The Ocicat’s short coat is simple to groom. Go over it with a rubber curry brush weekly to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils. Give it a little shine with a chamois (not the same one you use on your car -- and make sure it is not treated with any chemicals).Baths are rarely necessary unless you will be showing your Ocicat, but if you do decide to bathe him, look for a cat shampoo that will enhance his gorgeous coat color: bronze-tone for brown, chocolate and cinnamon spotted tabbies; pearl-tone for blue, lilac and fawn cats; and a whitening shampoo for silver Ocicats.The rest is basic care. Trim the nails as needed, usually weekly. Check the ears every week for redness or a bad smell that could indicate an infection. If the ears look dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball dampened with a gentle ear cleanser recommended by your veterinarian. Brush the teeth frequently with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath and schedule veterinary cleanings as needed. Start brushing, nail trimming and teeth brushing early so your kitten becomes accepting of this activity.
The Ocicat’s short, smooth coat is simple to groom with weekly brushing or combing to remove dead hairs. A bath is rarely necessary.Brush the teeth to prevent periodontal disease. Daily dental hygiene is best, but weekly brushing is better than nothing. Trim the nails weekly. Wipe the corners of the eyes with a soft, damp cloth to remove any discharge. Use a separate area of the cloth for each eye so you don’t run the risk of spreading any infection.Check the ears weekly. If they look dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball or soft damp cloth moistened with a 50-50 mixture of cider vinegar and warm water. Avoid using cotton swabs, which can damage the interior of the ear.Keep the litter box spotlessly clean. Cats are very particular about bathroom hygiene.It’s a good idea to keep an Ocicat as an indoor-only cat to protect him from diseases spread by other cats, attacks by dogs or coyotes, and the other dangers that face cats who go outdoors, such as being hit by a car. Ocicats who go outdoors also run the risk of being stolen by someone who would like to have such an unusual cat without paying for it.
