow never even moved.

Cat beds are not only nice to sleep in, but they can become necessary to your cat’s health. Heated cat beds help to keep your cat warm whilst protecting it from the cold during the winter season. It is also ideal for preventing your cat from become ill due to cold weather. Heated cat beds are also beneficial for cats that love to spend time in outside areas such as garages, porches and even family barns.

For older cats especially those with arthritis the heated cat bed can provide thermal and therapeutic benefits. It is also very beneficial for pets that constantly sleeping on hard and cold floors. Inside the heated cat bed there is a removable heater unit. You can used the bed indoors throughout the year. The ideal body temperature for cats is 102 degrees and the bed has two thermostats to ensure the bed temperature stays at that level. The heated cat bed has a thick and very soft, orthopedic mattress giving warmth, comfort and excellent therapeutic benefits to your pet.

Heated cat beds come in a wide range of designs, sizes, colors and materials. A larger heated cat bed will be big enough for a big cat or sufficient for few small cats that like to cuddle together. Each design has its own great features and functionalities. The “donut” design heated cat bed is for the cat that enjoys spreading itself all over the bed with its head sleeping on the pillow.

The frame of the heated cat bed is generally built from wood and easy to clean plastic. The structure is durable and has a steel-wrapped electrical cord. The heated cat bed is sometimes reinforced with a metal frame to give it more support and stability. Your pet will be able to relax and sleep in comfort. Some heated cat beds even let you swing and sway your cat to sleep. The cushion or mattress of the bed is usually made from fabrics such as double-sided faux fur or machine washable ultra suede. These cushions are filled with polyester fiber to give long lasting comfort and shape. Warm fleece material is usually for the inside of the heated cat bed.

With a heated cat bed you can help to keep your cat healthy, comfortable and happy. Cats spend a great deal of time sleeping and a cozy bed is most desirable. With a comfortable and correct size bed your cat will have a more relaxed sleep. The elevated heated cat bed can give your cat comfort, support and protection from the cold floor while sleeping. It also stops your cat from sharing your bed and disturbing your sleep.