Have you always been an admirer of the beautiful and dangerous leopards and ocelots? While these spotted big cats can be lethal pets, there is a domesticated cat with the same exotic appearance, the Ocicat.

If you want to own a cat that looks as striking as the jungle cats, then you may just want to consider the Ocicat. These cats provide the best of both worlds - a wild look and a sweet nature.

These cats were actually developed completely by accident when a breeder in the United States was trying to create a Siamese of a different color by breeding a Siamese cat to an Abyssinian cat and ended up with a lovely spotted kitten instead. Of course, while the Ocicat may look wild, this breed actually has a wonderful personality.

The Ocicat was promoted to provisional status in the Cat Fanciers Association in 1986. During the time, the registry was closed to Siamese and American Shorthair outcrosses, although the use of Abyssinians is allowed until 2005. The Ocicat reached championship competition status in both CFA and TICA for the 1987 show season. The breed is recognized in all other registries as well.

The Cat Fancier's Association classifies the Abyssinian as a part of the Championship Class. This breed is often smaller than other cat breeds, weighing in at only nine to sixteen pounds.

This breed is much older than many other cat breeds. Images from ancient Egypt show cats with a very similar appearance, to today's Abyssinian -- right down to the ticked appearance of their coats.

The first Abyssinians to arrive in England came from Ethiopia in the eighteen hundreds.

The Abyssinian has a graceful tail that is as long as the rest of its body. While Abyssinians can have coats in almost any shade ranging from red to lilac, they all are tabbies with a ticked appearance. This means that each individual hair has bands of dark and light color.

This cat breed has a wedge shaped face with eyes that are green, amber, or hazel colored. They have a low quite voice.

With its short sleek coat, the Abyssinian needs very little grooming. However, these cats often enjoy being brushed and receiving the extra attention, as long as you are gentle.

If you are looking for a rare, distinctive looking cat, then the Turkish Van is for you.

The Turkish Van was developed around the seventeen hundreds from local cats. The Van is used to fending for itself in its natural environment, so it is no surprise that this breed is a bit aloof and independent compared to other breeds.

Turkish Vans are a naturally occurring breed of cat. They can still be found in east Turkey, near Lake Van. Their numbers have diminished are under the protection of the Turkish government.

Here is a bit of trivia info: This cat breed is also known as the swimming cat, since the Van, unlike other cats, actually enjoys taking a leisurely swim. With their love of water, it is no wonder that these cats are named after the Lake Van region of Turkey, which is where the breed originated.

The Turkish Van is a large, muscular cat with a wedge shaped head and large, round eyes. These cats can have eyes that are golden or blue, and eyes that are mismatched are also common. Lately, some green eyed cats are also appearing in this breed. This green color is not highly favored. This cat breed's striking appearance is completed by a long, bushy tail.

The most distinctive characteristic of the Turkish Van is the breed's unique marking pattern. These cats can only have color on their heads and tails. The rest of their bodies must be pure white. The colored portions of the Van's body can be Auburn, Cream, Black, Blue and Tortoiseshell. Although all of these colors are allowed by the Cat Fanciers Association, some other associations are much stricter and only accept Auburn and Cream colors.

Is the Playful Abyssinian the Right Breed for You?

If you've always thought cats were too snooty, cold, and unaffectionate, you haven't met an Abyssinian. These cats are very smart, personable ,and affectionate animals. They love to interact with their families.

The Cat Fancier's Association classifies the Abyssinian as a part of the Championship Class, along with thirty six other cat breeds. This breed is often smaller than many other cat breeds, weighing in at only nine to sixteen pounds. They have a slim athletic build are not to demanding.

This breed is much older than many other cat breeds. Images in ancient Egypt show cats with a very similar appearance, right down to the ticked appearance of their coats. The first Abyssinians to arrive in England came from Ethiopia in the eighteen hundreds.